more antibiotics because of proposed health problems with the low copper levels proposed. Mr Jensen says, “A very important study was published in 2015 by Paul Bikker and others from Wageningen University and Research Centre in the Netherlands explaining the effects of reducing copper levels for weaned pigs and this study is in full support of our proposal,” says Mr Jensen. These factors, in combination with our own impact assess- ment, has helped us to formulate a step wise reduction of copper levels in pig feed that better matches the reality, from both an animal nutrition and health perspective as well as an environmental perspective. The current regulation looks at piglets up to 12 weeks. The new and upcoming legislation from the EU Commission talks about weeks after weaning and this fits well in the phase feeding of piglets as practised already. So there are no big practical issues related to this aspect for farmers. See the old and the new situation and the proposed levels in Table 1.


Complete support from EU “The first to be convinced of our alternative proposal was the EU Commission, who issued a legal proposal for amend- ment of the present maximum limits for copper along the FEFAC proposal. In parallel, national associations of com- pound feed manufacturers, member of FEFAC, promoted our approach at national level with the support of many pig farmers organisations,” explains Mr Jansen. This showed to be extremely positive: the members of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCoPAFF), the Regulatory Committee composed of national authorities from the 28 member states expressed to be unan- imously in favour of the legislative proposal of the EU Com- mission at a recent meeting on 24-25 April. This committee has the last say on such decisions. This means that it is no


longer a proposal, but will be the new legislation on this topic once published in the Official Journal of the European Union, which is expected soon. Mr Jensen: “I am happy that FEFAC demonstrated to the authorities that lowering the copper levels in small piglet feed too soon and too much would be very critical on pig health management and performance. At the same time, the bulk amount of feed is not consumed in the small pig- lets. It can therefore be of relevance to look on older age groups and slightly reduce the levels in the older pigs. This is what we have proposed for the age from five to eight weeks after weaning, and clearly this proposal has gained full acceptance and is the future legislation. Mind you: the bulk of the copper used in agriculture is actually not related to animal feeding.”


Animal nutrition: part of health management The copper story fits in FEFAC’s ambition and vision to make animal nutrition part of the health management. “It is impor- tant to optimise animal feed formulations to such an extent that we can boost animal nutrition, supporting the good normal gut health in piglets, and support the immune system to optimise growth and production. Nutrition is key and forms the basis for good normal healthy animal production and will contribute to a reduced dependency on antibiotics,” explains Mr Jensen. The time for the new levels for piglet feed to enter into force will as mentioned depend on the exact date of publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Usually the pub- lished new regulation will enter into force on the 20th day after publication. It is expected that a transition time will be included in the new regulation, as still volumes of feed and premixes circulate in the market based on the ‘old’ inclusion levels of copper.


▶ PIG PROGRESS | Volume 34, No. 6, 2018 31


Lowering the copper levels in small piglet feed too soon and too much would be very critical on pig health man- agement and performance.


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