PigNutriStrat

Novel nutritional and management strategies to reduce antimicrobial reliance and antimicrobial resistanceon Irish pig farms

Project summary:

PigNutriStrat will use a multidisciplinary research approach to develop solutions to prevent and manage multifactorial enteric diseases in pigs as a means of reducing the need for antibiotic use.  Reducing infection pressure and optimising gut microbiome, immunity and enzyme secretory capacity will be the focus.  In Task 2 we will investigate improved internal biosecurity (improved sanitisation with and without bacterial competitive exclusion) and management practices (stocking density and feeder space allowance) in farrowing and weaner houses as a means of increasing lifetime pig health and productivity and reducing antimicrobial use.  Until recently, the main focus on finding alternatives to in-feed antibiotics has been dietary manipulations in pigs post-weaning. However, there are also other strategies that enhance the growth and health of the newly weaned pig.  One of these is the use of maternal nutrition during gestation and lactation and this will be investigated in Task 3.  Task 4 will assess management (split suckling) and nutritional strategies (supplementary milk to suckling pigs with/without gradual introduction of liquid starter diet and novel non-antibiotic dietary additives). In Task 5 the feeding of supplementary liquid milk replacer and/or liquid starter diet to newly weaned pigs will also be investigated.  We will additionally formulate diets to reduce their acid binding capacity and protein content, to help ensure that an acidic gastric environment is ensured immediately post-weaning, thereby ensuring the first barrier to gastric infection is secure.  Specific alternatives to antibiotic feeding approaches will be investigated in Task 6. We will link hygiene and biosecurity, management, sow and piglet nutrition, health and antibiotic use to economic outcomes in Task 7.  Transfer of knowledge is assured via direct involvement of the Teagasc specialist advisors and via collaboration with relevant stakeholders in DAFM, veterinarians, pig producers and processors.

Objectives/Expected benefits:

The objective of PigNutriStrat is to use a multidisciplinary research approach to develop solutions to prevent and manage multifactorial enteric diseases in pigs as a means of reducing the need for antibiotic use. Reducing infection pressure and optimising gut microbiome, immunity and enzyme secretory capacity will be the focus.

Personnel:

Dr. Peadar Lawlor

Ms. Elisa Arnaud (Walsh Scholar)

Ms. Keely Halpin (Walsh Scholar)

Collaborators:

Prof John O Doherty, Prof Torres Sweeney, Prof Michael Wallace and Dr Stafford Vigors, University College Dublin.

Prof Gillian Gardiner, Waterford Institute of Technology.

Mr. Joe Ryan, Meat Industry Ireland.

Funding body:

This material is based upon research supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under Grant Award No.[DAFM Project Code (2019R518)].

For more information contact: Dr. Peadar Lawlor at Peadar.lawlor@teagasc.ie or 025 42217