On-demand: Webinar on reducing antimicrobials in pigs

As the reduction of antibiotics in pig nutrition is not just a simple puzzle, 3 expert speakers addressed each a different aspect of the issue.

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An integrated approach to reduce antibiotics

Leo den Hartog, R&D director at Nutreco and part-time professor of Animal Nutrition in Circular Economy at Wageningen University, talked about the 3 pillars of an integrated approach to reduce antibiotics on pig farms. He touched upon ‘feed management’, ‘farm management’ and ‘health management’.

Prof Den Hartog said, “I can tell you on our own (research, ed.) swine farm, we are back 99% in the use of antibiotics. Only when the animals are really sick, in case of welfare, we treat them.”

Prevention from pathogen intake and transmission

That message was reinforced by 2^nd speaker Nienke de Groot, global program manager gut health at Trouw Nutrition Innovation. She zoomed in on the aspect of gut health and concluded that prevention is an essential component to achieve a healthy gut. That is, prevention from pathogen intake as well as prevention of transmission. Therefore, she concluded, “A multi-stakeholder approach is necessary.”

Optimal protein degradation: essential for piglet gut health

The webinar’s last speaker Dr Peter Ramaekers, application and solution specialist swine at Trouw Nutrition Innovation, introduced the NutriOpt Kinetio concept. Feeding that concept to piglets will result in a lower risk of diarrhoea, he said. It also lead to a higher piglet performance. The insight here is that optimal protein degradation is essential for piglet gut health – and that process already starts in the stomach.

Click here to get direct access to the webinar