Does Benzoic acid improve growth performance in pigs when used in feed?

Yes. Studies have shown that feeding Benzoic acid throughout the nursery period can improve growth performance in weaned pigs. In Experiment 1, 350 weaned pigs (DNA 200 × 400; initial body weight 5.9 ± 0.04 kg) were assigned to one of five feed treatments, each with 14 pens. The feeds were fed in three phases: Phase 1 from weaning to day 10, Phase 2 from day 10 to day 18, and Phase 3 from day 18 to day 38. Treatment 1 did not contain benzoic acid in all three phases (weaning to day 42). Treatment 2 contained 0.50% benzoic acid in all three phases. Treatment 3 contained 0.50% benzoic acid in phases 1 and 2 and 0.25% benzoic acid in phase 3. Treatment 4 contained 0.50% benzoic acid in phases 1 and 2 and no benzoic acid in phase 3. Treatment 5 contained 0.50% benzoic acid in phase 1, 0.25% benzoic acid in phase 2, and no benzoic acid in phase 3. Over the entire period, pigs fed 0.50% benzoic acid in the first two phases and 0.25% benzoic acid in the last phase had higher mean daily gain (ADG) than pigs fed no benzoic acid in all three phases or 0.50% benzoic acid in the first two phases and no benzoic acid in the last phase, while pigs fed the other treatments had intermediate levels of benzoic acid. Pigs fed 0.50% benzoic acid in the first two phases and 0.25% benzoic acid in the final phase had improved gain-feed ratio (G:F) compared to pigs fed no benzoic acid in all three phases, pigs fed 0.50% benzoic acid in the first two phases and no benzoic acid in the third phase, or pigs fed 0.50%, 0.25%, and no benzoic acid, respectively.

For Experiment 2, two groups of 1,053 finishing pigs (total 2,106 pigs; PIC 337 × 1,050; initial 33.3 ± 1.9 kg) were tested for 101 days. Dietary treatments were based on corn-soybean meal-DDG with solubles supplemented with no, 0.25%, or 0.50% benzoic acid. Overall, there was a trend toward increased mean daily feed intake (linear, P = 0.083) but decreased G:F (linear, P < 0.05) in pigs fed increased benzoic acid.

In Experiment 3, 2,162 finishing pigs (DNA 600 × PIC 1050; initially 31.4 ± 2.2 kg) were used over a 109-day trial. Dietary treatments contained or did not contain 0.25% benzoic acid. G:F increased in pigs fed benzoic acid throughout the experimental period. In conclusion, feeding benzoic acid throughout the finishing period improved growth performance, while an increase in feed to grow-finish pigs was observed in one experiment but not in the other.

References:

[1] GAFFIELD K, WOODWORTH J C, DEROUCHEY J M, et al. 228 Effect of Benzoic Acid Feeding Strategy on Weanling Pig Growth Performance[J]. Journal of animal science, 2023, 25 11: 0. DOI:10.1093/jas/skad341.160.

[2] GAFFIELD K N, BROMM J J, DEROUCHEY J, et al. Evaluating the effects of benzoic acid on nursery and finishing pig growth performance[J]. Accounts of Chemical Research, 2024, 22 3. DOI:10.1093/tas/txae049.

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