PSXII-20 - Use of Statistical Process Control to Evaluate the Effect of Isoquinoline Alkaloids Supplementation on Productive Performance of Growing-finishing Pigs

Abstract: Statistical process control (SPC) is a statistical method that can be used to evaluate the production variation in swine operations, thus facilitating decision making. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of plant-derived isoquinoline alkaloids (IQs) supplementation on production performance of growing-finishing pigs by using SPC.The experiment was carried out in a commercial swine integration in Spain. Historical control (calibration) data was compiled from 2017 to June 2020. During this period, all animals received a standard commercial diet. During the treatment period, which started in July 2020 and lasted until February 2021, all pigs were fed the standard diet supplemented with 1 kg/t feed of a plant-based IQ product (Phytobiotics Futterzusatzstoffe GmbH, Eltville, Germany), from day 70 of life until slaughter. Data recorded during both, historical control and treatment periods included feed conversion ratio (FCR), average daily gain (ADG, g/d), average daily feed intake (ADFI, g/d), cost of medicines (Euro/pig), runts (%) and mortality rate (%). SPC tools were used to monitor the previously described performance parameters. CUSUM control charts were obtained for all parameters and for each nutritional and health cluster to show the evolution or the changes of each parameter. The results showed that pigs supplemented with IQs had a lower FCR, increased ADG and reduced cost in medications as compared to the control period (p ≤ 0.05; Table 1). SPC methods were successfully implemented to evaluate the effect of IQs supplementation on growth performance of grow-finish pigs. The results of the study indicated that IQs supplementation improved FCR and ADG, whereas the cost of medication was significantly reduced. Therefore, IQs supplementation in pigs from day 70 of life until slaughter could be a good strategy to improve the efficiency and profitability of the production system.