Xixi Chen, Ph.D., expert in animal nutrition, interviews Fernando Bravo de Laguna, Project Leader of R&D Swine at Lallemand Animal Nutrition. In this episode, Bravo de Laguna reviews the evolution of the swine industry, its challenges, and the application of ZnO. He explains the history and mode of action of the therapeutic doses of ZnO in the feeds for piglets and why Europe countries stop their use. He explains the factors we need to consider in the search for an effective alternative solution and the problems feed mills can face on their way to replacing therapeutic doses of ZnO. Several effective methods or innovative products are also discussed as well as the benefits of using probiotics and how they act on the gut structural functions. In the context of high raw materials prices, accuracy in the feed formulation has to be considered to optimize the use of nutrients and reduce the risk of animal health issues or decreased performance.

Xixi Chen, Ph.D., expert in animal nutrition, interviews David Saornil, DVM, Product Manager for swine applications at Lallemand Animal Nutrition. In this episode, Saornil explains the concept of maternal imprinting and the positive effects on the piglets when sows are fed with probiotics. Saornil details the long-lasting effects of modulating the sow's intestinal microbiota and how the application of a probiotic in the sow's feed can affect piglets’ performance even after weaning. 

He explains how the transmission of the microbiota and its establishment in piglets happens during the first weeks of life. He mentions the influence of the sow on the level of stress of the piglet at birth. He also digs into the development of the mucosal immune system and the role of the intestinal microbiota and how a specific probiotic yeast S. cerevisiae boulardii strain can contribute to better immunological protection of the piglet when supplemented to the sow's diet. 

Saornil also reviews the main benefits of using this live yeast in sows: to improve farrowing conditions, sows' digestive transit, piglet vitality at birth, milk production set-up, valorization of the feed, the resilience of the sows against stress such as heat stress, piglet robustness at weaning; and thus, how probiotic supplementation can contribute to the longevity of the sow, preserving lifetime performance.

Xixi Chen, Ph.D., expert in animal nutrition, interviews Pierre Lebreton, Monogastrics Technical and Marketing Manager at Lallemand Animal Nutrition. In this episode, Lebreton explains how nutrition can contribute to better pig herd health. He highlights several nutritional approaches from modulation of the gut microbiome to the management of oxidative stress and the proper selection of fiber. Nutritionists have the keys to improving pig production and health with more flexibility in diet formulation and the use of specific ingredients.

These nutritional approaches are even more interesting in the post-African Swine Fever context and when looking for more sustainable practices such as the reduction of therapeutic dosage of zinc oxide that is happening in some parts of the world. Lebreton also discusses the latest updates in animal nutrition research and practices in Europe.

[Content originally released by Dr.Xixi Chen at https://bit.ly/3vdFJvy].