With access to zinc oxide products set to decline, pig farmers must start scoping out new ways to manage
post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD) to avoid poor pig performance and a potential uptake in antibiotic use.
explains that controlling PWD going forward will require a multifactorial approach
and outlines some of the steps that can be taken to support piglet gut health
and reduce the challenge within the immediate environment.
What is post weaning diarrhoea?
PWD typically occurs in piglets and is commonly associated with E. coli. Ittends to be most problematic during stressful periods of social, environmental,
and dietary transition, coinciding with an immunity dip linked to weaning.
Due to this dip in immunity, internal and external environmental pressures
have a more significant impact on their health and performance.
How does the piglets environment impact PWD?
At weaning, piglets still have not fully developed their own immunity,meaning they are relying on maternally derived antibodies.
This leaves the piglet exposed to a number of external factors that
can have a significant impact on health and performance.
During this time, it can be beneficial to surround the pig’s
environment with positive bacteria which can help to reduce external
challenges and provide them with a positive microbial environment to thrive in.
Eazybed PRO is a bacterial solution, containing a highly concentrated mix of
live Bacillus spp, lactic acid bacteria and enzymes, that can help to create
a protective biofilm throughout animal housing.
This biofilm can help to prevent the growth of negative bacteria which could compromise
the piglet’s immature immune system. The more beneficial bacteria there is in the environment,
the better chance the piglet has of being healthy and performing well.
How to apply Eazybed PRO
A bacterial solution such as Eazybed PRO, should be applied after thesurfaces have been disinfected and dried, and before animals re-enter the housing.
Preventing PWD with the correct nutrition
It’s equally as important to nurture the internal environment of the pig as wellas the external environment when managing PWD. Ensuring that both sows
and piglets receive the proper nutrition is key to maximising internal microflora
balance and gut health, which will help them to fight against any challenges.
As piglets tend to eat less during the weaning period due to stress and
adjusting to eating solid foods, the risk of developing PWD increases.
Piglets can’t achieve the benefits of a good ration if they are not eating.
However, feeding creep prior to weaning can help get them used to
eating different feed substrates besides milk.
This will also prime the digestive system, allowing the necessary microbes
and enzymes to engage when they move onto a totally solid diet.
Managing PWD with diet
Producers should also consider incorporating a palatable hydrolysed yeast intothe creep feed that is high in free amino acids to help develop a more robust gut ahead of weaning.
Hydrolysed yeast cells (scanning electron microscopy)
Yela Prosecure is a specific yeast-based protein source which can be fed within creep feed
and starter diets. It provides a highly digestible source of free amino acids, which are
quickly absorbed in the small intestine, reducing the likelihood of scours.
The hydrolysed yeast mirrors an ideal protein source for piglets with a well-balanced
source of amino acids, helping to support beneficial average daily gain and
feed conversion ratios (FCR) as well as encouraging higher feed intake.
The next in our series of Meet the Expert webinars will take place on 7th April and
will focus on nutritional tools to prevent post-weaning diarrhoea.
Click image below to register.
