intestinal welfare in piglets is a key aspect for the proper development and productivity. The gut is responsible for the absorption of nutrients present in the feed, so any alteration of its functioning has a negative impact on the use of feed and the growth of animals.

Piglets are exposed to a lot of stressors that promote the development of pathogenic microorganisms, especially during post weaning.

From Biovet S.A., after years of research we have developed a product aimed at maintaining the intestinal health of piglets. Alquermold Natural, is a patented product, based on the cimenol ring, which allows to reduce the colonization of the intestinal epithelium by pathogenic microorganisms, increase the presence of Lactobacillus, thus improving the balance of the digestive flora and ensuring the correct development of piglets.

Intestinal welfare in piglets – stressors

Piglets are exposed to a large number of stressors during post-weaning, which promote intestinal colonization by different microorganisms (table 1).

Unlike extensive production where post-weaning takes place around 17 weeks and progressively, under intensive conditions post-weaning is done earlier at 3-4 weeks of age and drastically.

In this transition the piglet moves to a new area, separated from its mother and along with piglets of different origins. At the same time, piglets must accommodate a new type of solid diet, very different from milk and causing a small fasting period that favors colonization of the digestive tract by different pathogens. Piglets show at this stage a deficiency in the secretion of hydrochloric acid that affects the digestibility of nutrients.

In addition, from this stage the piglet depends on its own immune system, still immature since it will not have the immunoglobulins (IgA) present in milk.

The main consequence of the alteration of the intestinal welfare in piglets is the onset of diarrhea during post weaning. These diarrheas are usually watery and cause a decrease in weight gain and mortality of piglets, which can reach 20-25%, if they do not receive adequate treatment.

The main pathogen involved in the development of this type of diarrhoea are enterotoxygenic strains  of E. coli (ETEC), which attach to the digestive mucosa of the small intestine through fimbriae (F4 and F18) and produce various toxins that alter intestinal permeability and the ability of enterocytes to digest and absorb nutrients.

Other pathogens such as Clostridium perfringens, rotavirus or parasites such as cryptosporids or ascarides are also related to the onset of post weaning diarrhoea in piglets.

Economic impact and prevention

Alteration of the intestinal health of piglets results in large economic losses for farms due to reduced nutrient absorption and declining piglet growth. It has been estimated that this growth reduction results in losses of 28€/sow/year. On the other hand, mortality associated with alterations of the intestinal welfare results in the loss of around 40€/pig/year (S. Marie et al, 2014).

In Europe a high percentage of pig farms have alterations of the intestinal welfare of piglets during post-weaning: Spain 26%, Belgium 34%, France 37%, Poland 44%, Germany 47% and Denmark 53%.

Cimenol ring – natural solution

The cimenol ring is a phenolic compound present in different botanical extracts, which has a bactericidal and fungicidal effect.

It is effective against the main microorganisms that may affect the intestinal welfare of piglets: E. coli, C. perfringens, Salmonella, etc. (table 2).

The cimenol ring causes the death of bacteria and fungi by osmotic shock, causing immediate release of the cellular contents into the medium, due to perforation of the bacterial membrane.

In the case of fungi, the cimenol ring inhibits the biosynthesis of ergosterol, which is the most important sterol ofthe fungal membrane, which favors the elimination of fungi.

Since Biovet S.A. we have developed and patented, Alquermold Natural, based on the cimenol ring, which allows to improve the intestinal welfare of piglets.

Field results

Studies show that the use of the cimenol ring during the post-weaning of piglets improves the balance of intestinal flora. This phenolic  compound acts specifically against pathogenic microorganisms, favoring the development of beneficial microorganisms by competitive exclusion. It allows to significantly reduce the presence of E. coli and increase the presence of Lactobacillus at the intestinal level (figure 1).

Improving gut health has a direct effect on productive parameters. In a study conducted on piglets during post-weaning it was observed how the diarrhea ratio was 2.87% in the control group, while in the cimenol ring group the diarrhoea ratio was 1.22%, which means a 57% reduction (table 3).

The improvement of intestinal welfare is reflected in the productive parameters, on the one hand, the animals supplemented with cimenol ring obtained a higher final weight, with a difference of 1.22kg/pig. On the other hand, the feed conversion rate was reduced in the cimenol ring group, with a difference of 4%.

Conclusion

The use of the cimenol ring, thanks to its specific microbicide effect on intestinal pathogens, allows to improve the intestinal welfare of piglets, ensuring productive parameters.

The cimenol ring reduces the percentage of diarrhoea by 57%, improves the final weight of animals by 6%, while reducing the feed conversion rate by 4%.

In this way, the use of the cimenol ring has a positive effect on the economic balance of the farms, since it allows to obtain a greater amount of meat per animal, using a lower amount of feed.

The cimenol ring is marketed under the name Alquermold Natural from Biovet S.A.

Bibliography:

• Rhouma, Mohamed & Fairbrother, John & Beaudry, Francis & Letellier, Ann.,2017, post weaning diarrhea in pigs: Risk factors and non-colistin-based control strategies.  Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica. 59. 10.1186/s13028-017-0299-7
• Germán Bertsch. 2020 (Biovet S.A.) , main causes of diarrhoea in pigs, traditional methods of prevention and natural solutions for diarrhoea in pigs, digital veterinary. Available in:  https://www.veterinariadigital.com/articulos/principales-causas-de-diarrea-en-porcino/
• Raphael Gresse, Frédérique Chaucheyras-Durand, Mickael Alain Fleury, Tom Van de Wiele, Evelyne Forano, Stephanie Blanquet-Diot, 2017, Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis in Postweaning Piglets: Understanding the Keys to Health, Trends in Microbiology, volume 25, issue 10, pages 851-873,
• Sjölund, Marie & Zoric, Mate & Wallgren, Per. (2014). Financial impact on pig production: III. Gastrointestinal disorders.
• Julia Pié, 2017, (Biovet, S.A.) use the cimenol ring to promote a balanced digestive flora, digital veterinary. Available in: https://www.veterinariadigital.com/post_blog/uso-del-anillo-cimenol-para-promover-una-flora-digestiva-equilibrada/.