Despite advancements in management and nutrition, post-weaning diarrhoea remains a prevalent and costly issue in piglets, leading to mortality, reduced growth rates, and increased treatment expenses in pig production. To mitigate these negative impacts, strategies should prioritise rapid feed intake, good digestive feed capacity, healthy gastrointestinal development, and a robust immune system.
Customer Solution Manager for Swine
Adisseo
For successful weaning, strategies should focus on early feed intake, enhancing feed digestibility, and healthy gastrointestinal development. Adisseo’s nutritional approach has been developed to focus on these points, leading to improved animal resilience and revealing the full potential of pigs.
The post-weaning period is a critical stage in swine production, because piglets are not physiologically or immunologically mature yet when they are weaned (usually between 3-4 weeks of age). Weaning also comes with several changes such as shift in diets or environmental challenges (Figure 1), making this period particularly challenging and prone to develop post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD) or other diseases (Figure 1). If the piglets are not robust and strong enough to deal with these challenges, it can lead to problems throughout the fattening period, marked by reduced growth, less uniform batches, and associated significant economic losses.
RETHINKING AND EXPLORING NEW STRATEGIES
The old methods used to reduce the frequency of PWD have been regulated in the European Union for quite some years already through the ban on 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).
in piglets (7-12 kg liveweight)
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.
Importance of feed digestibility and gut resilience
Enhancing feed digestibility capacity is important, as it makes sure the pigs can fully use and metabolise all the nutrients provided in the feed. The endogenous enzymes provided by the piglets themselves are not sufficiently to digest all the feed properly. Making the nutrients more accessible can be done by using exogenous (supplemental) enzymes and increase fat emulsification by using lysolecithin in the diet.
While enzymes make the feed more digestible, it is important to make sure the gut is equipped to take in the nutrients. A healthy gastro-intestinal tract is defined as one with a healthy inner lining (no inflammation of the gut wall and prevention of proliferation of pathogens in the blood stream), good villi length, a healthy balance in the microbiota, equipped to secrete intestinal digestive enzymes and able to fully absorb nutrients. When there is an imbalance in the gut, nutrients such as proteins are not well absorbed and hence reach the hindgut undigested to become substrate for the growth of potentially harmful bacteria, which can lead to intestinal inflammation and PWD.
The development of the gut can be positively influenced through nutrition and stimulation of early feed intake levels. Gut development also profits from certain supplements such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and organic acids.
Importance of managing oxidative stress and inflammation
The diverse pallet of challenges faced by piglets during weaning can eventually translate into an imbalance in redox levels in the animal’s body, resulting in oxidative stress. The generation of oxidative stress, in turn, eventually reduces the physiological condition of the animal and its growth, restricting to express its full potential. On top of that, the risk for inflammation is increased due to the induction of weaning deleterious effect on intestinal barrier function. When the intestinal barrier is disrupted, permeability is increased which allows toxins, bacteria, or feed-associated antigens to cross the epithelium resulting in inflammation. Uncontrolled inflammation leads to PWD, reduced growth and production.
Building a robust immune barrier to avoid any inflammations and reducing the negative effect of antioxidative stress are therefore some of the key elements when targeting weaning piglets. Certain dietary compounds or nutrients may be beneficial in reducing this inflammatory response, such as SCFAs that have strong direct anti-inflammatory properties. Reducing or preventing oxidative stress can be done through the application of strong antioxidants such as selenium.
ADISSEO’S SOLUTIONS: EFFECTIVE AND PROVEN
Adisseo’s solutions, selected for its post-weaning strategy, have been extensively tested and proven for their efficacy. Below we explain a few trials that confirm this:
Stimulating feeding behaviours
Adisseo developed Delistart®, a unique combination of flavourings, flavour enhancers and appetite formulated specifically for inclusion in young animal feed. It provides specific taste cues that stimulate feed intake. Trials showed an increase in average daily feed intake (ADFI) after weaning, compared to other flavours (umami concept product, traditional sweetener, and a traditional sweetener + flavour). In a second trial, it has been observed that the benefits obtained immediately after weaning are maintained in the consecutive weeks following weaning (Figure 3).
Ensuring good digestive capacity and gut resilience
Adisseo’s solutions to ensure good digestive capacity include a range of products, of which enzymes play a crucial role. Rovabio® Advance is multi-enzymes, it is part of the Feedase concept which improve the digestibility of all feed nutrients, including amino acids, phosphorus and calcium, whatever the type of diet. A trial (320 piglets, weaned between 28-70 days of age) showed that Rovabio® Advance led to higher weight gain (+5.8%) and lower FCR (-9.1%) from 0-42 days low in amino acids with low or high net energy, compared to the same diets without Rovabio® Advance.
Adisseo’s FRA® LeciMax Dry is a concentrated lysolecithins based emulsifier that enhances fat digestion across three stages: emulsification, hydrolysis and absorption. Several trials showed an improvement in key performance indicators up to 42 days of age.
Adisseo’s protected butyrate (a SFCA) (Adimix®) helps to support weaning piglets overcome digestive issues and challenges. An experimental trial (Figure 4) showed the effect of this solution on ADG and important intestinal health parameters (villi height/crypt depth ratio) in situation of challenge (E. coli K888).
Managing oxidative stress and inflammation
Adisseo proposes the application of Selisseo® to support the antioxidant system and indirectly reinforce the immune system and the use of protected butyrate (Adimix®) to control the inflammatory response.
In the trial presented on Figure 5, piglets were inoculated with E. coli LPS (lipopolysaccharide) to induce inflammation and immune stimulation. The results showed that Selisseo® helps controlling inflammatory response. In the second graphic, IL-10 is analyzed, as it reduces inflammation mediated by macrophages. Selisseo® (SO-0.3 in Figure 5) has activated IL-10 (an anti-inflammatory cytokine) for a longer period (2 and 48 hours) compared to NC and PC.
SCFAs regulate immune function by modulating inflammatory cytokine expression and macrophage activity in piglets’ intestines. The trial presented in Figure 6 involved supplementing pigs with C4-product after weaning. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) has been analyzed, as it is an enzyme found in inflammatory cells. Results showed reduced MPO production, indicative for reduced intestinal inflammation during the 5 weeks with C4-product, Adimix® Precision, after weaning (vs. control).
CONCLUSION
The weaning period presents significant challenges for pigs due to the dramatic physiological and social changes they undergo. Despite advancements in management and nutrition, post-weaning diarrhoea remains a prevalent and costly issue in piglets, leading to mortality, reduced growth rates, and increased treatment expenses in pig production. To mitigate these negative impacts, strategies should prioritise rapid feed intake, good digestive feed capacity, healthy gastrointestinal development, and a robust immune system.
Adisseo has utilized its expertise to create an innovative program designed to optimize the weaning phase, enabling pigs to reach their full genetic potential. This strategy integrates solutions that enhance performance and health without compromise, resulting in significant improvements in key economic indicators for pigs. It’s time to revolutionise the weaning phase – let’s start today!
About Maïwenn Bourdoulous
Maïwenn Bourdoulous is Customer Solution Manager for Swine at Adisseo, where she develops solutions based on the company’s products, services and expertise, and aligns campaigns with market trends and sales needs. She holds agronomy and international business degrees, and her experience includes technical support in Mexico in Premix, Swine nutrition in France, and business development in nutritional additives.
