Pigs are exposed to several challenges over time, such as dietary transitions, social interactions, and new environments. Weaning is commonly seen as the largest stressor, since it concerns multiple stressors simultaneously. Early-life proof-of-concept studies have shown the ability to prepare piglets for several challenging conditions, including weaning. However, the application of early-life strategies in practise is still limited due to gaps in practical applicability or unknown potential later-life effects. Moreover, although more and more studies acknowledge the link between nutrition, the gut and the brain (i.e., microbiome-gut-brain axis), literature often lack to report both behavioural as well as gastro-intestinal and microbiome effects simultaneously of tested interventions.

The aim of Gut2Go is to study the effect of early-life strategies on piglet development from birth to slaughter with undocked pigs. The project will make use of latest technology with camera networks and artificial intelligence to evaluate the behaviour of the pigs. The project focuses on evaluating the effect and interaction of hygiene, feeding and enrichment strategies on microbiome succession, welfare and performance to prepare piglets for future challenges. The result will be early-life strategies that improve pig health and welfare without a trade-off in terms of efficiency. At the end of the project, the strategies will be ready to be used in practice and new insights for final market applications will be yield. The strategies are expected to contribute to a sustainable pig sector by 1) stimulating natural behaviour of pigs, indirectly stimulating the transition from docked to undocked tails, 2) by improving gastro-intestinal and microbiome maturation in piglets, which contributes indirectly to reducing antimicrobial usage and resistance, 3) by maintaining or improving productivity while implementing sustainable concepts, and 4) by evaluating the potential of AI technologies to monitor welfare of pigs

Gut2Go is a Public-Private Partnership between Schothorst Feed Research, Wageningen University, and 13 industrial partners. The project receives financial support from the Top Sector Agri & Food (LWV23134). Within the Top Sector, knowledge institutions, the business community, and the government work together on innovations for safe and healthy food for 9 billion people in a resilient world.

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Start project: 02/09/2024
End of project: 01/09/2028

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Partners