Pig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    • Pig World – November 2023
    • National Pig Awards Supplement 2023
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • Health Supplement
    • August 2023
    • Pigs Tomorrow Supplement
    • July 2023
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Equipment
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
Subscribe Podcast
Pig WorldPig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    1. Pig World – November 2023
    2. National Pig Awards Supplement 2023
    3. October 2023
    4. September 2023
    5. Health Supplement
    6. August 2023
    7. Pigs Tomorrow Supplement
    8. July 2023
    Featured

    National Pig Awards Supplement 2023

    October 31, 2023
    Recent

    National Pig Awards Supplement 2023

    October 31, 2023

    Pig World – November 2023

    October 31, 2023

    Pig World – October 2023

    October 4, 2023
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Equipment
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
Phil Baynes

August 2016: What’s in the gut?

Phil BaynesBy Phil BaynesJuly 27, 20163 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

I was fortunate to be invited to a conference hosted by Huvepharma in June, writes Dr Phil Baynes. There were a number of very interesting papers covering a wide range of topics, including the different types of fibre in diets, their role and potential to manipulate them to improve efficiency. But, two compelling papers concentrated on the bacteria in the gut – otherwise known as the gut microbiome. These papers, from Todd Callaway of the Agricultural Research Unit at the USDA and Professor Mick Bailey at Bristol Vet School, took us into new realms of gut activity.

It’s common knowledge among many producers that the bacterial population of the gut plays a very important part in both digestive efficiency and overall health. But other aspects, including the impact of bacterial population on psychological state, and also their effects on expression of genetic potential, were new to me.

One piece of evidence described how, even though an animal (mice in the case of the trial) of the same genetic line, health status and environment can be fed exactly the same diet, one became obese while the other remained skinny. The only difference was the bacterial population in the gut.

For the microbiologists, it’s specifically the ratio between Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, with the closer the relationship, the leaner the animal. This means, therefore, that if we can offer feed substrates that increase the population of Bacteroidetes in the gut, we can conceivably reduce the P2 in the finished animal.

The area of manipulating the bacterial population in the gut to control psychological state could allow us to manipulate and control behavioural vice. With tail biting being a huge economic loss to the industry – with partial or total condemnation of the pigs at slaughter – the idea that we can change this behaviour without external intervention is very exciting. However, the understanding of this is still very much in its infancy.

Professor Bailey explained that the establishment of the microflora in the gut occurs within the first 24 hours of life and is maternally linked. Therefore, if we were to look at changing the bacterial population of a piglet at birth, we’d first need to establish the sow’s gut population within her first 24 hours of life – so a generational approach would need to be established.

Efforts into understanding the role of the gut bacteria and how to manipulate it are continuing, and we’re still a long way off being able to control it. At some point in the future it’s conceivable that we could create a colostrum paste, to be administered orally, containing specifically selected bacterial species that would then help reduce behavioural vice and allow full expression of genetic potential of the animal. We can then offer feed materials during the rearing phase that alter the bacterial population of the gut to reduce fat accretion. I look forward to that day!

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleAugust 2016: Is cutting animal populations really the answer to climate change?
Next Article EMA toughens its stance on use of colistin in animal treatments
Phil Baynes

Read Similar Stories

Minimising the risks – control the controllables

November 3, 2019

Global volatility and incoming legislation pose nutritional challenges for producers in 2019

January 6, 2019

The value of vitamins

January 9, 2018
Latest News

EU market stabilises after recent rapid decline, with partial production recovery predicted

November 30, 2023

Protecting pig farm ventilation systems from climate-related havoc

November 30, 2023

GB pig prices for week ending November 25, 2023 – SPP falls down again

November 29, 2023
Sponsored Content

Porcine Circovirus: Is Clinical Disease Just the Tip of the Iceberg?

November 1, 2023
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Pig Unit Manager – Ref 1472 Yorkshire

    • North Yorkshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1471 Norfolk

    • Norfolk
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Senior Pig Stockperson – Ref 1470 Northamptonshire

    • Northamptonshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
GETTING IN TOUCH
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Meet The Editors
  • About Us
  • Email Newsletters
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
PARTNER EVENTS
RELATED SITES
  • Farmers Weekly
  • Agronomist & Arable Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • National Pig Awards
  • Pigs Tomorrow
  • Poultry News
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2023 Lewis Business Media. All Rights Reserved | Lewis Business Media, Suite A, Arun House, Office Village, River Way, Uckfield, TN22 1SL

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.