Overcoming Challenges of Xylanase Inhibitors in Animal Feeds
By Dr. Ajay Awati, Global Director Enzymes, EW Nutrition In recent years, the scientific understanding of xylanase inhibitors (XIs) and their impact on animal nutrition has grown significantly. Xylanase, a crucial enzyme used to enhance nutrient availability in feed, can face challenges from XIs present in cereal grains. This article explores the evolution of plant […]
Organic acids can play a crucial role in zinc oxide replacement
Dr. Inge Heinzl, Editor EW Nutrition & Juan Antonio Mesonero Escuredo, GTM Swine/GPM Organic Acids EW Nutrition The use of high levels of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) in the EU before 2022 was one of the most common methods to prevent postweaning diarrhea (PWD) in pig production. Pharmacologically high levels of ZnO (2000-3000 ppm) increase growth […]
FEFAC: Quick Overview of 2023 EU Compound Feed Production
Total Production 2023: 144.3 million metric tons for farmed animals Change from 2022: 2% decrease Factors Influencing Decrease Political and Market Pressures: Addressing crises and the shift towards sustainable feed. Climate and Diseases: Effects of droughts, floods, Avian Influenza (AI), and African Swine Fever (ASF) on raw material supply and animal production. National Policies: Initiatives […]
Endotoxins in 250 words
Dr Inge Heinzl, EW Nutrition Endotoxins are… toxic, of course. The part “endo” in their name means that they are part of the bacterial cell, or, to specify it, they are part of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, Shigella, Klebsiella, and Pseudomonas. When do they occur? Always. Endotoxins are […]
Salmonella in pigs: a threat for humans and a challenge for pig producers
By Dr. Inge Heinzl, Editor, EW Nutrition Salmonellosis is third among foodborne diseases leading to death (Ferrari, 2019). More than 91,000 human cases of Salmonellosis are reported by the EU each year, generating overall costs of up to €3 billion a year (EFSA, 2023), 10-20% of which are attributed to pork consumption (Soumet, 2022). The […]
Minimizing Collateral Effects of Antibiotic Administration in Swine Farms: A Balancing Act
By Dr Merideth Parke BVSc, Regional Technical Manager Swine, EW Nutrition We care for our animals, and antibiotics are a crucial component in the management of disease due to susceptible pathogens, supporting animal health and welfare. However, the administration of antibiotics in pig farming has become a common practice to prevent bacterial infections, reduce economic […]
Fighting antimicrobial resistance with immunoglobulins
By Lea Poppe, Regional Technical Manager On-Farm Solutions Europe, and Dr. Inge Heinzl, Editor One of the ten global public health threats is antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Jim O’Neill predicted 10 million people dying from AMR annually by 2050 (O’Neill, 2016). The following article will show the causes of antimicrobial resistance and how antibodies from the […]
Global mycotoxin report: Jan-June 2022 | Find the pain points
By Technical Team, EW Nutrition The pressure of climate change is taking a severe toll – not just on weather-dependent industries, but already on society in general. For feed and food, the impact is already dramatic. Extreme weather events, increased temperatures, and rising carbon dioxide levels are facilitating the growth of toxigenic fungi in crops, […]
Piglet performance with fewer antimicrobials is possible
By Technical Team, EW Nutrition A variety of stressors simultaneously occur at weaning, making this probably the most challenging period in pig production. During weaning, we commonly see altered gut development and gut microbiome, which increases piglets’ vulnerability to diseases. The most classic clinical symptom resulting from these stressors is the occurrence of post-weaning diarrhea. […]
INFOGRAPHIC: Healthy piglets after weaning
Piglet weaning is a critical period. When not properly managed, it leads to decreased performance, diarrhea, and sometimes mortality. The six areas of intervention in our infographic will help pig producers manage these stressors, avoid diarrhea, and maintain piglet health and performance.
The Zinc Oxide ban: What led to it, what are the alternatives?
By Dr. Inge Heinzl, Editor, EW Nutrition In June 2017, the European Commission decided to ban the use of veterinary drugs containing high doses of zinc oxide (3000mg/kg) from 2022. The use of zinc oxide in pig production must then be limited to a maximum level of 150ppm. Companies have been on the lookout for […]
Antibiotic reduction with high performance: Can swine operations do it?
By Dr. Inge Heinzl, Editor, EW Nutrition According to the American Medical Association, antimicrobial resistance is one of the main threats to public health nowadays. More than 2 million people are infected with bacteria resistant to different types of antibiotics every year (Marquardt and Suzhen, 2018). Prof Dame Sally Davies (2012), Chief Medical Officer for […]