dsm-firmenich launches pig feed additive to reduce stress and aggression

GLOBAL – dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health has launched MaxiFicient™ Shield, a feed additive designed to help pigs manage stressful situations and reduce aggressive behavior in commercial swine production.

The solution will be introduced in selected markets across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) in the coming months.

It is intended to support calmer behavior while helping maintain productive performance during challenging production stages.

Stress associated with weaning, mixing and overcrowding can increase aggression and damaging behaviors, including tail and ear biting.

These problems can affect animal welfare, growth rates and feed efficiency, while increasing treatment and labor costs for producers.

According to dsm-firmenich, the economic impact of tail-biting lesions can reach about €2 (US$2.23) per finished pig through reduced growth and feed efficiency, additional treatment and labor requirements, and carcass losses.

Shelby Curry, head of Swine Marketing & Business Development at dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health, said the additive provides producers with a nutritional approach to managing stress-related challenges.

“Stress and aggressive behavior are more than welfare challenges. They can significantly affect productivity and profitability. With MaxiFicient™ Shield, we are giving producers a new nutritional tool to help pigs better manage stressful situations, supporting calmer behavior and more resilient production,” Curry said.

Trials show reductions in stress indicators

Evaluations of MaxiFicient Shield reported lower stress indicators and less damaging behavior among pigs.

In one evaluation, tail biting decreased by about 15%, while another recorded about 24% lower salivary cortisol after a social stress challenge.

The findings suggest the additive could help manage stress-related behaviors, although results may vary under different production conditions.

dsm-firmenich said availability will differ by market and encouraged producers to contact local company representatives for information on supply in their countries.

The launch adds a nutritional tool to the range of interventions available to swine producers seeking to improve animal welfare while protecting growth performance and production efficiency

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