YoghurLac®
YoghurLac is a tasty, high-energy and acidified powder product for piglets, which gets thi...
A Danish piglet producer in West Jutland with over 1,800 sows reduced piglet mortality from slightly over 13 percent units to just over 10 percent in 12 weeks by giving the smallest piglets a yoghurt product in Pig-LET Starters.
"Even though we have good results, we always want to do a little better," says piglet producer Brian Jørgensen, Torlundgård near Ølgod in West Jutland. Brian Jørgensen has approximately 1,820 sows on two properties and exports around 69,000 30 kg piglets to Germany annually. The latest figures from the farm show 20.8 live-born piglets per litter, placing the West Jutland piglet producer in the top 5 nationwide. "When there are so many live-born piglets per litter, there will inevitably be some very small piglets among them. These very small piglets need extra energy to get started," notes the piglet producer. "To address this, consultant Karina Mikkelsen from “FarestaldsEliten” suggested we use Pig-LET Starters from Best Farm to provide a yoghurt product tailored to piglets to the smallest piglets," he explains.
Noticeable Results
"In connection with litter equalisation, we have now given the yoghurt product to the smallest approximately 20 percent of all piglets for over a year using Pig-LET Starters. The result is that we now have fewer piglets dying of hunger because they do not have the strength to move to the sow and suckle. Now the piglets are clearly more vigorous," says the sow farm manager at Torlundgård, Vitalina Berezynets. "Specifically, we reduced piglet mortality from just over 13 percent in week 47 of 2023 to just over 10 percent in week 7 of 2024," she adds. "We place the Pig-LET Starters as close to the piglets as possible, right under the piglet huts. This ensures that the piglets have the easiest possible access to them, so they can quickly start consuming the yoghurt product," explains Vitalina Berezynets.
Yoghurt product does not turn unpalatable
She further explains that the piglets are given the yoghurt product YoghurLac from R2 Agro A/S 1- 2 times daily for the first 3-4 days, depending on need. Approximately 500 millilitres of the yoghurt product is filled into the Pig-LET Starters each time, and they are always empty in the morning. Vitalina Berezynets adds that the yoghurt product has the advantage of not turning unpalatable "With the experiences we have had so far with giving the yoghurt product to the smallest piglets, I have no doubt that we will always be able to reduce piglet mortality by at least two percent units with it. Therefore, we will definitely continue to use it," supplements Brian Jørgensen.
Suggestion from “FarestaldsEliten”
Consultant Karina Mikkelsen from “FarestaldsEliten” has been involved in inventing and developing the Pig-LET Starter together with Best Farm A/S, which produces it today. "I have been visiting Brian Jørgensen for many years, who ranks high in terms of the number of live-born piglets per litter. To keep as many of the smallest piglets alive as possible, I suggested he try the Pig-LET Starter to give these piglets a yoghurt product," says Karina Mikkelsen, adding: "He started with aArticle from Danish magazine”Effektivt Landbrug”, January 2025 few, but quickly decided to buy about ten Pig-LET Starters, so there were enough for all the smallest piglets from litter equalisation. And it really made a difference in the results."
Colostrum is important
"For this to succeed, it is important that the small piglets stay with the mother sow for at least 18 hours, so they get enough colostrum before they are moved in connection with litter equalisation. Otherwise, they will not make it, no matter what else you do," emphasises Karina Mikkelsen. "When the umbilical cords are dry, and you are sure that the piglets have had enough colostrum, the smallest piglets are gathered with the best sow in connection with litter equalisation. Here, the Pig-LET Starters with the yoghurt product are placed, and they stay there until the litter is thriving, and the piglets have full bellies and look good," she explains, adding: "To get the piglets to quickly take the yoghurt product, you can put a little of it in their mouths, so they get used to the taste." Finally, Karina Mikkelsen stresses that the Pig-LET Starters must be cleaned thoroughly every day.
Enhance the growth performance
The purpose of the trial was to investigate the effects of Cabanin® CSD as partly vitamin E replacement and used in higher dosage as performance enhancer.
Figure 2. Feed conversion ratio (kg/kg) in piglet trial.
"In connection with litter equalisation, we are now
allocating a yoghurt product to the smallest
approximately 20 percent of all piglets using Pig-LET
Starters. The result is that we now have fewer piglets
dying of starvation because they do not have the strength
to move to the sow and suckle," says the feed manager at
Torlundgård, Vitalina Berezynets
The Pig-LET Starters are placed as close to the piglets as possible, right under the piglet shelters. This ensures that the piglets have the easiest possible access to them, so they can quickly start consuming the yoghurt product.
Feed manager at Torlundgård, Vitalina Berezynets, explains that the piglets in the equalisation litters are given the yoghurt product YoghurLac from R2 Agro A/S 1-2 times daily for the first 3-4 days, depending on their needs. Approximately 500 millilitres are filled each time, and they are always empty in the morning
Brian Jørgensen, Torlundgård, together with two of his employees. On the left is feed manager Vitalina Berezynets, and on the right is feed manager Denzel Colim. The latest figures show 20.8 live-born piglets per litter, placing the West Jutlandfarm in the top 5 nationwide.
