Investigating Potential Additive Effects of Formic Acid and Glycerol Monolaurate in Nursery Pig Diets

A total of 350 weanling pigs (200 × 400, DNA; initially, 12.5 ± 0.3 lb BW) were used in a 42-d study with 5 per pen and 14 replicate pens treatment. At weaning, allotted to completely randomized design randomly assigned one five dietary treatments: 1) negative control (standard nursery diet no additives); 2) 3,000 ppm ZnO included phase 1 2,000 2; 3) 0.7% formic acid (Amasil NA, BASF, Florham, NJ); 4) 0.18% glycerol monolaurate (Natural Biologics GML, Natural Biologics, Newfield, NY); 5) 1.0% blend acid, sodium diformate, (FORMI 3G, ADDCON GmbH, Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany). Pigs fed treatment diets from d 0 28 then common 42. This allowed be as part standard 3-phase program. From 7, containing or the had significantly increased (P = 0.03) ADG compared control. Feed intake did not differ > 0.05) during this period. Overall, GML reduced their counterparts control, ZnO, FORMI diets. was also impacted 0.233) by treatments. Fecal DM evaluated 7 there significant day interaction 0.035). lower fecal % on but higher 21. There evidence difference between treatments for 28. In summary, is potential improve growth performance immediately post-weaning without negatively impacting consistency. Further research warranted determine mode action these acids elucidate efficacy alternative feed ingredients combat challenges swine production.