Piglets fed a soy-based starter diet with minimal ANFs are less vulnerable to gastrointestinal upsets and are able to absorb more of the nutrients essential to healthy growth.
Table 1 - Effect of HP 300 on gut morphology of piglets.
Item
Duodenum Villus height (μm) Crypt depth (μm)
Control
418.4b 304.4
Villus height/crypt depth 1.4b Source: Ma et al., 2019
Control +AGP HP 300 HP 300+ AGP P-Value
421.1b 301.4 1.4b
450.0a 312.5 1.4a
451a
311.1 1.5a
0.01 0.42 0.01
promoter has been banned in various regions around the world, zinc oxide has become routinely used to relieve diar- rhoea after piglet weaning. However, as a heavy metal, it quick- ly becomes an environmental problem when high concentra- tions leech into soil, as highlighted in a Danish scientific report. Research further indicates that zinc oxide therapy can promote the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. A trial conducted at the University of Guelph found a higher prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureau (MRSA) in piglets exposed to in-feed zinc oxide compared to a control group. In a German study, zinc feed supplementation of piglets was seen to increase the proportion of multi-resistant Escherichia coli. Recognising these issues, the EU and several Asian countries have voted to ban the use of zinc oxide in feed – a move that provides one more reason to use a highly digestible soy protein that reduces the nutrient load of manure.
A welfare boost From an animal welfare perspective, reduced piglet diarrhoea is another clear benefit. As the results from a feed trial at China Agricultural University show, piglets fed Hamlet Protein’s HP 300 suffered significantly less diarrhoea than piglets fed a standard soybean meal. Compared to piglets on a feed containing antibiotic growth promoters, the level of diarrhoea is roughly the same (Figure 1). The study also concludes that reduced gut irritation and in- flammation are a likely explanation for the improved oxidative status of piglets in the HP 300 group. An investigation of the piglet gastrointestinal tract further shows an increased capaci- ty for nutrient absorption (Table 1). Again, this performance is driven by the low content of anti-nutritional factors in HP 300.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
a
HP 300
a
b
b b b b b
d1-14
d14-28
d1-28
Healthier growth Piglets fed a soy-based starter diet with minimal ANFs are less vulnerable to gastrointestinal upsets and are able to absorb more of the nutrients essential to healthy growth. Moreover, when they switch to a standard soy-based grower feed, their guts are already accustomed to soy, minimizing the risk of further issues for growth and performance. Animal welfare has gained increasing consumer attention in recent years and is an integrated theme in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. With this in mind, there is every reason to include soy in efforts to improve the sustainability of live- stock farming. When cultivated and processed in a responsi- ble manner, soy can be the sustainable protein source of choice for animals, consumers and the planet.
References are available on request ▶ SUSTAINABILITY AND WELFARE | OCTOBER 2020 41
Diarrhea score (%)
SOURCE MA ET AL., 2019
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