Bonus Tydskrif SPRING SUMMER 2024 FINAL

it is crucial to provide them with the best possible beginning. Unlocking your animals’ natural capabilities is essential to promote a stronger, more resilient animal. This approach reduces the reliance on antibiotics and helps them better cope with future challenges. The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) contains about 70% of the immune cells in the body. It is therefore imperative to keep the GIT of any animal as healthy as possible, as this will aid the animal in responding to disease challenges. To maintain healthy animals with healthy immune systems, producers can focus on three main pillars within their farming systems: nutrition, management, and health ( Figure 2 ). Each pillar has its focus points – by taking care of these different aspects, this approach can provide a clear pathway to healthy and highly productive animals. Nutrition Providing the correct nutrition will not only achieve good growth rates, but also keep a positive equilibrium between the animal’s diet, its microbiota, and its immune system. We can maintain this through: • A consistent feed composition with high-quality, easily digestible ingredients. • Implementing efficient feed management for piglets, which includes allowing them ad-lib access to feed, providing multiple feedings throughout the day, offering high-quality creep feed, and ensuring that they receive the appropriate feed for each production phase. • Ensuring efficient feed management for sows to support good colostrum production (250g needed per piglet) and milk production. • Taking measures to prevent and manage mycotoxins in the feed, as they can disrupt the GIT integrity and cause a leaky gut. • Providing enough milk and creep feed to piglets pre-weaning and consider fostering piglets if necessary. After weaning, ensure there is sufficient feeder space (0,4m² per piglet) to promote good feed intake. • Considering using low protein diets, organic acids or acidifiers, and essential oils or phytogenic feed additives in farms facing colibacillosis challenges. Reduce feed-related stress by effectively implementing all the above points on the farm. Management On-farm management is arguably one of the most important pillars, as poor management can undo all the positives of good nutrition and good health. Management involves the handling and oversight of animals, water quality, housing conditions, and climate. Water quality and intake • Monitor water intake daily as a decrease in water intake will be noticeable before a reduction in feed intake is seen. • Ensure drinking nipples have the correct water pressure (0,6ℓ/min for piglets). • Ensure enough drinking space in each pen (at least one nipple per 8-10 piglets). • Check that all drinkers work, and Figure 2: Farming system pillars aimed at maintaining healthy animals. Spring/Summer 2024 BONUS www.agribonus.co.za 18