Project launched to improve sustainability in pig production via early-life strategies

A major target for pig production is to reach sustainability goals. Schothorst Feed Research, Wageningen University and 13 private partners took the collaborative effort to start a Public-Private Partnership to contribute to a sustainable pig production chain. This 4-year project called Gut2Go was launched in September 2024 and aims to do so via early-life application of 1) hygiene, 2) feeding and 3) enrichment strategies. The project receives financial support from the Top Sector Agri & Food. 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.

Early-life events can both induce long-lasting adverse effects as well as support long-term healthy functioning, indicative of a window of opportunity in the first weeks of life to increase their resilience in such a way that it benefits later life pig adaptability. However, the application of strategies in the farrowing room on pig farms is still limited due to gaps in practical applicability or unknown potential effects in the weaner and grower-finisher phase.

The goal of the project is to improve piglet gut health and welfare by application of early-life strategies that stimulate the natural behaviour of pigs and optimize the gut microbial balance in the pigs. 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. To accomplish these aims, the project will study effects of early-life stratgegies in undocked piglets from birth to slaughter (to determine short- and long-term effects) by determination of pig responses in a broad way (performance, behaviour, gut health and microbiome). The project will make use of the latest technology to evaluate these responses.

Stay up to date and follow Schothorst Feed Research on LinkedIn. A project website is in development.

Partners in Gut2Go: ABZ De Samenwerking U.A., AIA – Agricola Italiana Alimentare Spa, Best Star Meat Pork, Darling Ingredients International Rendering and Specialties, DSM Nutritional Products AG, Felleskjøpet Fôrutvikling AS,, Huvepharma N.V., Lucta S.A., Olmix S.A., Schippers Europe B.V., Schothorst Feed Research, Topigs Norsvin Research Center B.V., Touchless Animal Metrics, Unibio A/S and Wageningen University (Host-Microbe Interactomics Group).