Proceedings

The potential of phytogenic feed additives in disease prevention and reduction of medications

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Abstract

Weaning is a stressful period in the life of pigs with increased susceptibility to environmental and pathogenic challenges (Pluske & Hampson, 1997). These challenges can cause a severe decrease in growth performance and an increase in the need for medications, causing overall considerable economic losses. In the past, antimicrobial growth promoters (AGP) like antibiotics and zinc oxide have been used to counteract these problems (Vondruskova et al., 2010). Increasing occurrence of antimicrobial resistances and a negative environmental impact of these feed supplements, however, raised the need to investigate alternatives to prevent disease development in livestock animals. Phytogenic feed additives (PFA), based on plants and plant derived products like essential oils, have the potential to support health and well-being of animals, in particular during critical periods of their lives (Yang et al., 2015). Consequently, the hereby presented current studies aimed to characterize the modes of action and benefits of PFA with regard to post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) in piglets.

How to Cite:

Müller, A. S., van der Klis, J. D., Oostenbach, P., Chamusco, S. & Aumiller, T., (2019) “The potential of phytogenic feed additives in disease prevention and reduction of medications”, SafePork 13(1), 165-166. doi: https://doi.org//safepork.11412