Step-by-step plan for the acidification of drinking water

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In pigs and poultry, acidification of the drinking water can be a very effective tool to prevent or lower the need for antibiotics. Acidification can have multiple beneficial effects, such as improved palatability and thus water intake, improved digestion, prebiotic effect and reduction of pathogens (e.g., Salmonella). Each type of acid or acid mixture has its own specific properties. Moreover, disinfection products or other compounds present in the water can interfere or react with acids. In some cases, organic acids can cause slime formation due to growth of yeasts and fungi. Always consult your vet/advisor to discuss which acid (mixture) suits your drinking water system and water quality best. Once a suitable acid (mixture) is chosen, the correct dosage is the key to success.

How to determine the correct dosage:

1. Fill a bucket with 10l of the water to be tested.
2. Put on safety glasses and acid resistant gloves.
3. Take a disposable syringe of 10 or 20 ml and fill it with the acid (mixture) to be tested.
4. Add 5 ml of the acid (mixture) to the water and measure the pH with a pH strip or pH meter (both for sale at the pharmacy). Repeat this step until you reach the desired pH (typically around pH 4; discuss this with your vet/advisor)
5. Write down how much acid (mixture) you added to the water (= ‘x’ ml)
6. Calculate the dosage:
x millilitre of acid added to 10 litres of water =>
DOSAGE = x/10 litre of acid per 1000 litre of water
7. Repeat this procedure every time the water source or type of acid (mixture) is changed

Microbial toxin elimination by selective binding

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Every day, farmers all across the world work hard to give their animals the best possible care. However, there are many challenges among them how to find balanced and cost effective feed and how to keep livestock healthy. Moreover, due to climate change, raw materials are even more exposed to increased temperatures and higher humidity, what results in microbial contamination and subsequent toxin production, for example mycotoxins what poses a serious threat to animal health and performance.

Today’s solutions are innovative concepts dealing with climate change and increasing feed efficiency and customer convenience. The negative aspects of climate change can be easily targeted by providing the animals cost effective multi-level nutritional concepts able to prevent these issues by selective toxin absorption (avoiding nutrient malnutrition), create a healthy gut and gastrointestinal barrier, supplemented by ingredients promoting immune boosting and liver function. This is all combined in concepts such as VitaFix, an alternative for antibiotics and combining advanced adsorbing agents together with organic acids and natural antioxidants. Farmers across the globe are very satisfied with such multi-level solutions as witnessed in the video.

Aim for zero antibiotics by 3 step approach

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Every year 700000 people die because of antimicrobial cross resistance. By 2050 the number will be multiplied by ten. Every 45 seconds someone dies because of antimicrobial cross resistance. By 2050 every 3 second someone will die.

It is clear that we have to aim for minimal – preferentially zero – use of antibiotics. Farmers can aim for use of zero antibiotics via a simple 3-step approach.

The first step deals with using a benchmark tool. Different examples are available such as undependent ones like Biocheck or commercial ones as shown in current video. Based on the outcomes of the benchmark tool, your veterinarian or coach at the farmer site can advise you on possible strategies to reduce antibiotics and subsequent antibiotic resistance. Finally, next to management and veterinarian solutions, your adviser can advise plenty of feed solutions together with nutritionists for alternative intervention at the different levels of the animal in order to secure animal health and performance.

Farmers across the globe are very satisfied with such simple 3-step approach as witnessed in the video.

Buffer solution for stabilization rumen fermentation

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It is very difficult to increase milk production in dairy cattle, without jeopardizing digestive disorder and subsequent animal health. However, sound buffer concepts can support and protect the rumen and intestines. In counteracts the effect of high energy diets that disrupt the healthy functioning of the rumen by buffering the acidification by overproduction of short chain fatty acids. This way, lysis of bacteria by acidification and subsequent release of endotoxins is avoided. As a consequence, intestinal barrier is not weakened and does not result in leaky gut and sepsis. Finally, there is no energy loss towards fortifying the immunity of the animal, resulting in better performance and health.

It is clear that buffers can overcome intestinal disorders in ruminants, while increasing milk production. This way, the performance index of the animal is strongly improved and the financial profit per animal is much better, as witnessed by farmers.

Galacto Oligosaccharides for improving health of newborn piglets

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Sows give birth to more, but less mature piglets. Therefore, early stimulation of their intestinal development is required. But how do you know what newborn piglets need?

The answer is found in nature. In human breast milk, the most important components are lactose, lipids, proteins and above all human milk oligosaccharides (HMO). This last component is very remarkable, as babies cannot digest it.

Now, why did mother nature add them to breast milk? HMO are there to feed the beneficial microbes in the baby’s gastrointestinal tract and have prebiotic and antimicrobial functions, strengthen immunity and as a consequence stimulate gastrointestinal maturation.

To improve formula milk, the scientific community developed galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), which mimics the function of HMO. When supplied to newborn piglets, longer villi as well as more beneficial microbes and their positive metabolites (short chain fatty acids) are observed. In addition, gastrointestinal barrier function is improved and the piglets show stronger immunity, all resulting in improved zootechnical performance and health.

Farmers witness the positive effect of GOS and have seen that the product is very reliable and this way they like the concept and want to continue to use in their farm it in the future.

Vaccination of in-calf cows and housing practices against calf scour (Neonatal calf diarrhea)

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Calf scour (Neonatal calf diarrhoea) is the most common cause of disease and death in calves during the pre-weaning period. Scour can be due to both infectious (e.g., viruses and bacteria) or non-infectious causes (such as poor nutrition). Symptoms are most often diarrhoea that might be green, yellow or grey in colour, weak animals, dehydrated animal (especially when very young) causing sunken-eyes, etc.

Good hygiene, colostrum provision and biosecurity are important for minimising the chances of an outbreak occurring, independent of the cause of scour. Calves are most at risk from infectious scour in the first 3-4 weeks of life and need a continuous source of protection. In collaboration with their herd veterinarians, farmers can vaccinate in-calf cows against calf diarrhoea a few weeks before calving, while increasing the quantities of colostrum given to the calves at birth. After doing this, cases of diarrhoea in the calves should usually drop.

In addition, it is important to segregate calves by age to prevent passing infectious agents from older calves to younger more vulnerable ones and to maintain clean, dry housing with good ventilation. For example, individual pens (which are easier to clean, transport and disinfect) could be used to rear these calves.

91 Cola and vaccination by Dutch vet (Industry Innovation)

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Significant Impact Group(s): Pathogen management \ Managing sick animals ; Feed / gut health
Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young;
Outcome Parameter(s): piglet diarrhoea;
Summary: In piglets, birth diarrhoea is caused by bacteria and viruses. These are E. coli bacteria, clostridium bacteria C. perfringens type A and type C and rotaviruses. According to the vet Schuttert, the effect of vaccination is usually not spectacular, because the effect also runs via the colostrum. An average sow produces enough colostrum for 12 piglets. But the average litter size is now 15 piglets. One way to improve colostrum supply is split suckling. Vet Schuttert concludes that in case of birth diarrhoea in piglets it is almost always necessary to take steps on several fronts. There is often much to gain with extra attention to hygiene. If the piglets do develop diarrhoea, it may make sense to provide the sows with acid. He usually start by advising lime and cola . Then offering water and food. And the third step is the possible application of vaccinations and / or antibiotics.
91 Industry Innovation – cola and vaccination by Dutch vet
Where to find the original material: (in Dutch)
https://www.nieuweoogst.nl/nieuws/2019/06/06/cola-light-niet-geschikt-voor-kraamstal;
Country: NL

91 Industry Innovation – cola and vaccination by Dutch vet

90 Calf reception by LTO calf group (Industry Innovation)

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Significant Impact Group(s): Housing and welfare \ Weaning age and management ; Pathogen management
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Young;
Outcome Parameter(s): lower antibiotic use; lower mortality; improved animal welfare; improved animal health; better technical results
Summary: With the ‘Calf Reception’ project, the veal calf sector (initiator is the Branch Organization for the Calf Sector (SBK)) wants to improve the reception of newborn calves on the veal calf farm. The project focuses on the management of the veal farmer during the first four weeks, including the release of the calves in groups. During this period, improvements in management can lead to lower antibiotic use and loss, better animal welfare and health, more job satisfaction and better technical results. The main target group of the project are the 1,300 veal veal farmers in the Netherlands. Group meetings and workshops are organized, but individual conversations with veal farmers and advisers are also possible. Aspects that will be discussed include a clean barn, clean feeding troughs and teats, temperature in the barn on arrival, CO2 and humidity, feeding milk.
90 Industry Innovation – Ontvangst Kalveren by LTO calf group
Where to find the original material: (in Dutch)
https://www.nieuweoogst.nl/nieuws/2019/03/28/vleeskalversector-start-nieuw-project;
Country: NL

90 Industry Innovation – Ontvangst Kalveren by LTO calf group

89 KalfOK by ZuivelNL (Industry Innovation)

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Significant Impact Group(s): AMU reduction strategies \ Monitoring and surveillance \ Disease/health ; Pathogen management
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Young;
Outcome Parameter(s): use of antibiotics; health status
Summary: CalfOK provides insight into the rearing of all calves born on the dairy farm. It stimulates to improve the health and welfare of calves. Since 2018, every dairy farmer can request the CalfOK score of his company, if the necessary authorizations have been issued via his dairy company. Figures from MediRund, I&R, Rendac and Qlip come together, from which the key figures arise. Dairy companies promote the use of KalfOK through quality and sustainability programs. CalfOK is composed of data on births and rearing, the use of antibiotics in calves and the company health status. In total there are 12 key figures each company can score a maximum of 100 points. The result provides insight into the quality of calf rearing at the individual dairy farm, and also makes a comparison with other companies possible. Dairy farmers are required to view the CalfOK score to issue authorizations through their dairy company.
89 Industry Innovation – KalfOK by ZuivelNL
Where to find the original material: (in Dutch)
https://www.nieuweoogst.nl/nieuws/2018/12/28/kalfok-begint-te-leven-bij-veehouders;
Country: NL

89 Industry Innovation – KalfOK by ZuivelNL

88 KS Kempfarm systems by KS Kempfarm systems (Farm Innovation)

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Significant Impact Group(s): Housing and welfare \ Manure management ; Pathogen management
Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young; Adult;
Outcome Parameter(s): lung problems
Summary: A manure belt underneath the (slatted) floor is used in a stable for fattening pigs. The system is called ‘Kempfarm system’ and separates the urine from the manure. This decreases the ammonia production. The solid manure is turned out of the shed twice a day. The basis is an optimal stable climate, which prevents lung problems. Direct manure separation and daily manure removal from the barn is an advantage for this.
88 Farm Innovation – KS Kempfarm systems by KS Kempfarm systems
Where to find the original material: (in Dutch)
https://www.pigbusiness.nl/artikel/6503-investeren-omdat-het-beter-kan/;
Country: NL

88 Farm Innovation – KS Kempfarm systems by KS Kempfarm systems