Effectiveness of kidney bean lectin preparation in improving pig performance - field study.

摘要

Most of the strategies developed to reduce weaning diarrhea and to improve the health and performance of pigs are targeted at the post-weaning period and concern modifications of feed composition and/or supplementation with a variety of feed additives. Studies on the physiology of gastrointestinal tract development, however, clearly demonstrated a conflict between the immaturity of the gut mucosa and early weaning. A kidney bean lectin preparation (SuilectinTM, Biolek, Poland) was designed to speed up the maturation of the pig gastrointestinal mucosa before weaning. The aim of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of SuilectinTM under practical conditions. The study was performed in a single farm on the total of 3575 piglets, some of which orally received a single dose of SuilectinTM when they were 10-12 d of age (3.27+or-0.04 kg body weight, BW). Piglets were weaned when they were 25-26 d of life. Their body weight, food intake, clinical health, and veterinary costs were calculated. SuilectinTM-treated pigs were characterized by a higher BW at weaning, a lower incidence of post-weaning diarrhea, lower costs of veterinary treatment, and lower mortality as compared to control.