Table 1.
Effects of organic acids on growth performance and diarrhea rate 1.
| Control | OA1 | OA2 | p-Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–14 | ||||
| Feed intake, kg/piglet | 2.92 ± 0.25 b | 3.24 ± 0.45 a | 2.89 ± 0.24 b | 0.02 |
| Body weight gain, kg/piglet | 1.68 ± 0.17 b | 1.90 ± 0.24 a | 1.69 ± 0.16 b | 0.02 |
| Feed/gain ratio, kg/kg | 1.75 ± 0.16 | 1.71 ± 0.18 | 1.72 ± 0.24 | 0.88 |
| Diarrhea rate, % | 10.2 ± 3.1 a | 9.6 ± 2.9 a | 7.0 ± 2.7 b | 0.03 |
| Mortality rate, % | 0.83 ± 2.89 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 1.67 ± 3.89 | 0.36 |
| Days 15–49 | ||||
| Feed intake, kg/piglet | 24.0 ± 1.3 a,b | 24.4 ± 1.7 a | 23.1 ± 1.3 b | 0.08 |
| Body weight gain, kg/piglet | 16.7 ± 0.8 | 17.3 ± 1.2 # | 16.4 ± 1.0 # | 0.13 |
| Feed/gain ratio, kg/kg | 1.43 ± 0.05 # | 1.41 ± 0.05 | 1.40 ± 0.03 # | 0.23 |
| Diarrhea rate, % | 1.27 ± 0.73 a | 1.16 ± 0.81 a | 0.59 ± 0.54 b | 0.05 |
| Mortality rate, % | 0.83 ± 2.89 | 3.33 ± 4.92 | 2.50 ± 4.52 | 0.35 |
| Days 1–49 | ||||
| Feed intake, kg/piglet | 26.9 ± 1.5 a,b | 27.7 ± 1.9 a | 26.0 ± 1.4 b | 0.05 |
| Body weight gain, kg/piglet | 18.4 ± 0.9 b,# | 19.2 ± 1.3 a,# | 18.1 ± 1.1 b | 0.06 |
| Feed/gain ratio, kg/kg | 1.46 ± 0.05 | 1.44 ± 0.05 | 1.43 ± 0.04 | 0.26 |
| Diarrhea rate, % | 4.01 ± 1.03 a | 3.80 ±1.32 a | 2.58 ± 0.98 b | 0.01 |
| Mortality rate, % | 1.67 ± 3.89 | 3.33 ± 4.92 | 4.17 ± 6.69 | 0.51 |
1 Values are means ± SD, n = 12. Labeled means in a row with different letters differ, p < 0.05. A given 2 means labeled with # indicates a tendency, 0.05 ≤ p < 0.10.