Albert van Dijk

Dr. Albert van Dijk is registered as a “specialist, veterinary nutrition” at the Royal Netherlands Veterinary Association and has been closely involved in developing new products and solutions for swine. He is also group manager swine at Provimi in the Netherlands. He can be reached at [email protected].

Poultry Nutrition & Formulation

Piglet gut health linked to high feed intake

Piglet gut health post-weaning research and growth performance is linked to high feed intakes, which keep pathogens at bay. Maintaining healthy piglet gut levels with antibiotics and zinc is not a option for pig farmers as these are methods are being regulated and phased out.

The villius length in piglets at 5 days after weaning that are getting different amounts of dry matter (grams/day). This demonstrates that piglets can keep their villius length after weaning when they have a high enough energy intake.

Reducing sow lameness in group housing with nutrition

One of the main health challenges in pig group housing systems is that sow leg problems become more apparent. Sows must be able to walk smoothly to reach the feeding trough or feeding station and escape from ranking fights.

Gestating sows in group housing is mandatory in the EU on January 1, 2013. (Photo courtesy of: Provimi Research Centre ‘the Viersprong’, the Netherlands)

Poultry Nutrition & Formulation

Improving piglet gut health with nutrition

An important way to improve piglet intestinal health is with nutrition. In general, pig health is closely related to their nutritional status.

A healthy intestinal wall has long, finger shaped villi that provide an enormous surface for digestion and absorption of nutrients. In case of intestinal damage the villi are shortened which impairs digestion and absorption. The nutrients are left over in the lumen as a substrate for bacteria, causing bacterial overgrowth and disease.

Make the good genes work harder

Nutrigenomic may improve the intestinal health of farm animals.

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