This year's Midwestern meeting of the American Society of Animal Science is March 14-16 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Productive pigs require a healthy, stable gut environment under all conditions, during every phase of production. Weaning is an especially stressful time. The transition from sow’s milk to dry feed often affects gut health in the young pig, which can open the way to disease in the nursery.

Healthy populations of beneficial gut bacteria help pigs resist stress and perform better, as shown in studies scheduled for presentation at Midwest ASAS. Five presentations focus on post-weaning nursery pigs:

This year's Midwestern meeting of the American Society of Animal Science is March 14-16 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo: Ingram Publshing/Thinkstock)

1. Effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and fecal microbiota in weanling pigs -- R.X Lan, J.M. Koo, S.I. Lee, J.H. Cho, and I.H. Kim (Abstract 175, March 14, 5 p.m., Grand Ballroom Foyer)

2. Supplementation of a Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product can attenuate the acute phase response following a lipopolysaccharide challenge in pigs -- P.R. Broadway, J.A. Carroll, N.C. Burdick Sanchez, B.E. Bass, and J.W. Frank (Abstract 307, March 15, 9:15 a.m., Room 401)

3. Effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product supplementation in different nutrient density diets on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbiota and fecal noxious gas emissions in weanling pigs -- R.X. Lan, J.M. Koo, S.I. Lee, and I.H. Kim (Abstract 152, March 15, 1:45 p.m., Room 314-315)

4. Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product modulates inflammatory activity by regulating the TLR4 and NFkB expression in porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells after lipopolysaccharide challenge -- S.I. Lee, J.M. Koo, R.X. Lan, and I.H. Kim (Abstract 158, March 15, 3:15 p.m., Room 314-315)

5. Effect of a Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product and dietary antibiotics, alone or in combination, on nursery pig performance and frequency of medical treatment -- J. Acosta, J.W. Frank, and J.F. Patience (Abstract 251, March 16, 9:45 a.m., Room 308-309)

In addition, researchers also address the nutritional health of gestating and lactating sows: "Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product supplementation in late gestation and lactation on sow and litter performance, milk components, and fecal Clostridium perfringens" -- T.C. Tsai, H.J. Kim, X. Wang, B.E. Bass, J.W. Frank, and C.V. Maxwell (Abstract 286, March 16, 7:30-8:15 a.m., Grand Ballroom Foyer).

For the complete ASAS Midwest Meeting program, see https://www.asas.org/docs/default-source/midwest/mw16/2016_midwest_final-draft.pdf?sfvrsn=2.

Source: Diamond V