special edition: pig and poultry gut health
Starting early
Not all work to address gut health starts with the animal being raised. Some research, like that being done by Novus, looks to address gut health in poultry and swine starting with the nutrition of the hen and the sow.
Focusing on maternal nutrition can be a way to improve gut health and the gut immune system in animals prior to birth or hatch, the company said. The boost may give young animals a way to better face early challenges.
Researchers at North Carolina State University also have been tracking the use of in-ovo feeding to help young chickens prior to hatching. Birds grow so quickly that the pre-hatch and neo-natal period is becoming increasingly important and researchers are finding that nutritional intervention may help program gut microflora and improve gut development and nutrient absorption.
