Zinc oxide (ZnO) is widely used as an essential trace element source in low dosages and as a treatment in high dosages (up to 2500 ppm) to prevent post-weaning diarrhoea in piglets. Despite it being commonplace, zinc oxide also has some negative effects affecting antimicrobial resistance, changes in the piglets’ microbiota, absorption of critical macro and trace minerals, accumulation of zinc ions in vital organs, as well as various negative ecological effects. It is for these reasons that as of June 2022, the use of zinc oxide at medicinal levels (above 150 ppm) in post-weaning diets will be officially banned within the European Union.
We know there is a physiological need for zinc but we also know that increasing levels can harm the environment and animal health. Coupled with this is the fact that zinc oxide is not palatable and piglets consume less when zinc is present — negatively impacting gastrointestinal health and growth. However, we also know that the low cost of zinc oxide makes finding a cost-effective alternative challenging. And to make things even more complex, every farm is unique and may require a different approach when it comes to replacing zinc oxide.
We are committed to searching for unique solutions that work for you. That’s why, through our extensive research on the topic and experience in the sector, we believe that a multifactorial strategy for zinc oxide replacement is best. This is because zinc oxide cannot be replaced with a single product alone.
We have identified various effects that zinc oxide has demonstrated (as shown in several studies): antimicrobial effects, enzyme secretion and digestibility enhancement, improved intestinal morphology, antioxidant effects and immune system priming. As such, we propose solutions that can be tailored to your specific needs.
Zinc supports the stability of the intestinal microbiome and enlarges favouring its diversity. To replace zinc oxide, there are alternative solutions available to enrich the microbiome, for example, utilizing probiotics such as CLOSTAT®, a probiotic that contains a unique, patented strain of Bacillus spp. PB6. PB6 attacks and kills Clostridia and other pathogenic bacteria which can negatively impact the gastrointestinal tract.
Zinc oxide has been widely shown to have anti-microbial effects that have been shown to help reduce enteric gram-negative infections such as E. Coli and Salmonella. Although it was found that zinc oxide’s mode of action may not only be a direct antimicrobial effect, controlling the major enteric pathogens during this critical and transitional period is crucial for successful weaning. An option for Enterobacteriaceae control is FORMYL™ or Formaxol™. We have seen that the challenge is that enteric gram-negative bacteria that mostly reside in the pig’s lower gut. Hence, microencapsulation technology allows Formyl’s active ingredients to reach pathogens where they are. Making the difference with the appropriate technology is crucial to effectively control enteric pathogens.
Zinc is linked to the maintenance and functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Several studies proved that pharmacological levels of zinc oxide increase the proliferation of enterocytes and villi height: crypt depth ratio. Zinc oxide also improves tight-junction expression, which is indicative of reduced intestinal permeability, and better intestinal integrity. Initially thought to have an antimicrobial effect, zinc oxide has proven to inhibit bacterial adhesion to cells, preventing the disruption of the intestinal tight-junctions. An option to preserve intestinal integrity with the use of calcium butyrate using ButiPEARL™.
Zinc oxide has been shown to reduce the expression of several pro-inflammatory cytokines while improving the transcription of the anti-inflammatory cytokine TGF-β and downregulating genes involved in the innate immune response. Several studies have also proven the same immune-modulatory effect regarding intestinal inflammation when supplementing piglets with pharmacological levels of zinc oxide. Another study from Ou et al., 2017 showed that zinc oxide could reduce the expression of the cytokine stem cell factor (SCF), leading to a reduction of in mast cell number and release of histamine. Histamine is a key molecule for the pathogenesis of diarrhoea and inflammatory status in the intestine. Another strategy besides using zinc oxide is the use of algae beta-glucan, such as Aleta™.
This multifactorial strategy, therefore, enables piglets to still get their much-needed nutrients — without the use of zinc oxide. In this way, we can help control post-weaning diarrhoea and maintain growth performance shortly after weaning. We do this by supporting the immune system, managing intestinal integrity, controlling the microbial balance in the gut and improving digestibility to support piglets through their dramatic diet and nutritional changes.
Our multifactorial strategy for zinc oxide replacement includes the use of:
Read More in our Technical Literature — Using FormaXOL and CLOSTAT in a premium diet to successfully wean small piglets without medical Zinc Oxide.
