NATURE GETS IT RIGHT!!!

Current livestock farming practices differ significantly from natural conditions, affecting how piglets and chicks develop and adapt to their environments. In nature, piglets remain with their mothers who nurse them for extended periods before gradually transitioning to solid feed, allowing their digestive systems to mature slowly.

Similarly, chicks benefit from a prolonged relationship with their mother, picking up beneficial bacteria from her feathers, droppings, and the environment she introduces them to, which helps establish a healthy gut microbiota. A balanced microbiota plays a crucial role in nutrient digestion and pathogen defense, strengthening the chicks' immune systems and supporting digestive health.

However, modern farming necessitates feeding animals earlier than in natural settings, often before their digestive systems are fully prepared to handle solid food. This early separation can challenge the digestive health of both piglets and chicks.

Unlike their wild counterparts, farm animals face solid feed and environmental exposure to pathogens at a time when their stomachs and intestines are still underdeveloped. The lack of a gradual transition to solid food can stress their digestive systems, affecting their ability to process nutrients efficiently, which has implications for their growth and health.

One of nature's primary defence mechanisms against pathogens is the acidification of the stomach. This natural process creates a hostile environment for harmful bacteria, limiting their growth and reducing the risk of infections. Stomach acidity plays a vital role in killing or reducing bacteria before they can enter further into the digestive tract.

However, when separation from their mother occurs prematurely, the immature digestive systems in piglets and chicks may not yet produce adequate levels of stomach acid, increasing their vulnerability to bacterial overgrowth and associated health risks.

Research Insights on Digestive Challenges During Weaning in piglets

Recent research highlights the unique challenges faced by piglets during weaning. In a study led by Henza et al., gastrointestinal (GI) transit times in piglets were monitored using a SmartPill® telemetric motility capsule, which recorded pH, pressure, and temperature throughout the GI tract. This study found that during weaning, gastric emptying times were exceptionally prolonged, ranging from 20 hours (1 day) to as long as 240 hours (10 days) in some piglets. In contrast, small intestinal transit times remained relatively consistent, around 2 to 4 hours. This prolonged gastric retention has several implications for nutrient absorption and pathogen accumulation.

Delayed Nutrient Absorption: With food remaining in the stomach for extended periods, nutrients are released into the small intestine at a much slower rate. This delayed release can result in inconsistent nutrient availability, potentially hindering growth and leading to nutrient deficiencies. Essential nutrients may not reach the small intestine—the primary site for nutrient absorption—in an optimal timeframe, impacting the animal's development.

Increased Risk of Pathogen Growth: The extended retention of feed in the stomach creates a suitable environment for bacterial overgrowth, especially if stomach acid levels are insufficient. This raises the risk of pathogen proliferation, potentially leading to digestive infections or dysbiosis (an imbalance of gut bacteria), which can further disrupt nutrient absorption and immune function.

The findings from this study suggest a clear link between management practices and digestive health, emphasizing the need for careful management of diet transitions in young livestock.

Strategies for Improving Digestive Health in Livestock

To address these challenges, nutritionists can focus on two key areas: managing stomach acidification and promoting efficient gastric emptying.

Optimizing Acid-Binding Capacity (ABC4): Targeting an acid-binding capacity below 250 meq in piglet diets is essential for maintaining a low stomach pH, mimicking the natural acidification process that helps prevent pathogen growth. Achieving this target requires substantial additions of organic or inorganic acids and careful reduction of ingredients that neutralize stomach acid, such as calcium carbonate and zinc oxide. By maintaining a more acidic environment, nutritionists can support pathogen control and effective digestion.
Promoting Gastric Emptying with Dietary Fibers: To ensure smooth movement of food through the digestive system, dietary fibers are an effective solution. Fibers increase the bulk of the stomach contents, stimulating stomach motility by activating mechanical and chemical receptors. This triggers the stomach to begin emptying, promoting a faster passage of food from the stomach to the intestines. Aiming for a neutral detergent fiber (NDF) level of 10-12% in piglet diets—higher than typical levels, especially in Asia—can further support gastric emptying, reduce retention times, and improve overall digestive health.

Conclusion For many years, young piglets and chicks were protected from pathogen proliferation primarily through the extensive use of antibiotics. However, with tighter regulations on antibiotic usage, it’s increasingly necessary to return to the foundational principles set by nature. Nature equips young animals with an acidic stomach environment to limit pathogen growth, while the presence of the mother aids in gradual dietary adaptation and gut health. To achieve effective acidification, piglet diets should target an acid-binding capacity (ABC4) below 250 meq, which requires more than just a few kilograms of acidifiers. Additionally, increasing the NDF level to 10-12% can promote healthy gastric emptying, though this is above typical levels used in many current practices, especially in Asia.While these adjustments may initially increase diet costs, they offer long-term benefits by enhancing animal development, yielding a better economic return through improved carcass quality and overall productivity.