da61a1be5d57b.js","2990","static/chunks/2990-64984e98af827004.js","2972","static/chunks/2972-89662353f2c39ebf.js","3550","static/chunks/3550-15acf8c46e7f2251.js","7901","static/chunks/7901-373fee6277829e1d.js","377","static/chunks/app/tech-resources/%5Bslug%5D/page-33319770ab05a59a.js"],"default"] 13:T797,

Health challenges in weaned piglets

Pigs are often exposed to pathogens and stressors in commercial production conditions.

Weaning is a stressful period associated with multiple stressors, e.g. separation from mother sows and change of diet. After weaning, digestive system is immature and feed intake of piglets is low, which causes intestinal inflammation and impairs gut morphology, increasing the amount of undigested feed in the large intestine for the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria particularly E. coli K88 (F4) and F18, and a reduction of beneficial bacteria known as dysbiosis. Microbiota dysbiosis coupled with the immature digestive system of weaned pigs can impair the barrier function of the small intestine and increase the incidence of diarrhea, reducing growth performance, increasing morbidity, and mortality of weaned piglets (Lallès et al., 2004). Post-weaning diarrhea is more severe during the first two weeks after weaning and is mainly caused by enterotoxigenic E. coli F4 (K88) and F18 resulting reduced performance, increased mortality, and economic losses.

Due to public concerns about potential antibiotic resistance risks related to human health, one of the current interests in nursery pig nutrition is to adopt antibiotic-free feeding systems. This requires developing feed additives that could be used as in-feed antibiotics alternatives in pig feeding strategies. Probiotics are among the key alternative solutions to antibiotics and are live organisms which helps to promote intestinal health by modulating intestinal microbiota, enhancing intestinal morphology and immunity, and increasing short chain fatty acids (SCFA) production in the hind g

Evonik: Bacillus subtilis-based probiotics, an alternative to AGPs for improving performance and health of weaned pigs

Members Only