ISSUE FOCUS 44 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE November 2025 “The extensive use of both antibiotics and ZnO has raised significant concerns, as both can contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance, while high ZnO inclusion levels also lead to excessive mineral excretion and environmental pollution. These limitations have encouraged the search for alternative strategies that can address the underlying causes of post-weaning diarrhea.” Managing the acid-binding capacity at pH 4 (ABC-4) is an overlooked but powerful tool to improve post-weaning piglet performance. Recent trials show that optimizing ABC-4 enhances growth, stabilizes gut health, and reduces diarrhea, providing a practical alternative to pharmacological ZnO. Premature weaning of piglets in regions such as North America and Asia presents significant challenges due to the immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract. The transition from liquid to solid diets, low hydrochloric acid secretion, limited lactic acid fermentation, and irregular feeding patterns all contribute to heightened weaning stress. These factors raise stomach pH and increase susceptibility to digestive issues. As a result, piglets struggle to maintain the acidic gastric environment needed for optimal pepsin activity (pH 2.0–3.5), leading to protein indigestion, diarrhea, and greater risk of pathogen proliferation. Traditionally, a particular strategy to address these challenges has been the use of antibiotics or pharmacological doses of zinc oxide (ZnO). Both approaches are known to reduce post-weaning diarrhea and improve growth performance, gut health, and microbiota balance. However, the extensive use of both antibiotics and ZnO has raised significant concerns, as both can contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance, while high ZnO inclusion levels also lead to excessive mineral excretion and environmental pollution. These limitations have encouraged the search for alternative strategies that can address the underlying causes of post-weaning diarrhea. One promising approach is managing the diet’s acid-binding capacity to maintain gastric acidity. Ingredients with low buffering capacity help sustain acidic conditions, supporting digestion and piglet performance. This concept is quantified through Acid Binding Capacity at pH 4 (ABC-4), which measures the amount of acid (mEq HCl/kg feed) needed to lower feed pH to 4. Maintaining a pH below this threshold is critical, as it inhibits the growth of harmful organisms and optimizes protein digestion. Ingredients vary widely in ABC-4 values (Figure 1). Protein-rich meals (soybean, rapeseed, fish) and mineral sources (calcium, sodium, zinc) tend to have high ABC, Managing ABC-4: A KEY FACTOR IN PIGLET NUTRITION Dr. Yron Manaig R&D Manager Animine
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