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Increase production profitability through a more efficient nutrient uptake

Using a nutrient absorption enhancer like Lysoforte Extend can support piglet performance by increasing feed efficiency and the incidence and severity of post-weaning diarrhoea.

The post weaning period for piglets has always been challenging, with variable performance often observed as young piglets adapt to life away from the sow. The rapid change in diet and environment comes at a time when the piglet’s digestive system is still immature and producing far lower levels of gastric enzymes than its adult counterpart. Hence, the ability of piglets to optimally digest nutrients is still insufficient, leading to undigested substrate in the hindgut that causes proliferation of pathogenic bacteria and subsequent diarrhoea.

Stress and poor digestibility
The combination of environmental and physiological stress can be self-perpetuating, with diarrhoea further reducing nutrient absorption and poorer digestibility leading to even more undigested substrate in the hindgut. It is therefore not surprising that performance can be highly variable after weaning, which may increase the number of days required to produce piglets large enough to move on to the grower phase, in addition to the quantity of feed required for it.

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Season 7, Episode 6: Using Competitive Exclusion to Reduce E. coli in Weaned Pigs

Video: Season 7, Episode 6: Using Competitive Exclusion to Reduce E. coli in Weaned Pigs

Newly weaned pigs are especially vulnerable to pathogenic E. coli, which can cause diarrhea and other health challenges. Research is exploring how introducing beneficial bacteria before exposure to harmful bacteria could help reduce the severity of post-weaning disease, with timing playing an important role.

Dr. Marcelo Almeida, assistant professor in Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and Dr. Rodrigo Paiva, graduate student and pathology resident at the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, discuss their research on competitive exclusion in weaned pigs. They explain how this approach works, why introducing beneficial microorganisms before E. coli exposure may improve outcomes and what they learned about diarrhea, E. coli shedding and pig performance. The conversation also explores the potential to address antimicrobial resistance and the considerations for applying these findings in commercial pork production.