74
The paradigm of restricted antimicrobial use: Swine production in the EU
Instilled by fears for unmanageable bacterial infections in humans, the use of antimicrobials as growth promoters is under dispute in many countries, and already banned in the European Union. On paper, it is possible to produce livestock without the use of antimicrobials by practicing perfect bio-security. Indeed, some farmers in affected regions have rebuilt their production system in order to achieve much better bio-security but also to align better with increasing environmental and welfare demands. For farms unable to do so but also for farms where biosecurity has been improved, practical means for better managing health are needed. Likely the two most critical points are birth and weaning. The birth process is stressful for the piglet especially when the sows lack stamina to sustain parturition. Better preparation of the sow for parturition is key. Once born, piglets should be provided with an optimum climate to facilitate colostrum intake; supplemental milk can be a beneficial source of additional nutrients and health factors especially for weaker animals. This supplemental milk is ideally made available on the day of birth and offered warm and frequently as to stimulate intake. Later-on during lactation creep feed should be offered in order to facilitate the transition to solid feed after weaning. The feed after weaning should not be perceived as novel to the piglet, as this can delay intakes resulting in opportunities for infections. E. coli infection trials demonstrated that feed intake was the key protectant for newly-weaned piglets, not the composition of the diet (ZnO provides an exception to this rule). The time of day of weaning should be optimized for intake while diet composition should focus on intake above anything else. Plasma, colostrum powder, and hyper-immunized eggs provide precious immunological support to the newly weaned. There is also a host of organic acid and plant-extract based products that can aid in maintaining intestinal health. These products should first of all not hurt palatability; second, they should aid in maintaining a stable gut environment. For the latter, in vitro data for selecting products is only a first stab; products should be proven and tried under field conditions. Smart combinations, however, can certainly aid in maintaining piglet health during stress periods. In conclusion, swine production without antimicrobials is tough; with high quality management, high quality diets, and proven additives that aid in stabilizing the gut the pain can be lessened.
Keywords: Antimicrobials, swine, additives