NUTRITIVE EFFICACY OF SORBIC-ACID IN THE REARING OF PIGLETS

To examine the efficacy of sorbic acid as a food additive, a feeding e xperiment was conducted using 48 weaned piglets (DL x P; 7.2 kg live w eight) which were kept in single cages. The piglets were equally assig ned to four treatment groups (I-IV) and were fed ad libitum a prestart er feed for 21 days, and for the consecutive 17 days a piglet-rearing feed. Both mixtures had nutrient concentrations covering the requireme nt of the piglets and were supplemented iso-energetically with 0% (gro up I), 1.2% (II), 1.8% (III), or 2.4% sorbic acid (IV). The supplement ation induced a linear increase in the mean daily feed intake from 730 g for group I to 870 g for group IV. Simultaneously daily weight gain increased from 430 g (I) to 550 g (IV) so that the final weight of th e piglets with 2.4% sorbic acid in the feed was 20% higher than that o f the untreated animals. Feed conversion (kg feed/kg weight gain) was improved from 1.7 (group I) to less than 1.6 (group TV). There were no differences in the frequency or severity of diarrhea between treatmen t groups. For practical application at least, up to 1.8% sorbic acid s upplementation to a piglet-rearing feed is advantageous for performanc e. In a prestarter feed, even sorbic acid additions of 2.4% and more m ight improve growth and feed conversion.