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Study Finds Early Weaning Impacts Gut Enzyme of Piglets
May 4, 2010
Researchers in the department of Animal and Poultry Science have uncovered one of the reasons why piglets often struggle with illness and sometimes die when they are weaned from their mothers. According to the new study, a gut enzyme involved in digesting phosphate and fighting off harmful bacteria is significantly compromised during the early-weaning process.
“We found that the early weaning of piglets reduced the level and performance of alkaline phosphatase in the gut, which can lead to decreased growth development and illness,” said Dale Lackeyram, a PhD student who worked on the study with animal and poultry science professor Ming Fan. “These study results have benefits for the pork industry. Early weaning is critical for farmers when it comes to maximizing production, but it’s also the time when a majority of piglets die or their quality of health suffers.”
This finding can also have implications for humans, when it comes to understanding what happens during the weaning process, because the digestive system of pigs and humans are similar, Lackeyram added.
