Weaning, in intensive pig production systems, occurs at an age in which the piglet is physiologically immature, both digestively and immunologically.

The separation from the mother, the introduction into a new environment, the mixing of litters and the disappearance of breast milk in their diet, entail stress on the digestive system itself. Its immaturity, together with the anorexia linked to all these changes, have negative effects on the epithelium and the integrity of the intestinal barrier, favoring the appearance of diarrhea in piglets.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) has been used at therapeutic doses of 2,500 to 3,000 ppm to control post-weaning diarrhea. But since June 2022, the European Union has banned the use of high levels of zinc oxide, as a growth promoter and for the prevention of post-weaning diarrhea (above the legal limit of 150 ppm zinc), in piglet’s feed.

Intestinal conditioner pronutrients act at the enterocytes level, promote the digestive mucosa physiology and regeneration, improving nutrients digestion and absorption. In this way, they are an alternative to zinc oxide, for the prevention of digestive problems in weaning piglets.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of intestinal conditioner pronutrients on mortality (%), delayed growth (%) and cost of treatments (€), in weaned piglets, compared to zinc oxide (ZnO).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

1786 piglets were used for the pronutrients group and the farm average for the zinc oxide (ZnO) group.

Pronutrient Group
standard diet + intestinal conditioner pronutrients administered continuously at a dose of 0.5 kg/t.

ZnO Group
standard diet + zinc oxide at a dose of 2 kg/t continuously.

RESULTS

Mortality was reduced by 34% in the group receiving intestinal conditioner pronutrients, compared to the farm average, while delayed growth was reduced by 3.91%.

Regarding to the economic analysis, the use of pronutrients reduced the treatment cost (46.6%) and the cost per piglet (45.14%), compared to the average of the farm with ZnO.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of pronutrients compared to zinc oxide decreases mortality and growth delay in weaned piglets. In addition, it allows a lower cost in treatments, reducing the economic cost per piglet.

Intestinal conditioner pronutrients are a tool that is positioned as an effective replacement for zinc oxide during the post-weaning period. Moreover, they have the added value that they do not leave residues in the animals, do not create resistance and have no impact on the environment.

Intestinal conditioner pronutrients are marketed by Biovet S.A under the name of Alquernat Nebsui.