Understanding heat stress and its Impacts on animals Heat stress is a significant challenge in animal husbandry, affecting various physiological parameters and overall animal performance. It occurs when animals are unable to dissipate excess body heat, leading to elevated body temperatures and a cascade of negative health effects. The situation is exacerbated by climate change, …
Swine
How to prevent post-weaning diarrhea in piglets?
Understanding the causes of diarrhea in piglets after Weaning Diarrhea in piglets during weaning is mainly caused by several interrelated factors. One of the main factors is the sudden change in diet when piglets switch from sow’s milk to solid feed. This change can disrupt the intestinal microbiota, leading to digestive disorders and diarrhea (Pluske, …
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Limiting piglet crushing, for better welfare and performance
Piglet crushing, a major contributor to pre-weaning Mortality of piglets Pre-weaning period is a critical phase in swine production, which lasts from farrowing up to the weaning of piglets. During this period, piglets’ mortality rate is at its highest, around 12% (Jarvis et al., 2023). Piglet mortality is a major challenge in swine production, seriously …
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Nor-Spice AB® improves piglets’ performances when supplemented in sows
The impact of gut health on Performances Sow’s performances depend on many parameters such as gut health: microbiota balance and gut integrity. The intestinal microbiota refers to the microorganisms (including 70-80% of bacteria) that are living in the gastrointestinal tract. It is considered as an organ itself and recent studies show that a balanced microbiota …
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The effect of fenugreek cotyledons on farrowing sows’ performance
Steroidal saponins, molecules contained in fenugreek cotyledons which enable to Stimulate appetite Nutritional management of sow from the gestation to the end of lactation is critical for achieving and maintaining optimal sow productivity, longevity and litter growth. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is an annual plant that belongs to the Fabaceae family which possess steroidal saponins. These …
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Colostrum quality: an essential aspect to improve piglet’s performance
The imbalance between lactation capacity and Sow prolificacy In the last 15 years, sow’s prolificacy has increased by 4.5 piglets per litter (Culbertson, 2019). To support this trend, colostrum average yield has increased with the born piglets’ number. When comparing a small litter of 10 piglets with a large litter of 20 piglets, the colostrum …
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The impact of oxidative stress on high prolific sows at farrowing
The risk of oxidative stress for high prolific sows and the impact on the Litter livability High prolific sows have high energy needs to cover the fetal development during late gestation, but also to ensure a right lactation performance. The animals endure a stronger metabolic activity which generates intense free radical production. This is the …
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Nor-Grape® polyphenols improve meat quality
How consumers perceive Meat quality Meat quality is a multidimensional and difficult concept. Amongst consumers, « quality » is first perceived in the place of purchase through several criteria. These criterias may be intrinsic (physical aspect) or extrinsic (price, brand, packaging, etc.) and they are determinant in the meat product choice. Amongst these criteria, the …
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Constipation, cause or consequence of dysbiosis?
A risk factor for sow breeding: Constipation Constipation affects between 20 and 30% of sows in intensive breeding. It is a risk factor for urinary tract infections, cystitis and pyelonephritis and can also cause dehydration and atrophy of intestinal villi, which in turn may facilitate bacterial, viral and parasitic infections (Ramonet et al., 2017). The …
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