Despite the great achievements’ swine producers have made in sow production, the maximum number of quality weaned piglets is the ultimate goal. This task starts from pursuing high and consistent fertility rates. While people have been focusing on improving breeding management skills to get better fertility rates, urogenital health of sows needs to be closely monitored and improved. Generally speaking, urogenital health is associated with infections in urinary and reproductive tracts, which can result in low or inconsistent fertility. Quite often these challenges confuse swine producers since they occur sporadically which makes it difficult to directly analyze the cause. The other common challenge is high pre-wean mortality. Nowadays it is not uncommon for the producers to have 15 live born pigs. However, not many producers can successfully wean 13.5 piglets or above. We all recognize that the increase of litter size by genetic improvement brings down birth weight and that plays a role in pre-wean mortality. In addition, diarrhea in farrowing crates is a big challenge contributing to pre-wean mortality or low numbers of viable piglets. One of the causes for the above problems is the shedding of pathogenic bacteria like Colostridium Perfringens or E. Coli. in sows’ feces. Therefore, a solution to improving urogenital health and piglet diarrhea in the farrowing room can help assure better sow reproductive and weaning performance.
Besides antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs) which have been deemed as gold standard in battling pathogenic bacteria causing the above-mentioned problems, people have been tirelessly researching and evaluating alternatives. The use of acids in the diets has been commonly practiced. Most commonly organic or inorganic acids in the free or unprotected forms are used. These acids are generally called “acidifiers”. Acidifiers can enhance growth performance due to their role in improving nutrient digestibility. However, according to the literature review by Dr. Pettigrew from University of Illinois, acidifiers can only lower dietary pH, but not gastric or intestinal pH (Tung and Pettigrew, 2006).
There is a novel generation of acidifier called “Protected Acids”. From the name, the acids are coated by microencapsulation technology using either fat, starch or protein. The unique matrix technology allows effective ingredients to be progressively delivered to the hind gut in their active forms where pathogenic bacteria are primarily populated (de Lange et al., 2010). As a result, protected acids are able to demonstrate much stronger bacteriocidal and bacteriastatic effect in the gut as opposed to un-protected acids. The literature on in vitro studies shows that bacterial killing efficacy in protected acids is 10-100 times of that in un-protected acids (Gauthier, 2012). Therefore, protected acids can serve as a potent microbiome modulator notably through action on pH sensitive and pathogenic bacteria. Based on extensive research at Jefo Nutrition, protected acids can improve sow urogenital health as characterized as reductions of uterine infections and vulvar discharge. Consequently, sow fertility and mortality are improved. At the same time, protected acids can reduce bacteria shedding of E. Coli. and Colostridium Perfringens in sow feces that can lead to reduced piglet diarrhea and improve pre-wean mortality rate. Additionally, comparing with free acids, protected acids can safeguard other feed ingredients, feed equipment and workers.
To summarize, due to the novelty manufacturing technology, protected acids can effectively improve sows’ fertility and weaning performance. This can be a powerful tool for producers to maximize the number of quality weaned pigs. •
Submitted by Dr. Zhenbin Zhang,Ph.D., P.Ag.
of Jefo Nutrition Inc.
References:
C.M. Tung and J.E. Pettigrew, 2006. A critical review of acidifiers.
Pork Checkoff.
C.F.M. de Lange, J. Pluske, J. Gong, C.M. Nyachoti, 2010. Strategic use of feed ingredients and feed additives to stimulate gut health and
development in young pigs. Livestock Science 134 (2010) 124–134.
Robert Gauthier, 2012. To protect or not to protect? That’s the question! PIG PROGRESS Alternative Growth Promotion Special 2012.