Effects of Encapsulated Butyric Acid and Copper on Nursery Pig Growth Performance from d 0 to 42 after Weaning

A study was conducted evaluating the effects of propionic acid plus copper carbonate (KemTRACE Cu^®, Kemin Industries, Des Moines, IA), encapsulated butyric acid (ButiPEARL™, Kemin Industries, Des Moines, IA) and a novel encapsulated butyric acid plus copper carbonate (ButiPearl^™ C, Kemin Industries, Des Moines, IA) on the growth performance of weanling pigs. A total of 350 pigs (PIC 280 x 1050; initial BW=5.54kg) with 10 pigs/pen and 7 replicate pens/treatment were used in a 42 d study. Pigs were allocated in a randomized, complete block design based upon initial BW. Diets were pelleted, corn-soybean meal based and similar within phase except for the additional copper and encapsulated butyric acid. All nutrient concentrations met or exceeded NRC (2012) estimates. Treatments were Control (N), 500 mg/kg ButiPEARL^™ (B), 65 mg/kg Cu from KemTRACE Cu^® (C), 500 mg/kg ButiPEARL^™ + 65 mg/kg C from KemTRACE Cu^® (BC); 500 mg/kg ButiPEARL^™ C (BPC). Treatment differences were determined by LSMEANS comparisons. During d 0 to 7, no differences were observed for initial BW, ADG; ADFI (P>0.10). Gain:feed was greatest for BC and BPC (P<0.05). From d 7 to 21, ADG was greatest for BPC and BC (P<0.05). Day 7 to 21 Gain:feed for C, BC; BPC was higher than N (P<0.05). Day 21 to 42 ADG was greatest for BC (P<0.05). Day 21 to 42 ADFI was greatest for BC and BPC (P<0.05); gain:feed was greatest for BC (P<0.05). From d 0 to 42, overall ADG and ADFI were greatest for BC and BPC, while N and B were lowest (P<0.05). Overall gain:feed was greatest for BC (P<0.05). Final BW was greatest for BC and BPC (P<0.05). Adding BC or BPC showed the greatest growth performance improvement for pigs from d 0 to 42 after weaning.

Table 1. Effect of encapsulated butyric acid and copper on weanling pig performance, d 0 to 42
	N	B	C	BC	BPC	SEM
ADG, g	360b	354b	378ab	404a	401a	13
ADFI, g	511b	503b	527ab	548a	553a	15
G:F, g/kg	703a	705a	718ab	737b	723ab	22
D 42 BW, kg	20.5b	20.5b	21.5ab	22.5a	22.4a	0.6
abMeans within row differ (P<0.05)