Effect of implementing an effective farrowing accommodation hygiene routine on clinical cases of disease, medication usage, and growth in suckling and weaned pigs.

The few studies that have evaluated hygiene routines in farrowing accommodation to date have focused on pathogen elimination from pens, with little attention paid to pig growth and no information provided on pig health or medication usage. This study aimed to determine if implementation of an optimized farrowing accommodation hygiene routine could improve pig health and growth and reduce medication usage pre- and post-weaning (PW). Forty seven sows were blocked on parity, previous litter size and body weight and assigned to two treatments: T1) Basic hygiene: cold water washing only with minimal drying time; T2) Optimized hygiene: use of detergent and a chlorocresol-based disinfectant with a 6-d drying time.

Effect of creep feeding pelleted starter diet, liquid milk replacer and a liquid mixture of starter diet and milk replacer to suckling pigs on their growth and medication usage.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of creep-feeding solid starter diet, liquid milk replacer, and a liquid mixture of starter diet and milk replacer to suckling pigs on their growth and medication usage up to target slaughter weight (approximately 120 kg). Ninety-one sows and their litters were randomly assigned to one of four post-farrowing treatments at day 107 of gestation; (1) no creep feed provided to weaning at day 28 of age (CONTROL;  = 20), (2) dry pelleted starter diet provided as creep feed from day 10 of age to weaning (DPS;  = 25), (3) liquid milk replacer provided as creep feed from day 3 of age to weaning (LMR;  = 23), and (4) liquid milk replacer provided from days 3 to 6 of age followed by a mixture of liquid milk replacer with an increasing proportion of liquid starter diet to weaning provided as creep feed (LMR + S;  = 23). Pig weight and dry matter disappearance (DMd) were recorded during lactation and postweaning until pigs reached target slaughter weight (approximately 120 kg).

The Effect of Prebiotic Supplements on the Gastrointestinal Microbiota and Associated Health Parameters in Pigs.

Establishing a balanced and diverse microbiota in the GIT of pigs is crucial for optimizing health and performance throughout the production cycle. The post-weaning period is a critical phase, as it is often associated with dysbiosis, intestinal dysfunction and poor performance. Traditionally, intestinal dysfunctions associated with weaning have been alleviated using antibiotics and/or antimicrobials.

The Effect of Maternal Probiotic or Synbiotic Supplementation on Sow and Offspring Gastrointestinal Microbiota, Health, and Performance.

The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens has prompted the reduction in antibiotic and antimicrobial use in commercial pig production. This has led to increased research efforts to identify alternative dietary interventions to support the health and development of the pig. The crucial role of the GIT microbiota in animal health and performance is becoming increasingly evident.

Postpartum meloxicam administration to sows but not split-suckling increases piglet growth and reduces clinical incidence of disease in suckling piglets.

Each suckling pig should receive ≥200 g of colostrum within the first 24 h of life, but with increased litter size this is now difficult to achieve. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of split-suckling and postpartum meloxicam provision to sows as a means of ensuring adequate colostrum intake, on growth and health in pigs pre- and postweaning. One hundred and four sows (Large White × Landrace) and their litters, averaging 16.

Exploring the Differential Expression of a Set of Key Genes Involved in the Regulation and Functioning of the Stomach in the Post-Weaned Pig.

Despite playing a key role in digestion, there is only a broad characterization of the spatiotemporal development of the three glandular regions of the stomach (cardiac, fundic and pyloric) in the weaned pig. Hence, the objective of this experiment was to explore the differential expression (DE) of a panel of key genes within the three glandular regions of the stomach. Eight pigs were sacrificed at d 8 post-weaning, and three mucosal samples were collected from each stomach's glandular regions.

In Vitro Evaluation of Brown Seaweed spp. as a Source of Antibacterial and Prebiotic Extracts That Could Modulate the Gastrointestinal Microbiota of Weaned Pigs.

spp. and their extracts have preventative potential as dietary supplements during weaning in pigs. The first objective of this study was to evaluate increasing concentrations of four whole seaweed biomass samples from two different species harvested in two different months in a weaned pig faecal batch fermentation assay.

The effects of dietary supplementation with mushroom or selenium enriched mushroom powders on the growth performance and intestinal health of post-weaned pigs.

Background: There is an urgent need to identify natural bioactive compounds that can enhance gastrointestinal health and promote pig growth performance in the absence of pharmacological levels of zinc oxide (ZnO). The objectives of this study were to: 1) compare the effects of mushroom powder supplemented with inorganic selenium (inSeMP) to mushroom powder enriched with organic selenium (orgSeMP) to pharmacological levels of ZnO on growth performance and faecal scores (FS) for the first 21 d post-weaning (Period 1); and 2) compare the molecular and microbial effects of inSeMP and orgSeMP in these pigs on d 39 post-weaning (Period 2).

Methods: In Period 1, pigs (3 pigs/pen; 8 pens/treatment) were assigned to: (1) basal diet (control); (2) basal diet + zinc oxide (ZnO) (3100 mg/kg d 1-14, 1550 mg/kg d 15-21); (3) basal diet + mushroom powder supplemented with inorganic selenium (inSeMP) containing selenium (selenite) content of 0.

Maternal supplementation with a casein hydrolysate and yeast beta-glucan from late gestation through lactation improves gastrointestinal health of piglets at weaning.

Improving maternal nutrition during pregnancy/lactation is a promising strategy to maximise the intestinal health of piglets undergoing abrupt weaning under commercial production conditions. This experiment investigated the effects of maternal supplementation of a casein hydrolysate and yeast β-glucan (CH-YBG) from day 83 of gestation until weaning (day 28) on sow faecal microbial populations and measures of piglet gastrointestinal health parameters at weaning. Sows (n = 10 sows/group) were assigned to: (1) control diet, and (2) control diet + CH-YBG.

Maternal and/or direct supplementation with a combination of a casein hydrolysate and yeast β-glucan on post-weaning performance and intestinal health in the pig.

A 2 × 2 factorial experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of maternal supplementation from day 83 of gestation and/or direct supplementation from weaning of a bovine casein hydrolysate plus a yeast β-glucan (CH-YBG) on pig performance and intestinal health on day ten post-weaning. Twenty cross bred gilts (Large White × Landrace) were randomly assigned to one of two dietary groups (n = 10 gilts/group): basal diet (basal sows) and basal diet supplemented with CH-YBG (supplemented sows) from day 83 of gestation until weaning (2g/sow/day). At weaning, 120 pigs (6 pigs/sow) were selected.

Selenium-Enriched Mushroom Powder Enhances Intestinal Health and Growth Performance in the Absence of Zinc Oxide in Post-Weaned Pig Diets.

This study was conducted to examine the effects of varying selenium (Se) inclusion levels, in the form of Se-enriched mushroom powder (SeMP) and selenite, on post-weaning growth performance (Period 1; day 1−21), intestinal health and antioxidant capacity (Period 2; day 21−39). Weaned pigs were blocked according to live weight, sex and litter of origin and randomly assigned to the following experimental groups: basal (basal + selenite (0.3 ppm Se)); ZnO (basal + ZnO + selenite (0.

Potential of a fucoidan-rich Ascophyllum nodosum extract to reduce Salmonella shedding and improve gastrointestinal health in weaned pigs naturally infected with Salmonella.

Background: Dietary supplementation with a fucoidan-rich Ascophyllum nodosum extract (ANE), possessing an in vitro anti-Salmonella Typhimurium activity could be a promising on-farm strategy to control Salmonella infection in pigs. The objectives of this study were to: 1) evaluate the anti-S. Typhimurium activity of ANE (containing 46.

Evaluation of the Antibacterial and Prebiotic Potential of and Its Extracts Using Selected Bacterial Members of the Pig Gastrointestinal Microbiota.

and its extracts are promising antibacterial and prebiotic dietary supplements for pigs. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of the increasing concentrations of: (1) two whole biomass samples of with different harvest seasons, February (ANWB-F) and November (ANWB-N), in a weaned pig faecal batch fermentation assay, and (2) extracts produced using four different extraction conditions of a hydrothermal-assisted extraction methodology (ANE1-4) and conventional extraction methods with water (ANWE) and ethanol (ANEE) as solvent in individual pure culture growth assays using a panel of beneficial and pathogenic bacterial strains. In the batch fermentation assay, ANWB-F reduced spp.

Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Mushroom or Vitamin D-Enriched Mushroom Powders on Gastrointestinal Health Parameters in the Weaned Pig.

The objective of this study was to compare the molecular, physiological and microbial effects of mushroom powder (MP), vitamin D enriched mushroom powder (MPD) and zinc oxide (ZnO) in pigs post-weaning. Pigs (four pigs/pen; 12 pens/treatment) were assigned to: (1) basal diet (control), (2) basal diet + ZnO, (3) basal diet + MP (2 g/kg feed) and (4) basal diet + MPD (2 g/kg feed). Zinc oxide supplementation improved the feed intake ( < 0.

Effect of Raw and Extruded Propionic Acid-Treated Field Beans on Energy and Crude Protein Digestibility ( and ), Growth and Carcass Quality in Grow-Finisher Pigs.

The ileal digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and crude protein (CP) of field beans treated with propionic acid (trFB) and extruded trFB (exFB) was determined in experiment 1. The DE and dCP values of trFB and exFB were determined using the difference method in experiment 2. The effect of replacing SBM with trFB and exFB in grow-finisher diets on growth, carcass quality, apparent ileal digestibility (AiD), and total tract digestibility (ATTD) of DM, OM, gross energy (GE), and CP were investigated in experiment 3.

Feeding Marine Polysaccharides to Alleviate the Negative Effects Associated with Weaning in Pigs.

In young pigs, the challenge of weaning frequently leads to dysbiosis. This predisposes pigs to intestinal infection such as post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD). Dietary interventions to reduce PWD have centred on dietary inclusion of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) and antimicrobials in pig diets, or high concentrations of zinc oxide.

The effects of mushroom powder and vitamin D -enriched mushroom powder supplementation on the growth performance and health of newly weaned pigs.

A complete randomised block design experiment was conducted to examine the effects of mushroom powder (MP) and vitamin D -enriched mushroom powder (MPD ) on growth performance, faecal scores, coefficient of apparent total tract digestibility (CATTD) of nutrients and selected microflora in weaned pigs up to day 35 post-weaning. One hundred and ninety-two weaned pigs (7.8kg [SD 1.

Evaluation of the effects of the increasing inclusion levels of yeast β-glucan, a casein hydrolysate and its 5 kDa retentate on selected bacterial populations and strains commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract of pigs.

Previously, the 5 kDa retentate (5kDaR) of a casein hydrolysate (CH) and yeast β-glucan (YBG) were identified as promising anti-inflammatory dietary supplements for supporting intestinal health in pigs post-weaning. However, their direct effects on intestinal bacterial populations are less well-known. The main objectives of this study were to determine if the increasing concentrations of the CH, 5kDaR and YBG individually, can: (1) alter the bacterial and short-chain fatty acid profiles in a weaned pig faecal batch fermentation assay, and (2) directly influence the growth of selected beneficial (Lactobacillus plantarum, L.

Effect of cereal fermentation and carbohydrase supplementation on growth, nutrient digestibility and intestinal microbiota in liquid-fed grow-finishing pigs.

This study aimed to determine the impact of fermenting the cereal fraction of the diet (C) and enzyme supplementation (ENZ) on the bacterial composition of the feed, nutrient digestibility, pig growth, feed efficiency (FE), intestinal volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations and intestinal microbiota composition. A total of 252 grow-finisher pigs (~ 40.4 kg; 7 pigs/pen) were randomly allocated to 4 diets in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement for 55d.

Effects of reducing dietary crude protein concentration and supplementation with laminarin or zinc oxide on the faecal scores and colonic microbiota in newly weaned pigs.

A 2 × 3 factorial design experiment was conducted to examine the effects of reducing dietary crude protein (CP) concentration and/or supplementation with zinc oxide (ZnO) or laminarin on faecal scores (FS) and the large intestinal microbiota post-weaning (PW). One hundred and forty-four pigs were assigned to (T1) 21% standard CP diet (SCP); (T2) SCP + ZnO (SCP ZnO); (T3) SCP + laminarin (SCP LAM); (T4) 18% low CP diet (LCP); (T5) LCP + ZnO (LCP ZnO); and (T6) LCP + laminarin (LCP LAM; n = 8 replicates/treatment). The LCP diet had no effect on FS (p > .

Effect of water-to-feed ratio on feed disappearance, growth rate, feed efficiency, and carcass traits in growing-finishing pigs.

The optimum proportion of water for preparing liquid feed to maximize growth and optimize feed efficiency (FE) in growing-finishing pigs is not known. The aim of the current study was, using an automatic short-trough sensor liquid feeding system, to identify the water-to-feed ratio at which growth was maximized and feed was most efficiently converted to live-weight. Two experiments were conducted in which four commercially used water-to-feed ratios were fed: 2.

Effect of wet/dry, fresh liquid, fermented whole diet liquid, and fermented cereal liquid feeding on feed microbial quality and growth in grow-finisher pigs.

Fermented liquid feeding has proved beneficial for weaner pigs; however, there is limited research on its effect on the growth and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) of grow-finisher pigs. Microbial decarboxylation of amino acids is associated with whole diet fermentation, while wet/dry and liquid feeding reportedly improve growth compared with dry feeding. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of wet/dry feeding and fresh, fermented whole diet, and fermented cereal liquid feeding on pig growth, feed efficiency, and carcass quality in grow-finisher pigs.

The Effects of the Marine-Derived Polysaccharides Laminarin and Chitosan on Aspects of Colonic Health in Pigs Challenged with Dextran Sodium Sulphate.

This study examined the effects of dietary supplementation with laminarin or chitosan on colonic health in pigs challenged with dextran sodium sulphate (DSS). Weaned pigs were assigned to: (1) a basal diet (n = 22); (2) a basal diet + laminarin (n = 10); and (3) a basal diet + chitosan (n = 10). On d35, the basal group was split, creating four groups: (1) the basal diet (control); (2) the basal diet + DSS; (3) the basal diet + laminarin + DSS; and (4) the basal diet + chitosan + DSS.

Effect of a Laminarin Rich Macroalgal Extract on the Caecal and Colonic Microbiota in the Post-Weaned Pig.

Dietary supplementation with 300 ppm of a laminarin rich macroalgal extract reduces post-weaning intestinal dysfunction in pigs. A comprehensive analysis of the impact of laminarin on the intestinal microbiome during this period is essential to inform on the mode of action of this bioactivity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementing the diet of newly weaned pigs with 300 ppm of a laminarin rich extract, on animal performance, volatile fatty acids, and the intestinal microbiota using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Effect of cereal soaking and carbohydrase supplementation on growth, nutrient digestibility and intestinal microbiota in liquid-fed grow-finishing pigs.

Soaking the cereal fraction of a liquid diet prior to feeding (C), and/or carbohydrase enzyme supplementation (ENZ) are likely to modulate both feed and intestinal microbial populations and improve feed efficiency (FE) in pigs. To test this hypothesis, a total of 392 grow-finisher pigs (~33.4 kg, 7 pigs/pen) were randomly allocated to 4 treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement for 70 days as follows: (1) fresh liquid feed (Fresh); (2) Cereal soaked liquid feed (Soak); (3) Fresh + ENZ and (4) Soak + ENZ.