Cargill has introduced four new innovations in improving sow production:

• Dietary Cation-Anion Difference or DCAD Technology
• HITOP Technology
• Ideal Carbohydrate Balance
• EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) + DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid)

The DCAD Technology has been used in dairy cow feeding since the 1980s to prevent periparturient hypocalcaemia or milk fever. Since Cargill discovered that this effect could be achieved in sows, the company has toiled on using this technology to prevent agalactia or non-lactation of sows.

In their research, the company stressed that a negative cantion-anion balance of the diet has mobilised calcium from the bones, thus producing stronger bone structure and more nutritious milk in sows.

The HITOP Technology addresses enhanced milk production through its lactation top dress mash feeds. Cargill assures that taking HITOP, which contains crude protein, phosphorous, calcium and moisture, will provide extra energy, amino acid and multi-vitamin to sows in hot climates. HITOP will also increase feed intake and reduce weight loss.

Carbohydrates are found to help maintain an optimum gut microflora balance that enables pigs to eat more and grow consistently. This nutrient also makes up roughly two-thirds or 60 to 70 percent of the pig's diet.

With these findings, Cargill developed the Ideal Carbohydrate Balance that will adjust the levels of starches, sugars and complex carbohydrates to support the sow's performance. The Ideal Carbohydrate Balance will also optimise the nutritional health of young pigs, giving sucklings better weight and greater gain.

The EPA and DHA are fatty acids that can reduce the maintenance energy of sows due to less activation of the immune system when sows are exposed to stress factors. Less stress activities will produce more milk and the combination of these fatty acids, as conducted on field trials, can produce 7 percent more milk and an extra 75 pigs per sow per year. EPA+DHA can also increase weaning weight by at least half kilogramme.

These innovations are incorporated in the company's Pork Focus programme, which has affiliations with hog raisers nationwide to help farmers improve their production at a world-class capacity.

Dr Michael Pasco, Cargill's pork focus consultant, said that these technologies are not to edge out competitors but to give the right solutions to sow problems. "We are here not to compete or outpace other companies but are here to help. Our goal is give the very best to our customers, especially to the hog industry where we have potentials."

He added that at Cargill is currently no.15 in global pig production and will have to work hard to improve their rankings.

ThePigSite News Desk