Evaluation of a polivitaminic, polimineral complex associated with essential amino acids to weaning and to weaned piglets: effects on the performance, diarrhea incidence and mortality rate

Abstract

The experiments were conducted on maternity and nursery phases in a commercial farm. The objective of the experiments was to evaluate the effects of administration of polivitaminic, polimineral complex associated with essential aminoacids (Mod Plus®) on piglets weight gain, diarrhea incidence and mortality rate. 324 piglets with 3 to 21 days of age were used on the maternity phase and 295 weaned piglets of 21 to 63 days of age were used on the nursery phase. The animals were weighed at the beginning of the maternity phase and submitted to a 4 treatments: light piglets without polivitaminic and polimineral supplementation, light piglets supplemented with polivitaminic and polimineral complex (3.0 mL IM at 3 days of age followed by a 2nd dose at 21 days of age), heavy piglets without polivitaminic and polimineral supplementation, and heavy piglets supplemented with polivitaminic and polimineral complex. Six treatments were defined on the nursery phase as follow: light piglets without polivitaminic and polimineral supplementation, light piglets supplemented with one dose of polivitaminic and polimineral complex (5.0 mL IM at 21 days of age), light piglets supplemented with two dosis of polivitaminic and polimineral complex (3.0 mL at 21 days of age followed by a 2nd dose, 3 mL IM, at 28 days of age), heavy piglets without polivitaminic and polimineral supplementation, heavy piglets supplemented with one dose of polivitaminic and polimineral complex (5.0 mL IM at 21 days of age), heavy piglets supplemented with two doses of polivitaminic and polimineral (Mod Plus®, 3.0 mL at 21 days of age followed by a 2nd dose, 3 mL IM, at 28 days of age). The experimental design was completely randomized under 2 x 2 factorial model to the maternity phase (2 medication conditions and 2 initial live weights) and 3 x 2 factorial model to the nursery phase (3 medication conditions and 2 initial live weights). At the maternity phase the mortality rate was better to supplemented group (P>0.05). At the nursery phase, animals that received 1 or 2 doses of supplementation complex presented a superior (P>0.05) final weight compared to a control group (respectively, 20290g and 20148g versus 18782g). The use of polivitaminic, polimineral complex associated with essential amino acids was positive to the mortality rate at the maternity phase and also over the animal performance at the nursery phase.