SPECIAL STORY 66 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE April 2023 sponses are initiated. In young animals, this relies primarily on the broad-spectrum innate immune defenses, but as they grow, the immunological memory of encountered pathogens refines more rapid and effective responses in the adaptive defenses, including the release of antibodies in the blood and mucosa. To protect neonates during the maturation of their immune systems, maternal antibodies are transferred to the offspring through the placenta and colostrum in milk. While this does not translate into immunological memory, it can ward off pathogenic threats in young animals until their own immune systems are stronger. This provides a nutritional opportunity to improve the resilience of piglets from birth, by targeting the sows’ immune parameters. ADM’s inactivated Pichia guillermondii yeast product contains mannan oligosaccharides and β-glucans, which may help the sow strengthen its defense against health challenges by supporting and optimizing gut function, gut integrity, and body defense responses. Furthermore, piglets weaned from P. guillermondii yeast-supplemented sows exhibit higher levels of circulating antibodies6. This, in turn, may produce more robust piglets with greater performance potential. FEEDING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM Immune development and function are energetically expensive. Fueling the turnover of large populations of cells relies on the presence of many micronutrients and any deficiencies can rapidly impair resistance to infection. Activation of the immune system competes with other physiological programs, such as metabolic growth, prioritizing defense at the cost of performance. Ensuring adequate feed intake to secure performance and compensate for immune activation is therefore essential, but standard husbandry practices in young livestock can challenge this. Processes such as weaning, dietary changes from liquid to solid feed, transport and new environments can all negate appetite. To minimize this nutritional disruption, ADM has developed a range of sweeteners to stimulate feed intake in young animals. The new patented technology used in the swine-specific sweetener range can further facilitate the uptake of glucose, a vital energy source, in the gut1. ADM’s product is the first sweetener designed specifically to activate the sweet taste receptors of swine. Where standard industry practice previously relied on human input to select sweet ingredients, ADM’s recent collaboration with the University of
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