On the 8th April 2025, Michaela Quinn, Pig Technical and Research Graduate presented our latest research, conducted in partnership with the University of Galway at the British Society of Animal Science Conference in Galway, Ireland.

Entitled “A comparative study of the effect of feeding DevAmine® technology products and traditional protein sources on the concentration of myo-inositol in weaned piglets” the research showed how pig producers can improve weaned piglet performance by enhancing the supply of myo-inositol, a conditionally essential nutrient for weaned pigs, by utilising DevAmine as a protein source. 

What is Myo-inositol?

Myo-inositol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol that is synthesised from glucose. Research has shown that it can help deliver increased growth and feed efficiency and also helps to regulate intestinal barrier integrity. 

DevAmine, as a nutritionally enhanced protein source, releases amino acids and sugar. The trial was assessing whether the sugar released from DevAmine would act as a precursor for myo-inositol, delivering better performance than traditional protein sources. 

Trial overview

  • 96 piglets (14.5kg±0.35 s.e.m.)
  • 4 dietary treatments with different protein sources and balanced sugar levels. The pigs were balanced on weight, dam and sex)
  • Blood samples were analysed by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
  • Myo-inositol concentrated normalised to internal standard (d27-myristic acid)
  • Diets contained no phytase or supplemental myo-inositol

Results

When blood samples were taken, pigs fed DevAmine had a 139-fold increase in Myo-inositol concentration compared to pigs fed synthetic amino acids. Given the diets were balanced for sugar, the effect wasn’t a result of the additional sugar from the DevAmine product. 

There were no significant differences between the traditional protein sources. 

This shows that DevAmine can improve myo-inositol, which aids growth performance in weaned piglets, a time where there is traditionally a stunting of growth as a result of weaning. 

If you would like to know more about this research, contact your Devenish representative or call +44 (0)2890 755566.