Research Swine Weaning piglets
Animals and facilities
For research with weaned piglets there are several facilities available at Schothorst Feed Research. The weaned piglet facility consists of 8 departments with 10 pens each. In every pen 6 piglets are housed. The pens have a semi-slatted floor and floor heating. The piglets can be fed restricted or ad lib. The design of the pens ensures sufficient trough space per piglet in experiments with restricted feeding. Furthermore there are 4 departments of 6 pens which can house 15 piglets each. The trials with weaned piglets start immediately after weaning. The duration of the trial depends on the type of trial and can vary between 28 and 42 days. Schothorst feed Research also has laboratory cages where 36 piglets can be housed individually. These cages are specially fit for balance, digestibility and challenge trials.
Type of research
Below the possibilities for research are described.
Production trials
Objective
Determine the effect of for example:
- Feed composition
- Additives
On among others:
- Growth
- Feed conversion ratio
Trial set up
Depending on the expected effect 2 to 6 treatments with 10-12 replicates (6 piglets per replicate) can be selected. Piglets are weaned at 21 days and allocated to the treatments based on age, weight, health status and offspring. The trials with weaned piglets start immediately after weaning and last 28 days. Registration trials last 42 days and are set up conform EU demands.
Standard observations (per pen)
- Body weight (day 0, 14 en 28 of 42 post weaning)
- Feed intake, growth, feed conversion ratio (d0-14, d14-28, d0-28 and d0-42 post weaning)
- Faecal consistency (twice a week)
- Medical treatments (per piglet)
- Mortality
We like to consult you on further possibilities
See fact sheet for more information
Digestibility trials
Objective
Determine the effect of for example:
- Feed composition
- Additives
On among others:
- Faecal digestibility coefficients
Trial set up
The digestibility of piglets can be determined faecal and ileal. The trials are carried out in a laboratory facility using a maximum number of 36 piglets. For ileal digestibility the a fistula can be used to increased the frequency of measuring. The protocol used for the digestibility trials is based on the standard CVB protocol for digestibility studies in pigs. To determine the faecal digestibility HCL insoluble ash or TiO2 are used as indigestive markers. Digestibility studies in these facilities can easily be extended with additional measurements e.g. challenge trials or in-depth gut studies to investigate intestinal tissue morphology, passage rate, gut micro flora etc.
Standard observations
- Body weight (day 0, 4, 11 and 15 post weaning and end of the trial)
- Feed intake, growth, feed conversion ratio
- Faecal samples (d18-d20; twice a day)
- Medical treatments (per piglet)
- Mortality
We like to consult you on further possibilities
See fact sheet for more information
Challenge trials
Schothorst Feed Research has developed facilities and a E.coli challenge model to carry out challenge trials. Below is a description of the current model, but Schothorst Feed Research is working on the development of a new challenge model.
Objective
Determine the effect of for example:
- Feed composition
- Additives
On among others:
- Faecal excretion of E. coli
Trial set up
Challenge trials are carried out in the laboratory facilities using a maximum number of 36 piglets. In these trials 2 to 8 treatments with 8 replicates (1 piglet per replicate) can be set up all at once or in 2 times. The piglets received the experimental diets 5 days after weaning at 26 days of age. The piglets are inoculated on day 18 and 19 post weaning with a specific pathogenic E.coli.
Standard observations:
- Body weight (day 0 , day 5 (transfer to lab facility), day 16 and day 28 post weaning).
- Body temperature (day 16, 19, 20,21 en 22 post weaning).
- Faecal consistency
- Faecal samples to measure E.coli excretion (day 16, 19, 21, 23, 26 and 28 post weaning).
- Faecal samples (twice a day; day 19, 20 and 21)