Palatability claims are cheap; trial data is not. This is the protocol we recommend to every customer before they commit a formula — the same design behind our own VS382 weaned-piglet data (+13.65% intake, +10.58% daily gain at 600 g/T).
Steps
- Define the objective. Choose one primary metric before you start: daily feed intake, FCR, or refusal rate. Trials that chase everything prove nothing.
- Set up a true control. Your current formula, unchanged, fed to a comparable group — same genetics, age, barn conditions and feeder type as the test group.
- Prepare the test feed. Add the palatant or sweetener at the recommended dose (e.g. VS382 at 600 g/T for weaned piglets). Keep every other ingredient and the pelleting profile identical.
- Randomize and replicate. Split animals randomly into pens; at least 3 replicate pens per treatment. Record starting weights.
- Run 6-8 weeks. Weigh feed offered and refused daily; weigh animals weekly. Do not change either formula mid-trial.
- Evaluate honestly. Compare intake, gain and FCR against control with simple statistics. A 5-10% intake uplift under heat stress is a realistic success benchmark — treat larger claims with suspicion.
Common mistakes
- Testing during disease outbreaks or extreme weather swings — noise buries the signal
- Changing two variables at once (new palatant AND new protein source)
- Judging by week one — weaning stress masks treatment effects early
- No refusal weighing — intake data without refusals overstates consumption
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