PSVIII-3 - Evaluation of the metal corrosiveness and pelleting stability of formic acid-based organic acid blend and the effects of the blend on post-weaning growth performance

Abstract: Studies were conducted to evaluate the metal corrosiveness and pelleting stability of a formic acid-based organic acid blend, which is a free-flowing powder with silica as inert carrier. Under experimental conditions, results suggested the blend has minimal metal corrosiveness and is stable during the pelleting process (conditioning temperature = 195⁰ F). An animal trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of the blend on post-weaning growth performance. A total of 1,320 post-weaning piglets (~21 d of age, 6.9 kg BW) were assigned to 5 dietary treatments (22 pigs/pen, n =12) and fed for 42 d in 4 dietary phases (12, 10, 13 and 7 d, respectively). Treatments were 1) NC, basal diet without antibiotics or acidifier; 2) PC, basal diet with antibiotics but without an acidifier; 3) PC+A, product A is a blend of organic and inorganic acids; 4) PC+B, product B is a blend of organic acids and derivatives; 5) PC+C, product C is the formic acid-based organic acid blend. For treatments 3, 4, and 5, products A, B and C were added to the PC diet respectively at 0.3% in Phase 1, 0.15% in Phase 2 and 0% in Phase 3 and 4. Data were analyzed with ANOVA and differences considered significant at P < 0.05. During Phase 1, 2 and 3, PC+C treatment showed the highest BW, ADG and ADFI, which were significantly higher compared with NC (P < 0.05) and numerically higher comparing with PC, PC+A and PC+B treatments. In Phase 1, PC+C treatment showed lower FCR than the other groups. There were no significant differences for ADG, ADFI and FCR among all treatments during Phase 4. Overall, PC+C treatment showed higher final BW, ADG and ADFI, which were significantly higher than NC (P < 0.05) and numerically higher than PC, PC+A and PC+B groups.