Your Fiber Component for Healthy Pigs
Gut Health
The term gut health in pigs is related to:
- Gut structure/function
- Microbial population
- Digestive ability
- Occurrence of diarrhea or constipation
Factors that affect gut health include feeding strategies – With ARBOCEL® it is possible to address gut health by adapting your feed strategy with pure insoluble fiber
Performance
The effect of ARBOCEL® on gut health and functionality results in:
Piglets:
- Gut healthy, more resistant piglets
- Better feed conversion
- Higher daily weight gain
Sows:
- Less weight loss in lactation
- Better milk production
- Shorter wean to service intervall
Gut Health
Weaning of piglets is stressful and often accompanied by reduced feed intake and the occurence of digestive problems (diarrhea).
In the first 14 days post wean the inclusion of insoluble ARBOCEL fiber shows the best results on diarrhea control.
Performance
For good health and reproductive performance it is essential to maintain good body condition. This means restrictive feeding is practice. Restrictively fed animals have a good body condition but may suffer from hunger and related welfare problems. Fibrous feed stuffs help increase the feed volume and contribute to satiation. But which type of fiber induces satiation most efficiently. A trial from Wageningen University investigated the effect of different fiber sources – Pectin, Lignocellulose, Resistant Potato Starch – on the feeding motivation of sows (will to work for feed). The animals that were fed the lignocellulose (LC; ARBOCEL) showed the least feeding motivation over the 8 hour period.
In between meals the animals were offered the possibility to get feed rewards by turning the wheel of a feeding automat (results see above)
Animal Welfare
Animal welfare is considered an important attribute of an overall ‘food quality concept’
The goal is to minimize animal stress and improve the health and well-being. ARBOCEL® can help:
Piglets:
- Reduced stress-related immune reaction
- Limit medication with antibiotics
- Reduce diarrhea incidence
Sows:
- Reduced occurrence of constipation around farrowing
- Shorter farrowing time
- Satiated, calm sows
ZnO Reduction / Antibiotics
The stress caused during the weaning phase results in reduced gut function and an impaired immune system. In past decades the feeding strategy was characterized by highly concentrated feed to keep daily gain up and the use of antibiotic growth promoters or antibiotic medication to keep disease incident low. Today also supranutritive zinc oxide dosages are used for “antibiotic” purposes.
Situation around the world is changing:
- Ban of supranutritive zinc oxide by June 2022 in the EU
- Obligation to reduce antibiotic mediation – prevent further development of resistant bacteria / maintain reserve group antibiotics for humans and animals
> Adapt feeding strategy with ARBOCEL® to stabilize piglets with feed ingredients
Weaning Stress
The stress caused by weaning can be detected in the blood. The Pig-MAP protein is one of the first parameters to react to this kind of situation. An increase can be caused by stressors like trauma, infection or inflammation etc.
ARBOCEL piglets show a normal level of Pig-MAP one week (day 38) after weaning. The control group without fiber shows a significant increase in the protein concentration.
Faeces consistency
Faeces consistency is influenced by the feeding frequency, feed volume, fiber content, water intake, possibility to move, age and reproductive stage. Around farrowing of the sow a naturally occuring „lazy gut“ results in dry/hard faeces. This can take influence on the farrowing time. The filled gut blocks the birthing canal and extends the farrowing time stressing the sow and the piglets. In addition to this the constipation lead to endotoxin production in the hind gut this can promote the development of the MMA Syndrom.
ZnO Reduction
In past decades, high concentrated piglet feeds were fed. Diarrhea control was established via antibiotic interventions. The prohibition of antibiotic growth promoters and the need to reduce antibiotic medication to provide for sufficient reserve antibiotics for humans and animals have led to the development of alternative feeding strategies. In many cases the use of Zinc Oxide in supra-nutritive dosages was the solution in Europe. In the meantime it has become evident that ZnO also has the ability to support the development of multi-resistant bacteria and as a heavy metal Zn is a potential environmental hazard. Supranutritive ZnO use will be banned in the EU by June 2022.
A change in feeding strategy with a focus on less concentrated feeds with higher fiber content is promising.
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