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Non-antibiotic Approaches for Disease Prevention and Control in Nursery Pigs: A Scoping Review

Swine producers are encouraged to practice antibiotic stewardship by reducing their use of antibiotics belonging to classes of medical importance to humans. We conducted a scoping review of non-antibiotic approaches in the form of products or management practices that might prevent or control disease and thus reduce the need for antibiotics in nursery pigs. Our objectives were to systematically describe the research on this broad topic for the North American context, identify specific topics that could feasibly support systematic reviews, and identify knowledge gaps. A search of multiple databases identified 11,316 articles and proceedings for relevance screening. From these, 441 eligible clinical trials and observational studies were charted. The majority were clinical trials (94%). Study results from EU countries were mostly communicated through journal articles, whereas study results from the USA were mostly communicated through conference proceedings. Interventions and health outcomes were diverse. The two most frequent intervention categories were feed additives and piglet vaccines. The three most frequent outcomes reported were diarrhea, mortality, and indices of vaccine immunity. There were 13 specific topics comprising various feed additives and vaccines that might feasibly support systematic reviews.  

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Why Water Quality Is the Forgotten Nutrient in Swine Production | Kanters Animal Health | WPX 2026

Video: Why Water Quality Is the Forgotten Nutrient in Swine Production | Kanters Animal Health | WPX 2026

Water is one of the most important—and often overlooked—nutrients in pork production.

In this interview from World Pork Expo 2026, Tommy from Kanters Animal Health explains how advanced water monitoring and dosing systems are changing swine research and helping producers better understand water intake, supplementation, and animal performance.

The discussion also covers practical steps producers can take today to monitor water quality, identify biofilm before it becomes a problem, and improve the health and efficiency of their barns.

Topics include:

Why water is the "forgotten nutrient" in swine production

How advanced water monitoring is transforming research

The role of water quality in pig health and performance

Detecting biofilm before it impacts production

Practical on-farm water management strategies