A commercial trial evaluating a non-antibiotic gut health additive found that pigs with better intestinal health grew faster, got sick less often, and cost meaningfully less to raise. For an industry under pressure to reduce antibiotic use while protecting margins, the results reinforce a simple point: better gut health can translate directly into better economics.

A Familiar Squeeze

Few producers need a reminder of the predicament. Disease pressure hasn’t eased, antibiotic use is under more scrutiny from consumers and regulators alike, and input costs keep climbing while hog market prices have their own cycle and volatility. The old playbook, treat disease as it appears and absorb the cost, is getting harder to justify.

Producers and their veterinarians are being pushed toward a different question: instead of waiting to treat sick pigs, can proactive intervention outside of traditional disease management improve herd resilience? Increasingly, the answer starts in the gut, where nutrient absorption, immune response and overall growth originate. It’s not a new idea in principle, nutritionists and veterinarians have talked about gut integrity for years, but it’s taken on new urgency as antibiotic alternatives move from a research topic to a practical necessity.

Putting Theory to the Test

The trial followed 200 growing pigs, a Duroc cross averaging about 25 kilograms, from 70 days of age on a commercial Vietnamese farm. Half were fed a standard diet; the other half received the same diet with Varium®, a natural, non-antibiotic feed additive, added at 1 kilogram per ton. Varium works through three modes of action: binding pathogenic bacteria and their toxins, fuelling the cells that line the gut wall, and supporting natural immune function.

The Numbers

Researchers analysed data in both groups at 98 and 120 days to see whether observed advantages sustained through a full production cycle. Across every stage of the trial, the pattern was consistent:

Better growth, more efficiently. Pigs fed Varium posted higher average daily gain and better feed conversion than the control group at every checkpoint (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Average Daily Gain and Feed Conversion, Control vs. Varium

A more balanced gut. The Varium group demonstrated lower E. coli levels and higher levels of beneficial Lactobacillus, evidence of a healthier microbial environment within the intestinal tract.

Fewer sick pigs. Overall disease incidence was 3 percentage points lower in pigs fed Varium, including fewer cases of respiratory issues, joint problems, and diarrhoea (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Disease Incidence Ratio, Overall Period

Reduced input cost. Medicine cost per kilogram of gain fell 42.36%, tracking closely with the drop in disease incidence (Figure 3).

Improved performance, lower cost. Optimising critical KPIs resulted in a 6.18% reduction in feed cost per kilogram of gain. Even after accounting for the cost of the additive, the total cost per kilogram of gain was slashed by 8.71% (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Live Performance Economics, Overall Period (USD)

Why the Economics Stand Out

Feed remains the single largest cost in most swine operations, meaning a 6% improvement in feed cost adds up quickly across a herd. But it’s the reduction in medication expenses that tends to catch producers’ attention.

A 42% reduction isn’t a rounding error, it’s a direct reflection of fewer treatments, less labour treating sick pigs, and less growth lost due to illness. Put together, those savings are what resulted in an 8% reduction in total cost.

The Bigger Picture

No single feed additive is going to solve the antibiotic-reduction challenge on its own. But this commercial-farm trial is evidence of a trend that’s been building for a while: gut health isn’t a peripheral concern for swine producers anymore.

“What stands out in this trial isn’t just the growth numbers, it’s how the gut health improvements directly translated into fewer sick pigs and lower treatment costs. That’s the connection producers are looking for right now: a tool that supports animal health and shows benefits on the cost sheet at the same time.”
Dr. Aldo Rossi, DVM · Director of Veterinary Services, Amlan International

It’s becoming one of the most direct, measurable levers producers have for protecting animal health, welfare, and the bottom line. This trial represents more than just a growth or disease number in isolation, it’s a full picture of how gut health affects a modern production system. Investing in a healthier gut supports crucial performance metrics, offering significant economic advantages and return on investment.

References available on request.

Varium® is a trademark of Amlan International. Product availability may vary by country. Associated claims do not constitute medical claims and may differ based on government requirements. Varium is not for sale in the United States.

Amlan International: Why the Gut May Be Swine Production’s Next Big Profit Lever