ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE March 2025 61 high levels of zinc oxide and restrictions on antibiotic use. These regulations are a good development, as these old methods are considered to be not sustainable and can lead to an increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), posing risk for animal and human health. Furthermore, it is important to consider that modern genetic breeds have higher nutritional needs (for example for vitamins and amino acids) and produce larger litters, marked by smaller piglets. The loss of some of these old short-term interventions, combined with the higher demands of modern breeds for health, welfare, growth and carcass quality, has spurred a shift in the industry to rethink strategies. Over the years, this led to new ways to target the performance and health of post-weaning piglets, including the implementation of low-protein diets, improving raw material management, better biosecurity and management, systematic incorporation of mycotoxin binders and more. However, PWD is still there and the weaning phase continues to remain a complex issue to tackle for many pig farmers around the world. CONTROLLING INTAKE, DIGESTION AND STRESS Adisseo has developed a strategy that combines solutions to improve performance and health without any compromise, hence leading to improvement of the main key economic indicators in pigs (Figure 2). The strategy is built on long-lasting international experience, a broad portfolio of solutions and solid R&D, and focuses on three main areas during the weaning phase: • Stimulating quick feeding behaviours after weaning, • Ensuring feed digestibility and gut resilience, • Managing oxidative stress and inflammation. Importance of reaching early feed intake Feed intake is crucial for healthy growth and development and economic success. Research showed that when pigs were gaining more than 227 g/d during the first week after weaning, days to market was reduced about 6 - 10 days, compared to pigs gaining 0 g/d to 150 g/d the first week. Other studies showed that early feed deprivation slows villus recovery, reduces the surface area for nutrient absorption and decreases digestive an absorptive capacity post-weaning, direct reducing weight gain and increasing the risk to develop PWD. Feed intake is usually reduced initially after weaning due to environmental changes (e.g. new housing, temperature variation), social changes (e.g. separation from the sow, mixing piglets), and nutritional challenges (e.g. liquid to solid feed, from milk protein to plant-based protein, from udder to feeder). A successful weaning strategy should therefore include measures to get pigs eating and growing as soon as possible after weaning by providing high-quality feed and water and make the feed as tasty, palatable and accessible as possible. Average Daily Weight Gain Mortality Rate Diarrhea Incidence Goal: 200 to 400 grams/day Goal: = < 2-4% Ideally, less than 10% of the group related Shortens time to reach market Maximize the number of pigs reaching market Lower health related expenses Improve growth rates Reduce feed costs/pig Add substantial income Higher revenue Figure 2. Key economic indicators related to post-weaning performance in piglets (7-12 kg liveweight)
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjkxNQ==