Page 14 - APN May 2017

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Feed additive improves Australian sow reproductive performance
LEADING animal health company Elanco has bought the rights to patented research that in- vestigated the use of its innovative feed additive, ractopamine, in helping to reduce weight loss in breeding sows.
The independent study was conducted by PhD student (now SunPork Farms South production support manager) David Lines under the supervi- sion of University of Ad- elaide School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences Lecturer Dr William Van Wettere, with fund- ing from the Cooperative
Research Centre for High Integrity Australian Pork. The study showed that
supplementation with rac- topamine at 20ppm sig- nificantly reduced weight loss in first parity sows, regardless of duration or timing, without impairing litter weaning weight or size.
Ractopamine supple- mentation significantly increased the proportion of sows with low weight loss (less than 6 percent) and reduced the propor- tion of sows with high weight loss (more than 10 percent).
Pork CRC CEO Dr
Roger Campbell said the findings have the poten- tial to significantly boost the productivity and prof- itability of the Australian pork industry.
“The premature culling of young sows is a major cause of lost productiv- ity in the Australian pork industry,” he said.
“During lactation, sows mobilise fat and protein reserves to meet their nu- trition requirements for maintenance and milk production.
“The excessive mobili- sation of body reserves can cause a delay or fail- ure to return to oestrus
post-weaning and smaller subsequent litter sizes.
“This loss of body con- dition is more evident in young sows because they have a smaller appetite and body size.
“Any steps to decrease the liveweight loss in first parity sows will not only help to reduce premature culling but improve repro- ductive performance and total production.”
A preliminary study found ractopamine sup- plementation in first par- ity sows decreased anoes- trus rates by 20 percent and increased the mean number of piglets born at the second farrowing by 1.4.
Ractopamine, the ac- tive ingredient found in Paylean, has unique ‘nu- trient partitioning’ prop- erties that are particularly advantageous to the live- stock industry.
It directs nutrients to increase protein synthesis inside muscle tissue rather than fat deposition.
The active ingredient has minimal or no effect on protein degradation, fat synthesis, fat degrada- tion or other carcass qual- ity factors such as colour, firmness, tenderness and marbling.
Pork CRC manager – Commercialisation and Research Impact Dr Charles Rikard-Bell said while the pattern of use is not currently on the label for Paylean, the data has already been submitted by Elanco to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority for assessment.
“Ractopamineisalready included in about 60 per- cent of finisher rations in Australia to improve growth rates, feed effi- ciency and lean carcass yield in finisher pigs,” he said.
“This new research shows that supplemen- tation with ractopamine during the first lactation could be a simple strategy to improve sow longevity by reducing the propor- tion of sows at risk of reproductive failure and subsequent culling from the herd.”
Dr Rikard-Bell has an in-depth knowledge of Paylean, having spent more than a decade with Elanco Animal Health be- fore joining Pork CRC in mid-2015.
During this time, he completed a PhD inves- tigating the mechanisms and effects of ractopamine on fat and muscle deposi- tion in finisher pigs.
Elanco is a global lead- er in the development of products that improve the health, wellbeing and performance of food and companion animals.
It markets a wide range of parasiticides, anticoccidi- als, antibacterials and pro- ductivity enhancers used in the pork, dairy, beef and poultry industries.
In more recent years, Elanco has established it- self as an innovator in the companion animal health sector through its expand- ing range of innovative products that enable vet- erinarians to help pets live longer, healthier and higher-quality lives.
Elanco operates the only private-sector R&D facil- ity for food and compan- ion animals in Australia.
Located in western Sydney, this internation- ally accredited facility has played a key role in the development of major in- novations for the sheep, beef and dairy sectors.
Established in 1954, Elanco employs more than 7000 people across 40 countries.
It is a division of Eli Lilly and Company, a global pharmaceutical corporation with a herit- age spanning more than 130 years.
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Page 14 – Australian Pork Newspaper, May 2017
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