Setting new standards in piglet success without zinc additives!

As the swine industry continues to shift in response to the 2022 EU ban on high-concentration zinc additives, finding a viable solution has become a pressing concern. Animal Health Vision (AHV) steps into this void, leveraging their award-winning science in animal health solutions to effectively address post-weaning challenges.

The post-weaning performance drop

One of the most critical phases in pig breeding is undoubtedly weaning—a sudden and profoundly stressful transition period [1]. Weaning poses a challenge influenced by three key factors: psychology, nutrition, and environment [2]. Early weaned piglets, under the influence of weaning stress, usually encounter digestive disorders, poor faecal consistency and a weakened immune system, posing a significant threat to their overall health.

To maintain gut health and to reduce a post-weaning performance drop, the use of ZnO additives (≥2,000 ppm) became common practice. However, as of June 2022, the European Union has banned ZnO additives due to their harmful impact on the environment and antimicrobial resistance. This means new approaches to address the post-weaning performance drop are now urgently needed.

ZnO additives- Why were they banned?

While there are several benefits of using ZnO in piglet feeds to promote health and performance, serious concerns have emerged around its environmental impact. There are several risks associated with the use of high concentrations zinc oxide (≥2,000 ppm) in piglets after weaning [2,5]:

• Toxicity: Excessive accumulation of ZnO in animal tissues can have a toxic effect;
• Environment: Pollution from zinc-rich manure application on fields, accumulating to dangerous levels for plants and animal life;
• Antibiotics: ZnO additives contribute to the acquisition and spread of antibiotic resistance (AMR);
• Heavy Metals: ZnO Increase of heavy metal tolerance genes spread;
• Microbiota; Modification of bacterial population composition, adversely affecting beneficial commensal bacteria.

Under current legislation ZnO is only usable as a feed additive with a legal limit of 150 ppm of total Zn in complete feed. Therefore, non-traditional approaches for combating the post-weaning performance drop are urgently required.

AHV Qure products: An alternative to ZnO additives

At AHV we have developed a new, innovative product line that eliminates the necessity to use high concentration ZnO for weaning pigs. The AHV Qure products are supplementary animal feeds formulated to provide powerful support to maintain the integrity and stability of the gastrointestinal system of piglets during critical periods such as weaning.

Mode of action AHV (Hi)Qure Liquid

AHV (Hi)Qure Liquid is administered via piglet drinking water through a dosing system connected to the water supply. Starting at entry into the piglet pen until 4 weeks after, depending on the severity of the challenge.

The support provided by AHV HiQure Liquid enhances the piglets’ ability to withstand environmental and feed changes and stimulates appetite. Proactively treated pigs experience a range of benefits, including reduced mortality rates, improved growth rates, quicker target weight achievement, and an enhanced Feed Conversion Rate (FCR).

Biofilm Removal

AHV (Hi)Qure Liquid employs a distinct mode of action to prevent the development, attachment and formation of biofilm, by blocking bacterial Quorum Sensing (QS) communication. Through this QS blockade, existing biofilm is broken open, leaving bacteria unprotected and available to be cleared by the pig’s immune system.

In addition, (Hi)Qure Liquid contains plant extracts that supports the immune system. All this results in healthy animals with increased resistance to pathogens, making the piglets more resistant to the critical period after weaning.

Game Changing Results without Zinc Additives

The results are nothing short of game-changing. By keeping piglets healthy and supporting the gut and immune system, piglets under AHV’s care exhibit healthy growth rates, achieve faster finishing times, and demonstrate improved feed efficiency, leading to an overall enhancement in wellbeing. Laura Wood, UK Swine Manager at AHV explains:

“Our aim is healthy, resilient pigs, and with AHV, even large integrators are achieving this. Post-weaning challenges have always been a significant hurdle for swine farmers, both in terms of performance and profitability and the key to overcoming it lies in supporting piglet gut health,”

“Ultimately, by keeping the animals healthy, it makes the farmers’ life easier; reducing the time and labour needed to manage sick piglets while reducing mortality, delivering consistent weights as well as a greater return on investment and improved finishing times,” emphasises Wood.

Want to know more about our AHV Qure products?

AHV HiQure is part of the AHV Immunity & Resistance Programme designed to help you successfully navigate post-weaning challenges with healthier piglets and a greater return on investment. To learn more, contact AHV on: +44 (0)28 855 49600.

Sources:

Campbell, J., Crenshaw, J. D., & Polo, J. (2013). The biological stress of early weaned piglets. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/2049-1891-4-19

Bonetti, A., Tugnoli, B., Piva, A., & Grilli, E. (2021). Towards Zero Zinc Oxide: Feeding Strategies to Manage Post-Weaning diarrhea in Piglets. Animals, 11(3), 642. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11030642

Lallès, J. P., Bosi, P., Smidt, H., & Stokes, C. R. (2007). Nutritional management of gut health in pigs around weaning. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 66(2), 260–268. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0029665107005484

Hill, G. M., & Shannon, M. C. (2019b). Copper and zinc nutritional issues for agricultural animal production. Biological Trace Element Research, 188(1), 148–159. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-018-1578-5

Aarestrup, F. M., & Hasman, H. (2004). Susceptibility of different bacterial species isolated from food animals to copper sulphate, zinc chloride and antimicrobial substances used for disinfection. Veterinary Microbiology, 100(1–2), 83–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2004.01.013