ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE November 2024 37 sow treatments. This could have allowed for higher energy levels which can be used for growth and development. The volatile fatty acids (VFA) levels in the caecum, specifically valeric acid and propionic acid were analysed and shown to be significantly higher (P<0.05) when both sows and piglets were fed with the emulsifier. Higher valeric acid levels hint towards improved intestinal barrier function and higher propionic acid levels suggest a better energy source for the liver. Some intestinal morphology parameters in the ileum and jejunum were also monitored during the trial. It was shown that villus height, villi/crypt ratio and intestinal absorption surface were significantly improved (P<0.05) for the piglets receiving the nutritional emulsifier, regardless of the sow diet. This indicated improved gut health and nutrient absorption, which is expected to contribute to better growth performance. To confirm this hypothesis, also growth performance (body weight and feed conversion ratio) was recorded and shown to be numerically improved in the piglets that received the emulsifier diet. Significant differences on piglet growth performance were found in a follow-up trial. A total of 47 weaned piglets were divided over two treatments and monitored for a week; basal diet or basal diet with the nutritional emulsifier (Excential Energy Plus, Orffa Additives B.V.). The nutritional emulsifier group showed significantly improved body weight and feed conversion ratio (P<0.05). To summarize, by including a high-quality nutritional emulsifier, the digestion and absorption of nutrients can be improved. In turn, this supports the metabolism and allows for a better health and growth of piglets especially during the stressful period post-weaning. GUT HEALTH AND IMMUNITY The early life stressors for piglets, including the transition from milk to solid feed, puts a severe challenge on gut health and immunity. Maintaining a healthy gut is essential for proper growth and development since the gut is involved in many processes including nutrient absorption, secretion of mucin and immunoglobulins, and the barrier function to prevent entry of pathogens. Recently, the feed industry has been focusing more on the use of probiotics to support gut health. Probiotics are beneficial, live bacteria, which can be added to animal feed, to allow for a wide range of health benefits. They will colonize the microbial community of the gut, reducing the chances for opportunistic pathogens to colonize, since they work via competitive exclusion (colonization only possible on ‘free spaces’). In piglets, use of in feed-probiotics can support gut health and immunity during challenging periods, for example around weaning. A recent trial at Kangwon National University (KNU) in South Korea included 150 weaning piglets that were divided over two treatments: 1. Basal diet 2. Basal diet + 500g/ton probiotic (Excential ProDi-G 10%, Orffa Additives B.V.) The inclusion of the probiotic showed a significantly higher (P<0.05) final body weight at day 42. When considering the bacterial count in faecal samples, E. coli counts were significantly lower in the probiotic supplemented group compared to the basal diet. Numerically, the probiotic also improved the digestibility of crude protein. a b 500 520 540 560 580 600 620 640 660 680 Control Nutritional emulsifier Plasma citrulline concentration (mmol *day/L) Piglet Plasma Citrulline Levels Figure 2. Plasma citrulline levels in piglets from control and nutritional emulsifier treatment
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