NUTRITION ▶▶▶
Piglet gut health: an economic proposition
A healthy gut is one that is not just free of disease, but one with which the piglet can perform to its full genetic potential, in a sustainable way. The main question is: How can we make sure a gut is as healthy as possible?
A BY EMILY MARSHALL, TECHNICAL COORDINATOR, ALLTECH
healthy, well-developed piglet will lead to a healthy, well-developed pig. But for this to hap- pen, piglet gastrointestinal (GI) health needs care- ful consideration. For any animal to grow and de-
velop, it must assimilate the nutrients from either its mother’s milk or its feed into muscle mass. This process takes place in the GI tract, beginning with the di- gestion of nutrients. Those nutrients can then be absorbed from the lumen, across the epithelium and into the capillaries to be transported through the blood for use in cellular pro- cesses. Critical to digestive and absorptive efficiency is gut health.
Gut health in piglets The primary question to answer is: What is meant when the topic of discussion is gut health in piglets? A healthy gut is not just free of disease; it is one with which the piglet – and subsequent pig – can perform to its full genetic potential, in a sustainable way. If it is possible to improve the gut health of piglets pre-weaning, then they will be less likely to experi- ence the negative challenges associated with weaning and a changing diet. The GI tract is a complex organ, made of multiple stages, each with its own morphological structure. One of the most critical areas is the small intestine, as this is the site of nutri- ent absorption. If villi height and structure are not optimal, then the surface area will not be great enough to allow full uptake of nutrients from the diet in an efficient manner. The small intestine is also critical, as this is the site of a large num- ber of goblet cells. These specialised epithelial cells contain secretory granules that produce mucin and, as a result, are able to produce mucus as an inflammatory response to an insult or challenge.
26 ▶PIG PROGRESS | Volume 36, No. 2, 2020
Gut health and immune function There is an intrinsic link between gut health and the immune system. Research focused in this area has highlighted the re- lationship between the microbial population in the gut (mi- crobiome) and immunity. Key to the microbiome is diversity. Bacteria present in the gut help to ferment dietary fibre to short-chain fatty acids, which in turn aids GI health via in- creasing the number of goblet cells, increasing villi height and decreasing crypt depth. There is also evidence to suggest that the microbiota aid in metabolic modulation of lipogenesis. As the microbiome con- sists of “non-self” organisms, it helps to modulate the im- mune system so that in the event of pathogenic bacteria becoming too prevalent, it can act rapidly and correctly. Many issues in young piglets are caused by an unjustified im- mune response to, for example, changing dietary compo- nents, leading to inflammatory processes. If it is possible to create a balanced microbial population in the piglet, then it’s also possible to give them the best chance of weaning suc- cessfully without compromising performance. Best results are seen when the sow has also been put on the Alltech Gut Health programme, as this ensures that the microbiome be- ing passed down to the piglets is a better profile, giving the piglets the best start in life.
A profitable gut As ever in commercial animal production, it is necessary to distinguish the cost:benefit analysis of the implementation of a gut health programme. Actual performance benefits must be seen in order to make a gut health proposition viable and to ensure the focus of farm managers. Improved gut health in piglets has also been proven in numerous studies to reduce diarrhoea incidence and improve liveability. Supplementa- tion with some products known to improve intestinal health, such as Actigen (Alltech), has been shown to help maintain a healthy gut, thereby reducing the need for antibiotics. In terms of bottom lines, this is a significant advantage, as it means increased weanling numbers through to the grow/fin- ish stage and reduced days to slaughter. A study focusing on improving gut health in weaned piglets via supplementation through first, creep and starter feeds showed that a healthier gut led to increased end weight, especially through the second phase of 19-42 days. Feed conversion was also
PHOTO: RONALD HISSINK
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