Location: Livestock Behavior Research
Project Number: 5020-32000-013-042-R
Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: May 1, 2018
End Date: Nov 1, 2019
Objective:
The study objective is to determine if combining dietary synbiotics and an amino acid will result in a greater improvement in swine health and performance following weaning and transport in a production environment when compared to dietary antibiotics.
Approach:
To achieve our goal we will transport newly weaned pigs to simulate commercial production systems. Upon arrival to the nursery, we will supplement piglet diets with dietary antibiotics, no antibiotics, amino acid, synbiotics, or a combination of amino acid and synbiotics. We will then monitor piglet health, performance, and immune function as it related to piglet well-being until they reach market weight.
