Postnatal – the second window of opportunity

S. Paredes

30 March 2015

Outline

2

Introduction

Birth weight – the limiting factor?

Alternatives during the 2nd window of opportunity

Trans-generational effects

Benefits of investing in early life

Take home message

1

2

3

4

5

6

LifeStart….

Welfare Economic implications

Birth weight - the limiting factor??

4

Birth weight is NOT always the limiting factor

5

0

5

10

15

20

25

BW

, kg

*

*

*

* *

*

SRC, 2014

6

Birth weight is NOT always the limiting factor

Nutreco R&D, 2012

• Permanent effect?

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

< -3.0

to-3.0

-3.0 to-

2.5

-2.5 to-

2.0

- 2.0 to-

1.5

-1.5 to-

1.0

-1.0 to-

0.5

-0.5 to

average

An

ima

ls, %

remain

increase

decrease

• Problem is not efficiency-related

Nursery exit weight is determined:

● 30% by birth weight

● 30% by weaning weight

Paredes et al., 2012

• 70% by weight during the first weeks after weaning

Relation to market weight

8

100

103

106

109

112

115

118

121

124

127

130

Measured Calculated

Mar

ket

BW

, kg

BiW < 20% WeaW ≤ 20% 10 wk weight 35% Finishing period < 20%

78% accuracy to determine slaughter weight

Paredes, unpublished

Light weight piglets are NOT that different

9

Paredes et al., 2013

10

Light weight piglets are NOT that different

Paredes et al., 2014

They suffered from an earlier stressor

11

Paredes et al., 2013

12

for which they can compensate

Move to average performance group

Nutreco R&D, 2013

Within a time frame

13

Alternatives from 14 to 42 days of age

15 Early feed intake = Faster adaptation to challenges

Health and growth

LifeStart key pilars

17

Genetics

Management

Processes in gut wall

Adequate immune response

Digestion & absorption

Health and growth

Over/Under immune response

Reduced health and growth

Immune competence

Other

factors

Gut microbiota

Pig

GIT

Different genetics = different needs

18

Nutreco R&D

19

One diet DOES NOT fit all

Agresearch, 2013

Enhances the resilience to weaning

Healthier colon,

lower signs of inflammation

Also

• Lowest removals

• Less ß-haemolytic bacteria

21 Creep (day 19-27) Progeny of multiparous sows Adapted from Edwards, 2010

Creep feed

22

Early post-weaning intake is stimulated by diet composition

Nutreco R&D, 2013

Day 0–14 post-weaning: 30 g/d extra feed intake 30 g/day extra growth 6.5% less diarrhoea

Complex diet = Higher % piglets eating

23

Wellock, 2013

24

Paredes et al. (in preparation)

Complex diet increases microbial richness in colon

26

Complex diets = lower PWD

Nutreco R&D, 2012

E. Coli infection tests at SRC

0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1

1,2

1,4

1,6

1,8

2

1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28

Ave

rage

sco

re

Day post weaning

HR diet

MW dietComplex diet

Simple diet

*

Complex diet help in a Strep suis challenge

27 0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

Nursery phase Finishing period

AD

G, g

/d

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Nursery phase Finishing period

BW

, kg

0,00

0,50

1,00

1,50

2,00

2,50

Nursery phase Finishing period

FCR

De Lange, 2015

Complex diet provide increase disease resistance

28

Gene Gene Name Fold change P value ARG1 Arginase 1 1.79 0.056 CPS1 Carbamoyl phosphate synthase 1 1.56 0.057 SLA-DMA, B Swine leukocyte antigen DMA 0.55 <0.078 SLA-DQA, B1 Swine leukocyte antigen DMA 0.51 <0.057 SLA-DRA, B1 Swine leukocyte antigen DMA 0.56 <0.070 GPX1 Glutathione peroxidase 1 (cellular) 1.52 0.057 GPX3 Glutathione peroxidase 3 (plasma) 2.78 0.057 NR3C1 Glucocorticoid receptor 0.53 0.066 TXNIP Thioredoxin interacting protein 0.59 0.057

Rudar et al., 2012

29

Van der Douglas et al., 2014

P<0.05

P<0.10

MOF, $/pig Complex feeding

program: 23.40 vs. Simple feeding

program: 20.50

Complex diet ≠ Higher costs

Muscle growth rather than fat deposition

30

Yin et al., 2010, 2013

Welfare implications

31

● Reduction in nr of light weight piglets

Adapted from Edwards, 2010

• Reduction in mortality • More prepared piglets for the nursery challenges

Early investment = lower days to market

32

109

110

111

112

113

114

115

116

LifeStart Common practice

day

s to

mar

ket

4

TN Benelux, 2014

Trans-generational effect

33

34

Higher shoulder % Leaner carcasses

Braunschweig et al., 2012

F 0 Control or experimental diet

F 1

Control diet

F 2

Control diet

35

• Reduction in embryo survival d 45 gestation • Decreased uterus weight and size

0-13 d post-natal EV or control

Tarleton et al., 2002

Benefits of investing in early life

36

37

Earlier feed intake PW Microbial host relation

Higher within-batch homogeneity

Lower mortality

Higher ROI Protein accretion ≥4 days less to market

Better immune response

Take home message

38

Take home message

39

1. A light piglet at birth is not deemed to be the lightest

2. The first weeks post-weaning are more important than birth weight determining the fate of a piglet

3. Light weight piglets will benefit the most of complex feeding scheme

5. Targeted nutrition rather than a simple feeding will determine future performance

6. Not only economical but welfare benefits of investing in early life

7. Investing in the first 6 weeks of a pig’s life will pay off in the long term

4. Complex feeding ≠ higher costs - Complex feeding = MOF

Thank you

40