News Animal Health
Proper diet is vital to pig gut health

This pig nutrition review from former University of Minnesota Extension Educator Dr. Mark Whitney highlights the importance of proper diet formulation to maintain gut health and prevent intestinal disease  — especially in today’s pig production where we use fewer antibiotics.

The digestive tract serves as a direct path for disease-causing organisms (pathogens) to enter the pig and cause disease. The intestine protects the pig from pathogens in several ways. It maintains a healthy natural community of “bugs” (microflora) in the gut. The intestine releases antibodies and restricts pathogens through the physical environment. While the intestine moves food through the digestive system it also produces a mucus protein (mucin) barrier. | READ MORE