The Effect of Calcium Formate on Piglet Feed

Calcium formate is an organic compound with the molecular formula C2H2O4Ca. It is used as a feed additive and is suitable for all types of animals. It has acidification, mildew resistance, and antibacterial properties. It can be used as a feed acidifier in place of citric acid and fumaric acid. It can reduce and adjust the pH value of the gastrointestinal tract, promote the digestion and absorption of nutrients, and has disease prevention and health care functions, especially for piglets.

As a new type of feed additive, calcium formate is suitable for weaned piglets. The nutritional function of calcium formate is mainly achieved through the formic acid decomposed in the gastric acid environment. It primarily improves the growth performance of weaned piglets in the following ways:

1. Lowering the pH of the gastrointestinal tract is beneficial for activating pepsinogen, compensating for the lack of digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid secretion in the stomach of piglets, and improving the digestibility of feed nutrients.

2. Maintaining a low pH value in the gastrointestinal tract prevents the massive growth and reproduction of Escherichia coli and other pathogenic bacteria, while promoting the growth of some beneficial bacteria. It produces volatile fatty acids in the cecum and colon that act as antibiotics. In addition, beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus can cover the intestinal mucosa to prevent the invasion of toxins produced by Escherichia coli, thereby preventing diarrhea related to bacterial infection.

3. Calcium formate can act as a chelating agent in the digestion process. It can promote the absorption of minerals in the intestinal tract, improve the energy utilization of natural metabolites, and improve the feed conversion rate. It can prevent diarrhea and improve the survival rate and daily weight gain of piglets. At the same time, calcium formate also has an anti-mildew and preservation effect.

Adding 1% to 1.5% calcium formate to piglet diets can significantly improve the performance of weaned piglets. Adding 1.3% calcium formate to the diet of weaned piglets can improve the feed conversion rate by 7% to 8%. Adding 0.9% calcium formate can reduce the occurrence of diarrhea in piglets. It should be noted that the use of calcium formate is effective before and after weaning, because the secretion of hydrochloric acid by the piglet itself strengthens with age. Calcium formate contains 30% easily absorbable calcium. When preparing feed, pay attention to adjusting the ratio of calcium and phosphorus.