ISSUE FOCUS 26 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE January 2024 Newly weaned piglets face a range of stressors that can interrupt weight gain and development including declining feed intake and illnesses like diarrhea. Long-relied on interventions used to deal with these challenges – such as including antibiotic growth promotors in the diet or feeding high levels of some trace minerals – are facing restrictions, and being phased out in some production regions. The situation spotlights the urgency of identifying and validating new approaches to foster piglets’ gut health. Blended feed additives are among the alternatives being explored to steer and nurture the maturation of piglets’ digestive tracts. Combining specially selected organic acids, medium-chain fatty acids, slow release C12, butyrates and phenolic compounds has been found to support gut health and animal development. Use of these types of ingredients also has been demonstrated to support overall performance and limit enteric upset. Additionally, these blends are known to support an altered microbiota helping to increase the presence of Firmicutes and specifically the Lactobacilli genus while reducing the presence of unwanted bacteria. More than 9,000 researchers, veterinarians, swine nutritionists, and pig farmers gathered digitally or in person at Wageningen University this year for the ArMoR (research projects on reducing antimicrobial use in livestock) Healthy Livestock research presentations. The robust attendance reflects the urgency of identifying effective strategies for supporting the enteric health of piglets. Below, we share a snapshot of a study researchers shared at the event that looks at the mode of action a blended feed additive relies on and the pathways it influences in the animal. METABOLITES AND GUT MATURATION IN NEWLY WEANED PIGLETS Yvonne van der Horst Product Manager Presan Selko Global Tetske Hulshof Swine Researcher Trouw Nutrition
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