African swine fever (ASF) looms as an existential threat that pig producers dread to suffer.

 

An animal is certain to be put down once infected by the disease - an affected herd can therefore lead to death by the thousands. This problem, however, isn’t just a matter of animal health and biosecurity; as academics Jude Capper and David Barrett state: "Every animal that is lost to a preventable disease is also associated with greenhouse gas emissions that the planet cannot afford (pages 4-5)."

 

Once vaccines in the market have proven their effectiveness and strong biosecurity has all but ensured a firm defense against ASF, the work towards greater sustainability has only begun. Animal dietary quality is the heart of this ubiquitous equation.

 

In the view of Angel Yeast, monogastric animals "lack the microbial synthesis of β-glucanase and the enzyme system to break down β-glucan, making β-glucan an antinutritional factor that reduces feed efficiency" (page 8-9). It explains the importance of providing the β-glucanase enzyme to animal diets in this issue of Livestock & Feed Business.

 

AB Vista’s Usama Aftab and Mike Bedford state that the increased elimination of phytate can help enhance the "nutrient assimilation and technical performance of pigs" (pages 10-11). Focusing on this topic, they explore trial data which suggested that "the superdosing of phytase helps further reduce the net pool of IP esters and increase the release of myoinositol in the digestive tract of pigs".

 

At the core of a pig holds part of the answer to sustainable production. Give the gut the essential substances - and every precious amount of feed can be better utilised.

 

The full article is published on the February 2024 issue of LIVESTOCK & FEED Business. To read the full report, please email to inquiry@efeedlink.com to request for a complimentary copy of the magazine, indicating your name, mailing address and title of the report.