ISSUE FOCUS 66 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE October 2024 “If a pig is in a nutrient-compromised situation, pathogens will have more of an opportunity to do more damage to the gastrointestinal tract and cause leaky gut. Adding the right zinc to nursery diets, along with optimal sanitation practices is key to keeping a pig’s immune system working, especially during weaning.” Weaning is one of the most stressful events for pigs in their lifetime and enteric infections are common challenges that arise during this phase of production. They are associated with the gut of a pig and the bacteria that cause enteric infections are often endemic, meaning that they are commonly found in a pig barn. This typical occurrence is largely due to the comingling of weaned nursery pigs from multiple sow farms, each with its own microenvironment. In addition, in the first 72 hours post-weaning, pigs will experience stress from transportation, co-mingling and transitioning from a sow’s milk to grainbased diets. Feed intake also takes time to ramp up post weaning. All these factors put pressure on the gut, creating the opportunity for pathogenic bacteria to establish, proliferate and cause challenges. ENTERIC INFECTIONS HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON SWINE GUT HEALTH Pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli, Lawsonia, dysentery and salmonella are common disease pressures during this critical time. Each bacteria impacts the gut in a variety of different ways. For example, E. coli will attack the tight junctions in the gut and cause a breakdown of the integrity of the intestinal barrier resulting in leaky gut, a condition that allows bacteria to pass from the intestinal tract into the circulatory system causing other infections. Lawsonia, another bacteria, can cause hyperplasia, or a rapid increase in the number of enterocytes that line the villi of the gut. This leads to a thickening of the mucosal wall and results in the malabsorption of nutrients causing diarrhea and a weaker immune status. MITIGATE ENTERIC INFECTIONS WITH SANITATION AND THE RIGHT ZINC If a pig is in a nutrient-compromised situation, pathogens will have more of an opportunity to do more damage to the GI tract and cause leaky gut. Adding the right zinc to nursery diets, along with optimal sanitation practices is key to keeping a pig’s immune system working, especially during weaning. Feeding performance trace minerals such as Zinpro® zinc has been known to limit the impact enteric bacteria has on swine gut health by supporting gut integrity and immunity, resulting in less mortality. MANAGE ENTERIC INFECTIONS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND LIVABILITY OF PIGS Dr. Lucas Rodrigues Discovery Researcher - Swine Zinpro Corporation
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