The effects of sepiolite-SPLF on piglet and heavy pig production

In order to evaluate the effects of sepiolite-SPLF (Sepiolite for Pig Liquid Feeding) on piglet and heavy pig production, two separated trials have been performed. In the first trial a total of 319 piglets from 32 litters was used. From the 6th day of life piglets belonging to 16 litters received a complementary feed containing Sepiolite-SPLF at 1% (group B); the remaining piglets were fed a complementary feed without sepiolite addition (group A). At weaning (26 days of life), according to the dietary treatment of the suckling period, 80 piglets were homogeneously allocated to two groups fed up to 30 kg body weight a diet containing or not containing Sepiolite-SPLF at 1% (group B and group A, respectively). In the second trial 330 barrows of the initial body weight of 60 kg were used. Animals were homogeneously allocated to two groups: a control group traditionally fed a soybean-maize based diet and a sepiolite group in which Sepiolite-SPLF was added at 1% (group B). Pigs were slaughtered at about 170 kg body weight. In both trials daily weight gain, feed intake and pigs’ health were recorded. From our data it is concluded that the dietary inclusion of sepiolite-SPLF at 1% did not influence (P>0.05) either growing performances or feed conversion rate of growing-finishing pigs. Weaned piglets on sepiolite diet showed a highly significant (P<0.01) reduction of diarrhoea score (1.55 vs. 2.03 points). At slaughtering the dietary inclusion of sepiolite resulted in a higher uniformity-degree of pigs as it was demonstrated by a higher (P<0.05) frequency of carcasses in the central class comprised between 133 and 145 kg (52% vs. 35%).