Search Weight Loss Topics:

Home » Diets that Work » Zero zinc requires a healthy gut – All About Feed

For many years zinc oxide was the most cost effective way to reduce post-weaning diarrhea in piglets. For EU pig producers this era came to an end on June 26 2022. Increasing antibiotics is not an option and another substitute for medicinal zinc isnt found yet, therefore pig producers need to adopt a new production strategy.

We at the Danish Pig Research Centre believe that it is important to share the knowledge that is available so that the phasing out of medicinal zinc does not affect antibiotic consumption, animal welfare and economic profitability.

During the Zero Zinc summit scientists presented latest results and showed practical examples of how to phase out medical zinc, while maintaining productivity. With the aim of increasing our knowledge in this area, we have brought together professors and other leading scientists who have devoted many working hours to finding a solution to weaning diarhoea. We at the Danish Pig Research Centre believe that it is important to share the knowledge that is available so that the phasing out of medicinal zinc does not affect antibiotic consumption, animal welfare and economic profitability, said Christian Fink Hansen https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-fink-hansen-9a20216/?originalSubdomain=dk, Sector Director, Danish Pig Research Centre, Danish Food and Agriculture Council, when opening the summit.

In 2 days it became clear that the microbiome of the piglets is one of the most, or even most important factor in reducing diarrhoea, and improving animal health and performance. The right development of the microbiome in early life will influence animal health later on. However, there a multiple factors in the current production strategies that could have a negative impact on establishing a healthy gut.

Most attention goes out to the period after weaning, looking at feeding strategies, however there is the lactation period before weaning where some opportunities exist.

It all starts in the very early life of the piglets, before weaning with the colostrum intake, farrowing environment and weaning age. All factors that could influence the occurrence of post weaning diarrhea and performance. John Pulske, CEO and Chief scientist, of the Australasian pork research institute states: Most attention goes out to the period after weaning, looking at feeding strategies, however there is the lactation period before weaning where some opportunities exist.

According to John Pulske, supplementary feeding of the piglet before weaning, with either creep feed or supplemental milk is essential to modulation of the microbiome of the young piglet: Both feeding of the sow in gestation and lactation and supplementary feeding of the piglet, has potential to establish a favorable intestinal environment at weaning, that may reduce antimicrobial use. Feed intake after weaning, is influenced by pre-weaning intake of feed. One of the strategies to increase creep feed intake is to wean piglets at an older age. Pulske: Pre-weaning feed intake will increase as the lactation length increases with the result that diarrhea will be reduced.

This statement was endorsed by Charlotte Amdi of the University of Copenhagen, At the moment piglets are weaned with an immature digestive system. In her study she determined the effect of liquid versus dry creep feeding and weaning age (4 versus 5 weeks). The results of this study showed that pigs weaned in the 5th week were half a kilo heavier than pigs weaned in the 4th week at 9 weeks of age. In addition, pigs given liquid feed weighed nearly 1 kg more than pigs given dry feed at 9 weeks of age.

According to Mike Bailey, of the University of Bristol, one of the problems is that there is a lot unknown on how the microbiome works. He agrees with the fact that piglets are weaned too young, when their mucosal immune system is still poorly developed. These animals dont have the appropriate immune responses yet against pathogens. The active immune systems of young piglets are poorly developed and they seem to have a reduced ability to distinguish between harmless proteins and potential pathogens, mounting strong immune responses to dietary components.

we still dont fully understand the underlying mechanisms, like the impact from the environment or from nutritional interventions in detail.

He adds that the mucosal ecosystem will still develop in the first 8 weeks of life. The early rearing environment has a impact on the development of important components of the immune system. And we still dont fully understand the underlying mechanisms, like the impact from the environment or from nutritional interventions in detail. This all together will contribute to low postweaning performance and the occurrence of diarhoea. Mick Bailey, argues for more detailed studies that show why and how some interventions are successful and why others dont.

WELFARE AS A PREVENTIVE MEDICINETo improve piglet health and performance it is important to look at pig behavior and welfare, said Laura Boyle of Teagasc, Ireland during a symposium of DSM in run-up to the Zinc Summit. It is know that in current systems pigs are close to their biological limit what challenges their health and therewith increased the need for medicinal interventions. You got to get the basics right, treat the cause. The same model is followed for years, but is not working anymore, new systems are needed, stated Laure Boyle. She adds that especially improving welfare of the sows and piglets could work as a preventive medicine. In the farrowing crate there is still a lot of improvement possible. Enrichment in the farrowing crate seems a good tool to increase the welfare of the piglets and also giving the sow more space will benefit not only welfare but also performance, study results show. Inonge Reimert, of Wageningen University studies the effect of loose housing on sows during lactation and results show that the robustness of the piglets will improve in this new farrowing crate design. The transition to weaning is improved what will lead to better postweaning performance.

With so many factors impacting the early life of piglets, it is clear that moving to zero zinc asks for a totally new strategy. Frances Molist of Schothorst Feed Research advocates for a holistic approach: With the restrictions on the use of medical zinc and antibiotics in Europe we need more tailor made diets and apply an integral approach that starts already around farrowing and will continue after the post-weaning period. After the Zero Zinc summit it can be concluded that raising piglets without zinc requires looking at the total picture, evaluating the piglet diets (see box 1) , but also the environment in which the piglets grow up and the associated stress factors (see box 2). That all to ensure that piglets have the chance to develop their microbiome. Zero zinc requires a healthy and well developed gut.

See more here:
Zero zinc requires a healthy gut - All About Feed

Your Full Name
Your Email
Your Phone Number
Select your age (30+ only)	30313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120
Select Your US State	Select Your StateAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington,DCWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
Program Choice	Select Your ProgramInjectable HGHInjectable TestoteroneInjectable SermorelinInjectable Weight LossInjectable HCG DietInjectable Vitamins
Confirm over 30 years old	Yes
Confirm that you resident in USA	Yes
This is a Serious Inquiry	Yes
Message:

Home » Diets that Work » Zero zinc requires a healthy gut – All About Feed