Data recently presented at an American Society of Animal Science meeting indicates producers can now get even more return per pig fed Paylean® by implementing a five-week, “step-up” dose regimen. This protocol, which calls for Paylean to be fed at 4.5 grams per ton for three weeks, followed by 9 grams per ton for two weeks, can be implemented more easily with a FAST system. (See sidebar below.)

			Dr. Dale Mechler, consulting veterinarian, Suidae Health and Production

Results showed the new Paylean feeding regimen produced better performance, carcass value and profit potential than a constant dose (4.5 grams per ton for 5 weeks). This agrees with results found in previous step-up studies conducted at Purdue University and North Carolina State University.

The new data comes from an on-farm research trial in commercial facilities near Algona, Iowa, where 1,050 pigs were divided into four groups, including one with no Paylean as a control. The rest of the pigs received either Paylean at 4.5 grams per ton for five weeks (constant) or 4.5 grams per ton for two weeks, followed by 9 grams per ton for three weeks (2+3 step-up); or 4.5 grams per ton for three weeks, followed by 9 grams per ton for two weeks (3+2 step-up). All pigs, however, received the same ration containing increased lysine and crude protein levels. The only variable was Paylean dose.

Investigators measured pig and feed weights throughout the trial to determine average daily gain, average daily feed intake and feed efficiency data. Carcass data from IBP’s Storm Lake, Iowa, facility was used to measure Paylean’s carcass effects.

Step-Up Results

			Dr. Allan Schinckel, Purdue University swine researcher

Both Paylean step-up treatments yielded improvements in live performance and carcass measurements compared to the constant (4.5 grams per ton) treatment. Average daily gain improved the most with the 3+2 treatment, increasing by 0.11 pounds (6.6%) over the constant treatment. Feed efficiency was identical in both step-up treatments, but 0.18 (6.0%) better than a constant treatment and 0.42 (13.0%) better than control.

In the end, the 3+2 step-up treatment offered the most return over feed costs—$2.46 more per head than the five-week constant, 4.5-gram Paylean treatment. The 3+2 and the five-week constant treatments equaled $7.25 and $4.79 more return per head respectively, over the control treatment, fed no Paylean.“

			The 3+2 Paylean step-up treatment showed the biggest improvement in average daily gain in the Iowa trial.

This new step-up treatment has a very good return on investment,” says Dr. Dale Mechler, a consulting swine veterinarian with Suidae Health and Production in Algona, IA. “There aren’t many products that have this kind of positive impact where you can measure it and see an immediate return. This makes the switch to a five-week Paylean treatment worth the effort for producers.”

FAST Can Optimize Paylean

Dr. Allan Schinckel, a swine researcher at Purdue University, says producers should seriously consider adopting the Paylean step-up regimen. “By adopting a step-up regimen and sorting pigs into groups with a system like FAST, more pigs could receive Paylean for the optimal time to get more of the economic benefits it provides.”

Purdue research indicates producers can realize returns above feed costs of up to $4 per head with a Paylean step-up feeding treatment. Dr. Schinckel adds, “Producers who can manage diets with a step-up feeding treatment don’t look back. They typically see another dollar per head when they make the switch from a constant Paylean level.”

“With general agreement between university trials and now a large, commercial trial, the results are conclusive — Paylean step-up feeding works. Implementing it with the help of technology such as FAST has the added potential to make the feeding, management and marketing of Paylean-fed pigs more precise to optimize the profit potential of the product,” he says.

Combined Returns Impressive

Results from the Paylean step-up trial in Iowa would suggest that producers can improve return per head over feed costs when they initially implement a constant Paylean dose. An additional $2.46 per head was gained with the five-week, step-up treatment. Added to the potential return producers can receive from adopting FAST alone, (see chart on page 8) the total return becomes quite significant.