Rooting for em

9 March 2001

Rooting for em

BY EXPLOITING pre-weaned piglets instinctive rooting behaviour, weaning weights can be boosted using NaturStart, a natural feed attractant, introduced by SCA Nutrition.

An alternative to peat, the product is based on natural edible fibres and can be introduced in small quantities twice-a-day from four-days-old, says the company.

"Feed evaluation trials show a 7% improvement in weaning weight when NaturStart is offered alongside creep feed. It stimulates piglets to spend more time around the feeding area and increases early intake of dry matter," says SCAs Mike Varley.

The product comes in 20kg packs and costs £8.50 a pack (01845-578125, fax 01845-578100).