Impacts

Health and welfare

Weaning is a critical life-stage and PWD is one of the most important challenges in the management of weaned pigs. The study will support the sector’s drive to reduce the use of antimicrobials and sustainably address the challenge of managing the post-weaned piglet, while at the same time improving animal health, welfare, and productivity.

Economic and social impact

PWD reduces piglet growth rates and increases time to finish, mortality, feed costs, and vulnerability to other health issues. It also impacts on the welfare of livestock and morale of livestock keepers and contributes to public concerns in relation to pig welfare. Solutions to enhance piglet welfare through prevention and control of PWD will help to alleviate such concerns.

Timeliness and novelty

A better understanding of how ZnO influences the local microflora is essential for the development of efficacious dietary alternatives that mimic the action of ZnO to boost gut health and resilience and reduce clinical enteric disease.

Who will benefit?

Our research will be of direct relevance to the animal and veterinary science communities. Our collaborative team, which includes veterinarians, animal scientists, microbiologists, bioinformaticians and a social scientist, has extensive networks within interested communities and will effectively disseminate the outcomes of our work among these networks.

Livestock farmers

Re-balancing productivity and sustainability requires improved control of endemic disease, in the context of upward pressure on feed and energy prices.

Practicing veterinarians & technical support team

Specialist veterinarians and their technical teams are closely involved in the need for disease management options and alternatives to ZnO use.

Animal & veterinary

scientists

Withdrawal of ZnO gives rise to the conundrum that whilst reducing prophylactic use of therapeutics, it may increase the clinical usage of antimicrobials for disease treatment.

Industry focusing on pig welfare, nutrition & management

Withdrawal of ZnO has intensified research into (mainly) nutritional alternatives to control PWD in pigs, an outcome of this research will be potential development of microbiome-based solutions.

Epidemiologists & scientists dealing with AMR

Research will identify the consequences of ZnO withdrawal on AMR diversity and mechanisms, and explore AMR spread between different life stages across the farm.

Others including policy makers, commentators & lobby groups

There is increasing scrutiny of food production systems, their contribution to AMR and role in achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Last but not least, the pigs themselves – an improved understanding of post-weaning diarrhoea and management options will contribute towards improved health and welfare.

Please review the Abbreviation Buster web page for the full expansion of any abbreviations.