Context
Medicinal doses (3,000 ppm) of zinc oxide (ZnO) is the solution to control diarrheas’-related issues in just-weaned piglets by helping gut microbiota to be stabilized.
However, there are concerns about the long-term impact of ZnO on the environment during the last years, as well as development of antibiotic resistance in animal may be caused by Zinc. Therefore, the use of medicinal doses (3,000 ppm) of zinc in weaned piglet feed is banned in the EU since June 2022.
All major feed additive manufacturers are introducing alternative solutions, but in most of the cases, it is very difficult to find a solution based on one single feed ingredient that works exactly like ZnO. Usually, more complex solutions based on multifunctional approach are proposed to tackle the issue. In fact, health status and hygiene must be combined with feeding strategies and solutions: biosecurity & housing conditions, stocking density (no. of pigs), feed additives, feeding management, weaning age/management.
Through this questionnaire, we would like to understand your specification requirements for a new product development. Your answer will allow us to better understand your needs in order to develop the best solution to replace ZnO.
