Trial demonstrates higher weaning weights and piglet survival with Pump'n'Grow and DanMilk

An impressive 5% more piglets survived using our Pump'n'Grow^TM milk cup system and DanMilk^TM Supreme milk replacer.

More live piglets, fewer suckling sows and higher weaning weights are three key reasons to invest in Pump'n'Grow  and DanMilk Supreme, as demonstrated in our recent trial.

The trial took place on a sow unit north of Herning, Denmark. The experiment involved three repetitions, with 8 sows in each control group and 8 in each experimental group. In the experimental group of 24 sows, the piglets received DanMilk Supreme via the Pump’n’Grow milk system, ensuring the trial was as realistic and relevant as possible.

The piglets were provided with milk replacer from day 0 to day 21, before being weaned on day 26.

Good results

Each litter was standardised to ensure an average of 13.96 piglets per litter in the experimental group and 13.84 piglets in the control group.

On day 0, the total litter weight in the milk group was 19.5 kg, equating to 1.37 kg per piglet, while in the control group, which did not receive milk, the total litter weight was 19.25 kg, or 1.39 kg per piglet.

The piglets were weighed on days 21 and 26. On day 21, the litter weight was 73.19 kg in the milk group, compared to 67.26 kg in the control group.

By day 26, the difference had increased – the litter weight in the milk group was 85.43 kg, while those in the non-milk group weighed 78.2 kg, explains Jørn Madsen, Innovation Lead at AB Neo.

This weight difference remained even though the piglets did not receive additional milk between days 21 and 26. One possible explanation is a higher feed intake and, consequently, greater growth in the piglets that had received DanMilk Supreme up to day 21.

Although the numbers are quite detailed, overall, there was a 7.23 kg difference in litter weight and 0.81 more piglets per litter in the litters that received the milk replacer, adds Jørn Madsen.

Can you afford not to?

The experiment conducted by Søren Hansen shows that five percentage points more piglets survived compared to the control group, which did not receive milk replacer. This translates to 0.8 more piglets reaching self-weaning, which corresponds to approximately 1.2 days older at weaning, explains Jørn Madsen.

The key outcome is the increase in piglet survival. Studies, both in Denmark and internationally, have shown that piglets often fail to survive due to starvation in the first few days, and this issue has been addressed in this trial.

At the same time, Jørn Madsen emphasises that using milk replacer reduces the number of nursing sows required.

As a pig producer, you can increase your weaning weights and boost the number of surviving piglets by 0.81 per litter, according to the trial. So, the question is: can you afford not to?

Summary

The trial showed that by using Pump'n'Grow and DanMilk Supreme you can expect:

• Higher weights at weaning
• Increase in more live piglets
• The sows wean up to 4 extra piglets per year

Pump'n'Grow and DanMilk Supreme were used in the experiment. If you would like to learn more about Pump'n'Grow and DanMilk, please feel free to contact us.