New piglet starter feed launches in zinc-free era
3rd May 2024
Cargill UK has launched a new range of starter feed diets, Neopigg Shield, to promote gut health, the immune system and disease resistance in piglets.
The diets are designed to help futureproof piglet performance in the new zinc-free era. They will be showcased at this year’s Pig and Poultry Fair at the NEC, Birmingham on 15-16th May.
Tailored for UK systems
Formulations of Neopigg Shield diets, which have been used widely in Europe since 2022, have been tailored to suit UK systems.
They are unique in their ability to support four ‘pillars’ identified as being critical to reducing digestive upsets post-weaning. Ingredients are used in the diets that specifically address these four areas:
- Protein digestion – diets contain highly digestible and rapidly utilisable protein sources with a low level of gut fermentable protein
- Immune regulation – diets contain high levels of nutrients known to support a rapid immune response and anti-inflammatory components
- Intestinal flora – functional metabolites and prebiotics help to stabilise gut microorganisms to promote beneficial populations and strengthen the intestinal lining
- Mucin effect – antioxidants, essential oils and specialised processed carbohydrates strengthen the mucin layer covering the gut which serves as a first line of defence against pathogenic bacteria.
Read more: Challenges and opportunities in optimising weaned pig health and performance
Read more: Cargill Animal Nutrition shifts to sustainable soya in pig and poultry diets
Extensive farm trials
Neopigg Shield diets are supported by extensive farm trials, including trials on 10 different commercial units in the UK with 25,000 piglets.
Piglets fed Neopigg Shield had up to an 8% improvement in liveweight at nine weeks post-weaning, compared to piglets fed 3,100ppm of zinc oxide (ZnO) in the first two weeks post weaning.
In 60% of these UK trials piglets fed Neopigg Shield diets had comparable or firmer faeces compared with those fed ZnO, demonstrating the support to the digestive system that the diets offer.
The Neopigg range, which also includes Neopigg Max diets, contains specialised Cargill ingredients and additives known to support piglets in the post-weaning phase.
Cargill’s sustainably sourced and supplied soya, Triple S Soya, is used in all Neopigg diets.
Neopigg Shield offers more flexibility to the Neopigg range. Cargill UK pig specialists work with producers to select the diets that best suit the unit, the system and their piglet requirements.
This might be a combination of Neopigg Max and Neopigg Shield, to ensure successful and improved performance of piglets post weaning through to 18kg.
Visit Cargill UK in Hall 11, stand 310, or visit www.provimi.eu/uk-neopigg
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