gave 540 newly weaned piglets three different diets from day 28 to day 70. The control group was fed normally, a second group was given an energy-reduced diet (control diet minus 80 kcal NE/kg), and the third received the reduced energy diet plus GAA supplementation (1000 g/t of feed). The results showed that the GAA supplemented group performed at the same level as the control group in terms of FCR, weight gain and final body weight, and significantly better than piglets in the non-supplemented, reduced energy group (Figure 1; Table 1). An economic assessment of the different groups in the same study showed that GAA supplementation successfully com- pensated for the reduced energy concentration in feed with- out compromising live performance. Earnings were highest in this group. Simply reducing the energy content of the feed, without GAA supplementation, resulted in losses of around € 3 per piglet compared to the control group. The question is: does it make sense to reduce feed energy at all in piglets when this is a limiting factor in their growth. Comparable re- sults have consistently been found in broiler trials.
Environmental factors There are environmental considerations that need to be con- sidered when deciding which supplementation strategy to follow. Reducing energy (feed) intake with GAA supplements
has the benefit of producing a corresponding reduction in ex- cretion and subsequent gains in welfare (such as fewer foot problems) and a reduction in nitrogen excretion. An evaluation of the environmental impact of the broiler life cycle from egg to slaughter, has shown a possible improve- ment of about 1.9% when GAA is added to a standard diet without reducing the energy value of the diet. It is obvious that there are benefits to be obtained from both approaches to GAA supplementation. Finally, GAA feed supplements are available in different forms. For example, Evonik supplies a granulated form which is virtually dust free, free flowing, does not cake and is stable in all feed processing stages. Whatever formulation is used, there is no doubt that GAA supplementation can promote more efficient, productive and sustainable animal production.
A study showed that pigs supple- mented with GAA performed at the same level as the control group in terms of FCR, weight gain and final body weight.
Table 1 – Performance parameters of pigs receiving an energy- reduced diet, control, and energy-reduced diet plus GAA
Parameter Initial BW, kg Final BW, kg Feed intake, g/d Weight gain, g/d FCR,
kg.kg Mortality, %
Control 7.98 27.2a 702 455a 1.55 1.70
Energy-reduced 7.97
25.4b 661
411b 1.62 0.00
Energy-reduced plus GAA 7.98 26.9a 695 452a 1.55 1.70
P-value 0.998 0.001 0.244 0.001 0.087 0.219
▶ ALL ABOUT FEED | Volume 30, No. 3, 2022 37
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