Nutricare 360, brought to you by ForFarmers, offers a structured approach to supporting our customers in tackling some of the big challenges facing the UK pig industry, with the overall goal of improving piglet health and vitality.
As UK pig producers will be aware, Zinc is currently being phased out of pig production- leaving a gap in how producers can effectively support piglets during the early, and critical, weeks of development.
Click here for practical tips for going Zinc Free
Zinc Oxide is typically used, at therapeutic levels, in piglet diets for the prevention of two big health challenges: post-weaning diarrhoea and bowel oedema disease in pigs- issues which can significantly impact the health and performance of piglets at a critical stage in their growth and development.
Because of the numerous benefits of using zinc, once removed from UK production there will be a gap in how producers can effectively support piglets during these early weeks of development.
A recent survey suggested more than 1/3rd of UK pig farmers are routinely using zinc oxide in piglet diets post weaning, and many producers still have no clear plan around how to manage the removal next year.
ForFarmers is working with UK pig producers to support them through this significant change in piglet heath management and the role that nutrition can play. Through the ForFarmers international Nutrition Innovation Centre and leading team of nutritional experts we’re working on alternatives, but there is no silver bullet.