18 19 www.SmallFarmCanada.ca February 2026 pen to keep everyone warm and cozy. We’ve used old, insulated garage door panels. NEEDLE TEETH Removal of needle teeth (AKA black or wolf teeth) can be of great comfort to sow and piglets. The piglets are naturally aggressive and compete for the best position to nurse. Non-removal can cause injuries to litter mates and the sow’s udder. Not all pig owners remove needle teeth. Some feel that the risk of tooth infection due to the procedure is too great. Others with certain heritage breeds have different experience that leads them to leave teeth intact. A piglet’s needle teeth are soft at birth, like our own nails after bathing, as are their hooves. They are almost gelatinous by design to not damage the birth canal. Each piglet has eight needle teeth, so a lot of teeth to possibly chomp down on the sow’s teats when fighting for a place at the table! If you decide to clip the needle teeth, prepare a system that will help you do it safely, quickly and as soon as possible after birth. Removing the piglets from the sow to do the procedure will be an anxious time for piglets and sow – so time is of the essence. To start, two people to do the job is recommended. One to hold the pig and open the jaws (at the mouth corner). The other person to do the clipping. Use sharp side cutters, placed parallel about 3 millimeters from the edge of the gum. There are cutting tools available specifically for this job. Remember to have a sanitizing agent close by to sanitize the clippers before clipping each piglet’s teeth. LEFT: ALEXANDER POKUSAY - ADOBE STOCK | MIDDLE: VICTOR - ADOBE STOCK | RIGHT: TORICHEKS - ADOBE STOCK IRON INJECTIONS Iron injections are not usually necessary if piglets have access to fresh soil/grass within 48 hours of birth. Iron deficiency will show up as a white scour when piglets are three or four days old. They require immediate attention. PREGNANT ALL THE TIME Keeping a sow pregnant and nursing continuously will increase her fertility, productivity and longevity. Conversely, over-feeding will decrease her fertility, productivity and longevity. Malnutrition is equally hopeless. Don’t be shy to ask for advice and compare. SHE IS NOT A BIRD Deep straw or a ‘nest’ might look like the perfect nursery for baby pigs but will surely guarantee a sow will lie on some when she can’t feel them underneath her. Growing restrictions on antibiotic use in poultry production have farmers looking for natural feed additives that improve bird health and performance while reducing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Researchers from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the University of Guelph studied the effects of adding cranberry and wild blueberry pomaces—by-products from juice processing—to broiler diets, with or without a multienzyme supplement. Bacitracin is an antibiotic commonly used in poultry feed as a growth promoter and to prevent intestinal infections caused by bacteria. In broiler diets, it helps control harmful bacteria in the gut, improving feed efficiency and bird health. However, because of concerns about antimicrobial resistance (AMR), its use is being restricted or phased out in many jurisdictions, including Canada. Macrolides are broad-spectrum antibiotics often used to treat respiratory infections and some intestinal diseases in animals and humans. Common examples include erythromycin and tylosin. They work by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis. Lincomycin is another antibiotic, similar in action to macrolides, used to control infections like necrotic enteritis in poultry. Resistance to these antibiotics can make treating infections difficult. That’s why the study is exploring natural alternatives like berry pomace to maintain gut health without relying on or reducing reliance on antibiotics. Inclusion Rate: 0.5–1% cranberry or blueberry pomace in feed. KEY FINDINGS HEALTHIER GUT MICROBIOTA • Berry pomaces increased beneficial bacteria like lactobacillus and bacteroides. • Cranberry pomace reduced harmful proteobacteria, which includes pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella. ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE Pomace diets influenced antimicrobial resistance gene profiles: • Cranberry pomace lowered genes linked to macrolide and lincomycin resistance. • Some increase in tetracycline resistance genes was noted, likely due to natural bacterial shifts. • Enzyme addition changed antimicrobial resistant gene patterns, showing complex interactions between fibre breakdown and gut bacteria. COLIFORM COUNTS • Lower coliform numbers were observed in birds fed cranberry pomace compared to bacitracin diets. METABOLITES • No major differences in short-chain fatty acids (acetate, butyrate, propionate) between treatments, though levels rose naturally as birds aged. Short-chain fatty acids provide energy for gut cells and help maintain intestinal health. Their levels reflect how well the gut microbiota is fermenting fiber and other nutrients. Short chain fatty acids can reduce inflammation and improve immunity. Healthy gut metabolism often translates to better feed efficiency and growth. To sum-up, berry pomace is a sustainable, Canadiansourced feed ingredient that can help reduce reliance on antibiotics. It supports gut health and may lower the risk of antimicrobial resistance spreading through the food chain. INCUBATORS & BROODERS FEEDERS & WATERERS ACCESSORIES & PARTS PROCESSING EQUIPMENT EGG CARTONS + MORE! Trusted Premium Poultry Products 1-800-668-3072 | www.BerryHill.ca USE Discount Code: SFC1026 SAVE $10.00 On online orders over $150. Any Product. Expires 03/15/26. ORDER ONLINE TODAY! 75 BURWELL RD, ST THOMAS, ON NEW GQF 3200 Chick-Bator Maple Syrup Kits & Supplies Berry Hill Is Your Small Farm & Homesteading Store BERRY POMACE IN BROILER DIETS NATURAL GUT HEALTH SUPPORT WORKING TO REDUCE ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE ARTICLE BY JULIE HARLOW POULTRY: RESEARCH
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