Enhancing Piglet Immunity through Sow Vitamin Supplementation

Aug 12, 2024

Researchers from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, CDPQ, and the Western College of Veterinary Medicine are investigating the effects of increased vitamin supplementation for sows during gestation. This study aims to improve piglet immunity against diarrhea by enhancing the immune response to vaccinations, potentially reducing the need for antibiotics and high levels of zinc oxide in their diet. Early findings suggest positive outcomes, and detailed results will be shared at industry events and published in academic journals.

Dr. Martin Nyachoti from the University of Manitoba highlighted that preliminary data indicates piglets born to supplemented sows exhibit stronger immune responses and better health. The goal is to provide a practical, cost-effective solution to common piglet health issues, benefiting both animal welfare and farm productivity.

Source : Swine Web

Video: ASF Control Lessons - Dr. Mary-Louise Penrith

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Mary-Louise Penrith, Extraordinary Professor at the University of Pretoria, shares what decades of work have revealed about ASF control. She explains why vaccine development remains difficult, how human activity and food waste drive disease spread, why resistant pig populations are an important research area, and how strict biosecurity with the right disinfectants can help to stop transmission. Listen now on all major platforms!

"It's really a very human-driven disease because people move pigs, decide how they're raised, how they're sold, and good biosecurity can do anything to ensure control."

Meet the guest: Dr. Mary-Louise Penrith / mary-louise-penrith-2b12bb42 is an Extraordinary Professor in the Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. A veterinarian and internationally recognized researcher, she has dedicated decades to African swine fever epidemiology, control, and pig health, supporting FAO and WOAH initiatives while advancing research and education. Listen to Dr. Mary-Louise Penrith on the Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.