ARTICLE 88 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE December 2025 Anti-Nutritional Factors (ANFs): The presence of ANFs is perhaps the most significant functional drawback of SPC. Soy antigens (glycinin and B-conglycinin) can trigger a hypersensitivity reaction and gut inflammation in young piglets. Egg powder, like WPC and high-quality FM, is virtually devoid of ANFs, ensuring minimal inflammatory burden on the fragile intestinal mucosa. Palatability and Feed Intake: The critical post-weaning feed lag necessitates highly palatable ingredients. Both egg powder and WPC are highly palatable, promoting early and consistent feed intake. While FM is generally palatable, its quality can be variable. Egg powder’s high acceptance aids in rapidly restoring nutrient intake, a key priority of successful weaning management. Efficacy in Immune Function: This is where egg powder establishes a distinct functional advantage. While WPC contains high-quality protein, egg powder provides IgY and bioactive components that provide a targeted, immediate passive immunological defense that is clinically proven to neutralize specific pathogens in the intestinal lumen, directly reducing post-weaning digestive disturbances. BUILDING RESILIENCE: THE PATH BEYOND PHARMACOLOGICAL INTERVENTION The global regulatory phase-out of prophylactic zinc oxide (ZnO) has fundamentally changed post-weaning piglet health management. The environmental risk posed by excessive Zn accumulation, coupled with the ongoing push for responsible antimicrobial usage (AMU), demands highly effective functional alternatives. Egg powder is a confirmed feed ingredient for a comprehensive strategy to reduce the use of ZnO and antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs). Studies have demonstrated that inclusion of spray-dried egg powder in pre-starter and starter diets can result in an Average Daily Gain (ADG) and feed efficiency comparable to, or even exceeding, diets containing high levels of ZnO or traditional growth promoters. This success is directly attributable to the dual action: the superior nutrient delivery minimizes the availability of fermentable protein in the hindgut, while the bioactive molecules such as IgY, Lysozyme, and others, actively suppress the proliferation of enteropathogens, a function previously outsourced to high-dose pharmacological zinc. By mitigating the inflammatory damage and infectious challenge at the intestinal level, egg powder supports the long-term goal of fostering piglet resilience through nutritional means, reducing the dependency on drugs, and aligning feed formulation with the highest standards of sustainability and responsible livestock production. PRECISION NUTRITION FOR NEXT-LEVEL PIGLET PERFORMANCE Egg powder is a unique nutritional and functional ingredient, delivering a comprehensive solution to the complex biological stresses of weaning. Nutritionally, it provides an optimal amino acid profile closely matching the young pig’s requirements, with high levels of lysine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan, and a source of highly available good fats, all in a highly bioavailable form. By offering highly digestible nutrients and specific bioactive molecules, egg powder ensures that the piglet’s immune system is supported, the gut integrity is maintained, and performance parameters are maximized even in challenging production environments and in the regulatory environment left by high-dose ZnO. It is the definitive choice for nutritionists seeking precision, performance, and an immune boost in the post-weaning diet. Photo: Veos Group
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