“The Microbial Environment of the Piglet Gut“
By: Paul Walker Thompson
August 02, 2014
I recently had an experience where the “Light Bulb Turned On”! I have been reading so many articles about “Nutrition and the Environment in the Gut of Newly Weaned Pigs”. I finally came across an article that showed me why all of this is happening! In the article “Yeast to balance piglet microbiota at weaning“ Dr. Melanie Le Bon stated that the gastro-intestinal tract of the piglet was complicated and diverse (1). She also stated that “The Pig Gut Microbiota is composed of well over 800 bacterial species (1)”. Wow, 800 different bacterial species in a pig’s intestine! Another thing she presented also helped to explain why there have been so many articles lately on the Weaned Pig’s Gut Health. She says that there have been developments in the “Molecular Sequencing Technology” that has help them to understand better his complex microbial environment (1).
The conglomeration of bacteria in the piglets gut is being called the “Microbiota” (1). This Microbiota is supposed to be the piglet’s first line of defense against pathogens, and when disrupted it can lead to the overgrowth of undesirable bacteria and pathogens.
In the article “Balanced microbial gut flora to overcome weaning dip”, Zen Verdickt states that a piglet’s gut needs to have feed or the “Post Weaning Dip” causes the piglets “Microbial Balance” to get out of whack (2). He claims that a disrupted “Microbial Flora Status” in the weaned piglet can affect that pig during its entire growing phase (2)!
In an article by Hubbard Feeds called “Three Strategies for Promoting Good Gut Health”, it is mentioned that Gut Health in Young Piglets helps to fight pathogens, promote growth and feed intake (3), as well as fighting the possibility of scours. They talk about how poor Piglet Gut Health actually allows pathogens to get past the Intestinal Junctions and enter the Piglets Blood Stream (3). When this happens the gut wall gets inflamed and you can get inflammation in all parts of the piglet’s body (3) as well as getting the incidence of diarrhea.
All these new understandings of the complex Gut Microbiota helps us understand why it is so important to spend extra money on easily digestible proteins, and flavor enhancers, in the newly weaned piglet’s feed. The younger the piglet weaned, the more important this is!
In the article “Animal proteins as natural boost to piglet health”, Louis Van Deun MSc. Teaches us that protein sources made from animal origin are superior to those that are from grain, namely Spray-Dried Plasma Powder (SDPP), Hemoglobin Powder and Animal Protein Hydrolysates that are Porcine Peptones and Peptides (that come from the intestinal tissues of slaughtered pigs) (4). The Spray-Dried Plasma Powder also has Immunoglobulins that help kill off pathogens in the newly weaned piglet’s gut (4).
I felt it necessary to comment that Whey in Starter Diets help the piglets consume more feed and gain better once weaned, due to the Lactose (Milk Sugar) and the Protein found in it (5).
All of these new developments mean that we have the opportunity to better feed the Newly Weaned Piglet, and hopefully drastically reduce or eliminate the “Post-Weaning Dip”!
References:
(1) Le Bon, Dr. Melanie “Yeast to balance piglet microbiota at weaning”. Pig Progress Special-Piglet Health, 2014 June 18, 2014.
(2) Verdickt, Zen “Balanced microbial gut flora to overcome weaning dip”. Pig Progress Special-Piglet Health, 2014 June 18, 2014.
(3) Hubbard Feeds “Three Strategies for Promoting Good Gut Health”. National Hog Farmer March 28, 2014.
(4) Van Deun, Luis MSc. “Animal proteins as natural boost to piglet health”. Pig Progress Special-Piglet Health 2014 June 18, 2014.
(5) Cromwell, Dr. Gary L. “Dried Whey-A Valuable Ingredient for Pig Starters” University of Kentucky.
