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DAFF Ref: RSF 06 326
Research Stimulus Fund
Final Report
Nutrition of farm animals for improved health and performance
DAFF Project Ref No: RSF 06 326
Start date: 1/11/2006
End date: 30/09/2010
Principle Coordinator: Professor John O’Doherty (UCD)
Email: [email protected]
Other Principle Collaborating Researchers:
Professor Torres Sweeney, Dr Brendan Lynch, Dr John Egan
Please tick below the appropriate area on the research continuum where you feel this project
fits
BASIC/FUNDMENTAL APPLIED/PRE COMMERCIAL
X x
Key words: (max 4) pigs, calves, disease, health
DAFF Ref: RSF 06 326 2
1. Rationale for Undertaking the Research
Modern systems of animal production have been extremely successful in delivering large
volumes of low cost food to the human population. The combination of high productivity of
animals and high stocking rates inevitably mean that animals are exposed to considerable stress
during their productive period (post weaning diarrheoa in piglets and calves, salmonella in pigs
and emergence of new viral diseases in pigs). Modern animal production has traditionally dealt
with some of the problems of stress by use of antimicrobial growth promoters to improve
performance and (or) health. However the use of antibiotic growth-promoters was banned in
EU member states from 1st January 2006 and alternative systems to overcome stress and to
maintain efficient animal production must be sought. This project contributes to the needs of
the animal sector by researching the links between disease, health and nutrition and seeks to
demonstrate that diseases can be reduced without the use of pharmaceutical products.
2. Research Approach
This was a multidisciplinary project including animal nutritionists from UCD and TEAGASC,
molecular biologists from UCD and veterinarians from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Food and Department of Agriculture, Northern Ireland. The effect of an experimental
challenge with enterotoxigenic E.coli on health, performance and acute phase protein response
of newly weaned piglets offered lactose and laminarin was examined in Task 2 while an
experimental challenge with Salmonella Typhimurium was investigated in Task 4. This challenge
mimiced the effect of post weaning diarrhoea in piglets and salmonella infection in piglets post
weaning. Task 3 mimiced the effect of a viral challenge with PCV2 on piglets offered whey
protein isolate and laminarin and fucoidan in the diet. The viruses chosen (PCV2) represent the
most important primary pathogens of pigs currently circulating in Ireland. In task 5 and 6, we
investigated the enhancement of the immune system of the early neonatal pig through
maternal sources. We investigated the effect of feeding fish oils and sea weed extracts to sows
and how it enhances the piglet's immune response while suckling. In task 7 we investigated the
effect of feeding fish oils and sea weed extracts to newly weaned dairy calves on performance
and immunomodulatory immune responses.
3. Research Achievements
Task 2. The inclusion of either a high dietary concentration of lactose or a laminarin-fucoidan
extract improved performance parameters of weaner pigs, increased the nutrient digestibility
of diet components and reduced the counts of E. coli in the faeces. The laminarin-fucoidan
DAFF Ref: RSF 06 326 3
extract is now a real alternative to in feed antibiotics in pig diets. Two papers have been
published from this work in grade A peer reviewed journals.
Task 4: All pigs were experimentally challenged with Salmonella Typhimurium in Task4.
However Salmonella counts were not affected by consumption of either laminarin or fucoidan
extracts in either the distal gastro intestinal tract or ancillary tissues. Furthermore consumption
of laminarin or fucoidan-amended diets increased faecal shedding of Salmonella in post-
weaned piglets at selected sampling periods after a Salmonella Typhimurium oral challenge.
Even though the sea weed extracts had no beneficial effects on salmonella shedding, it gave us
a good understanding of how we can reduce salmonella shedding in the future and how to
extract the sea weed extracts in future in order to be more biologically active against
salmonella. One paper has been published from this work in a grade A peer reviewed journal.
Task 5. The results from this task provide new insight on the effect of maternal sow nutrition on
phagocytic activity of piglet white blood cells at weaning. Dietary sea weed extracts
supplementation increased piglet lymphocyte phagocytosis while fish oil supplementation
increased leukocyte and lymphocyte phagocytosis at weaning. This increased phagocytic
activity against E. coli is an important observation as piglets are increasingly susceptible to
infectious disease immediately post-weaning. Compared with data in the literature, our work
demonstrates the long-term impact, i.e. after weaning, of maternal dietary supplementation
during lactation. Maternal dietary treatment improved small intestinal morphology and
reduced caecal E. coli populations in pigs 9 days after weaning. Collectively, these results
suggest that supplementation of the late maternal diet with sea weed extracts and fish oils
positively influenced gastrointestinal development in weanling pigs. Two papers have been
published from this work in grade A peer reviewed journals and this work formed part of a
patent filed in May 2010.
Task 6. The results from this task indicate that dietary sea weed extracts (SWE)supplementation
reduced faecal Enterobacteriaceae numbers in sows at parturition and was accompanied by a
reduced colonic E. coli population in piglets at weaning. Collectively, these results demonstrate
an important immunomodulatory role of maternal SWE supplementation on piglet immune
function and selected intestinal microflora at weaning that may help alleviate the negative
impact of a disease challenge at weaning. The results also demonstrate that SWE
supplementation during lactation and post-weaning influence growth performance of pigs. Pigs
weaned from SWE-supplemented sows had a greater ADG until slaughter at 90 kg compared
with pigs weaned from non-SWE supplemented sows. Two papers are in press from this work in
grade A peer reviewed journals and this work formed part of a patent filed in May 2010.
DAFF Ref: RSF 06 326 4
Task 7: Supplementation of calf milk replacer with fish oil and sea weed extracts did not
increase intake, live weight gain or feed to gain ratio. A paper has been submitted for
publication from this task.
4. Impact of the Research
Task 2: A 2 x 2 factorial experiment was conducted to investigate the interactions between 2
different lactose levels (150 vs. 250 g/kg) and seaweed extract (SWE): (0 vs. 2.8 g/kg; containing
laminarin and fucoidan) on growth performance, coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility
and faecal microbial populations in the weanling pig. The inclusion of either a high dietary
concentration of lactose or a laminarin-fucoidan extract improved performance parameters of
weaner pigs, increased the nutrient digestibility of diet components and reduced the counts of
E. coli in the faeces. The inclusion of laminarin-fucoidan extract will substitute for high levels of
lactose in the diet when added to low lactose diets, however, there is still a further response in
pig performance when the laminarin-fucoidan is added to high lactose diets. The laminarin-
fucoidan extract is an alternative to in feed antibiotics in pig diets.
Task 4; Twenty-four entire male pigs weaned at 24 days (7.9 kg) were assigned to one of four
dietary treatments: T1) basal diet (control); T2) basal diet + a commercial admixture containing
organic acids and herbs (positive control; 3.6g/kg); T3) basal diet + laminarin (300 mg/kg); (T4)
basal diet + fucoidan (240 mg/kg). All pigs were experimentally challenged with Salmonella
Typhimurium. Consumption of diets containing laminarin had no effect on selected microbial
genera in the gastro-intestinal tract or in ancillary tissues. Diets containing fucoidan elicited
increases in lactobacilli in the distal gastro-intestinal tract and stimulated production of butyric
acid. However Salmonella counts were disaffected by consumption of either seaweed-derived
extracts in either the distal GIT or ancillary tissues. Furthermore consumption of laminarin or
fucoidan-amended diets increased faecal shedding of Salmonella in post-weaned piglets at
selected sampling periods after a Salmonella Typhimurium oral challenge.
Task 5; A 2 x 2 factorial experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of maternal dietary
supplementation with seaweed extract (SWE) and fish oil (FO) inclusion from d 109 of gestation
until weaning (26 d) on sow colostrum and milk composition, humoral immune response on day
5 and 12 of lactation, suckling piglet performance and post weaning performance. SWE dietary
supplementation to sows from d 109 of gestation until weaning (26 d) increased colostrum IgG
concentrations. Furthermore, piglets suckling SWE-supplemented sows had greater serum IgG
on day 5 and 12 suggesting an enhanced humoral immune function which can improve host
defence against invading pathogens. These results provide new insight on the effect of
maternal SWE and FO supplementation on phagocytic activity of piglet white blood cells at
weaning. Dietary SWE supplementation increased piglet lymphocyte phagocytosis while FO
DAFF Ref: RSF 06 326 5
supplementation increased leukocyte and lymphocyte phagocytosis at weaning. This increased
phagocytic activity against E. coli is an important observation as piglets are increasingly
susceptible to infectious disease immediately post-weaning. Maternal SWE and FO
supplementation from d 109 of gestation until weaning stimulates growth performance and
starter feed intake in weaning pigs. Compared with data in the literature, our work
demonstrates the long-term impact, i.e. after weaning, of maternal dietary supplementation
during lactation. Maternal dietary treatment improved small intestinal morphology and
reduced caecal E. coli populations in pigs 9 days after weaning. Interestingly, maternal SWE and
FO supplementation up-regulated intestinal pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, however no
deleterious effect was observed on performance. Collectively, these results suggest that
supplementation of the late maternal diet with SWE and FO positively influenced
gastrointestinal development in weanling pigs.
Task 6: The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of maternal dietary
supplementation (n = 10 sows/treatment) with seaweed extract from day 107 of gestation until
weaning (d 26) on neonatal piglet growth, humoral immunity, intestinal morphology, selected
intestinal microflora, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations and post weaning
performance. Furthermore, this study examined the effect of dietary treatment on the immune
response following an ex vivo Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) tissue challenge at
weaning in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. In summary, our results indicate that SWE
supplementation from d 107 of gestation until weaning (d 26) increased colostral IgA and IgG
concentrations, circulatory IgG concentrations in piglets on d 14 of lactation, and enhanced pro-
inflammatory TNF-α mRNA expression in LPS stimulated ileum tissue at weaning. This
enhancement of immune function could improve host defence against presenting pathogens
commonly encountered during the immediate post-weaning period. Furthermore, these results
indicate that dietary SWE supplementation reduced faecal Enterobacteriaceae numbers in sows
at parturition and was accompanied by a reduced colonic E. coli population in piglets at
weaning. Collectively, these results demonstrate an important immunomodulatory role of
maternal SWE supplementation on piglet immune function and selected intestinal microflora at
weaning that may help alleviate the negative impact of a disease challenge at weaning. The
enhanced TNF-α mRNA expression in response to LPS stimulated ileum tissue may result in a
more prominent immune response to an acute bacterial challenge immediately post-weaning.
Pigs weaned from SWE-supplemented sows had a greater daily gain between d 0-21 post-
weaning compared with pigs weaned from non-SWE supplemented sows. Dietary SWE
supplementation post-weaning decreased E. coli and Enterobacteriaceae numbers in the colon
on day 11 and 117, respectively, post-weaning indicating an antimicrobial property of the
extract. Dietary SWE supplementation during lactation tended to suppress pro-inflammatory Il-
1α mRNA expression in the ileum of pigs 11 d after weaning. Furthermore, dietary SWE
supplementation post-weaning induced an up-regulation of colonic MUC2 mRNA expression in
pigs 11 d after weaning. Collectively these results demonstrate that SWE supplementation post-
weaning provides nutritionists a dietary means to improve gut health and growth performance
DAFF Ref: RSF 06 326 6
in starter pigs. However, there was no growth performance response to SWE inclusion in the
GF diet when the pigs were weaned from SWE-supplemented sows.
Task 7: Forty-four Holstein Friesian male calves were used in this experiment. Animals were
blocked by age and within block randomly allocated to one of the following four treatments: (i)
Control; (ii) 40g n-3 PUFA/day (+FO) (iii) 1 g of laminarin /day (+BG) (iv) 40g n-3 PUFA /day and
1g/day laminarin in a 2 x 2 factorial design. Calves on the -FO diet had greater (P = 0.01)
concentrate intake and total energy intake than calves on the +FO diet. Calves on the –βG diet
had significantly greater milk, concentrate and total energy intake than calves on the +βG diet.
Calves on the –FO diet and –βG had greater (P<0.001) weaning, final and grass weights than
calves on the +FO and +βG diets. Average daily gain was greater in calves on the –FO and –βG
than calves on the +FO and +βG diets. Calves on the –FO had greater (P<0.01) insulin, IGF-1,
glucose and urea concentrations than calves on the +FO diet. There was no difference in the
number of visits per day where feed was consumed or was not consumed between calves on
the –FO and +FO diets. The rate at which milk was consumed was greater (P=0.02) in calves on
the +FO diet than calves on the –FO diet, however calves on the –FO diet spent more time per
day in the concentrate feeder. Supplementation of calf milk replacer with fish oil and laminarin
did not increase intake, live weight gain or feed.
5. Exploitation of the Research
Modern systems of animal production have been extremely successful in delivering large
volumes of low cost food to the human population. The combination of high productivity of
animals and high stocking rates inevitably mean that animals are exposed to considerable stress
during their productive period (post weaning diarrheoa in piglets and calves, salmonella in pigs
and emergence of new viral diseases in pigs). Modern animal production has traditionally dealt
with some of the problems of stress by use of antimicrobial growth promoters to improve
performance and (or) health. However the use of antibiotic growth-promoters was banned in
EU member states from 1st January 2006 and the results of this project provides alternative
means to overcome this stress and to maintain efficient animal production. This project
contributes to the needs of the animal sector by researching the links between disease, health
and nutrition and demonstrates that diseases can be reduced without the use of
pharmaceutical products.
A patent has been sought from the results of this work entitled “Improvement of
gastrointestinal health, immunity and performance by dietary”. European Patent Application
Number: 06809743.5, US Patent Application Number 12094383, PCT 2506 May 2009.
International PCT filed in May 2010.
This work on sea weed extracts has been licenced by UCD to Bioatlantis Ltd, Tralee, Co Kerry.
These extracts are now classified as feed materials under EU guidelines and are approved for
DAFF Ref: RSF 06 326 7
sale in the EU. Bioatlantis has begun marketing these feed ingredients to pig producers/millers
across Europe.
6. Summary of Research Outputs
(a) Intellectual Property applications/licences/patents
1. Improvement of gastrointestinal health, immunity and performance by dietary. European
Patent Application Number: 06809743.5, US
International PCT filed in May 2010. Based on the work from task 3, 5 and 6
2.
(b) Innovations adopted by industry
1. NOVA UCD have licenced this material to Bioatlantis Ltd, Tralee, Co Kerry
2. Bioatlantis are now marketing these sea weed extracts as feed ingredients.
(c) Number of companies in receipt of information
Nutec Ltd, Devenish Nutrition, Kiernan Milling, Irish Grain and Feed Association, DSM. IFA
(d) Outcomes with economic potential
1. We have discovered a replacement for in feed antibiotics in pigs
2. We have discovered a preventative for PMWS in pigs
(e) Outcomes with national/ policy/social/environmental potential
1. We have discovered a replacement for in feed antibiotics in pigs
2.
(f) Peer-reviewed publications, International Journal/Book chapters.
1. J.V. O’Doherty, S. Dillon, S. Figat, J.J. Callan and T. Sweeney (2010) The effects of lactose
inclusion and seaweed extract derived from Laminaria spp. on performance, nutrient
digestibility and microbial populations in newly weaned piglets. Animal Feed Science and
Technology 157, 173-180
2. S.Dillon, T. Sweeney, S. Figat, J.J. Callan and J.V. O’ Doherty (2010) The effects of
lactose inclusion and laminarin-fucoidan extract on performance, nutrient digestibility
and microbial populations in newly weaned piglets. Livestock Science 134, 205-274
DAFF Ref: RSF 06 326 8
3. S.G. Leonard, T. Sweeney, K.M. Pierce, B. Bahar, B.P. Lynch and J.V. O’Doherty (2010)
The effects of supplementing the diet of the sow with seaweed extracts and fish oil on
aspects of gastrointestinal health and performance of the weaned piglet. Livestock
Science 134, 135-138
4. S.G. Leonard, T. Sweeney, B. Bahar, K.M. Pierce, B.P. Lynch and J.V. O’Doherty (2010)
The effects of maternal dietary supplementation with seaweed extract and fish oil on
the humoral immune response and performance of suckling piglets. Livestock Science
134, 211-214
5. S.G. Leonard, T. Sweeney, B. Bahar, B.P. Lynch and J.V. O’Doherty (2011) Effect of
dietary seaweed extract and fish oil supplementation in sows on performance, intestinal
microflora, morphology, volatile fatty acid concentrations and immune status of weaned
piglets. British Journal of Nutrition 105, 549-560
6. T. Sweeney, S. Dillon, J. Fanning, J. Egan, C. O’Shea, S. Figat, M. Gutierrez, C.
Mannion, F. Leonard and J.V. O’ Doherty (2011) Evaluation of seaweed-derived
polysaccharides on indices of gastrointestinal fermentation and selected populations of
microbiota in newly weaned pigs challenged with Salmonella Typhimurium. Animal
Feed Science and Technology 165, 85-94
7. S.G. Leonard, T. Sweeney, B. Bahar, K.M. Pierce, B.P. Lynch and J.V. O’Doherty (2010)
Effect of maternal fish oil and seaweed extract supplementation on colostum and milk
composition, humoral immune response and performance of suckled piglets. Journal of
Animal Science 88, 2988-2997
8. S. G. Leonard, T. Sweeney, B. Bahar, B. P. Lynch and J. V. O’Doherty (2011) E ffect of dietary
seaweed extract supplementation in sows and post weaned pigs on performance,
intestinal morphology, intestinal microflora and immune status. British Journal of Nutrition,
doi:10.1017/S000711451000997
9. S. G. Leonard, T. Sweeney, B. Bahar, B. P. Lynch and J. V. O’Doherty (2011) Effect of
maternal seaweed extract supplementation on suckling piglet growth, humoral immunity,
intestinal morphology, selected microflora and immune response after an ex vivo
Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide challenge. Accepted in Journal of Animal Science
(g) Scientific abstracts or articles including those presented at conferences
1. S.Dillon, T. Sweeney, S. Figat, J.J. Callan and J.V. O’ Doherty The effects of lactose
inclusion and seaweed extract on performance, nutrient digestibility and microbial
DAFF Ref: RSF 06 326 9
populations in newly weaned piglets. Presented at the digestive physiology in pigs
meeting, Barcelona, Spain (19-22 May, 2009)
2. S.G. Leonard, T. Sweeney, K.M. Pierce, B. Bahar, B.P. Lynch and J.V. O’Doherty The
effects of supplementing the diet of the sow with seaweed extracts and fish oil on
aspects of gastrointestinal health and performance of the weaned piglet. Presented at
the digestive physiology in pigs meeting, Barcelona, Spain (19-22 May, 2009)
3. S.G. Leonard, T. Sweeney, B. Bahar, B.P. Lynch and J.V. O’Doherty Effect of dietary
seaweed extract and fish oil supplementation in sows on performance, intestinal
microflora, morphology, volatile fatty acid concentrations and immune status of weaned
piglets. Presented at the British Society for Immunology annual meeting 8 - 9 June 2009,
Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), UK
4. S.G. Leonard, T. Sweeney, B. Bahar, K.M. Pierce, B.P. Lynch and J.V. O’Doherty The
effects of maternal dietary supplementation with seaweed extract and fish oil on the
humoral immune response and performance of suckling piglets. Presented at the
digestive physiology in pigs meeting, Barcelona, Spain (19-22 May, 2009)
5. J. V. O'Doherty, S. Dillon, J. J. Callan The effects of lactose inclusion and seaweed sugars
on performance, nutrient digestibility and microbial populations in newly weaned
piglets Presented at American Society of Animal Science Meeting, Montreal, Canada,
July 2009
6. JV. O’Doherty, S. Leonard, T. Sweeney (2010) Effect of dietary fish oil and seaweed
extract supplementation in lactating sow diets on sow colostum and milk composition
and on intestinal microflora, intestinal morphology and pig performance post weaning.
COST Meeting, Tromso, Norway (14-16 June 2010)
7. S. G. Leonard, T. Sweeney, B. Bahar, B. P. Lynch and J. V. O’Doherty E ffect of dietary
seaweed extract supplementation in sows and post weaned pigs on performance,
intestinal morphology, intestinal microflora and immune status. To be presented at
American Animal Science, 2011, New Orleans, July 2011.
8. S. G. Leonard, T. Sweeney, B. Bahar, B. P. Lynch and J. V. O’Doherty (2011) Effect of
maternal seaweed extract supplementation on suckling piglet growth, humoral immunity,
intestinal morphology, selected microflora and immune response after an ex vivo
DAFF Ref: RSF 06 326 10
Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide challenge. To be presented at American Animal Science,
2011, New Orleans, July 2011.
(h) National Report
1.
2.
(i) Popular non-scientific publications
J.V. O’Doherty (2010) The effects of lactose inclusion and seaweed extracts derived
from Laminaria spp. on performance, digestibility of diet components and microbial
populations in newly weaned pigs. http://www.feedinfo.com
(j) Workshops/seminars/ open days at which results were presented (excluding those in
(g))
1. O’Doherty, S Leonard, T Sweeney (2010) Influence of sow nutrition on lifetime
performance and health of the pig. DSM conference, March 2010. Jurys. Dublin
Two pig industry meetings in July, organised through the pigs committee of the IFA
19th July, 2010 Fermoy, Co Cork
21st July, 2010 Cavan
7. Permanent Researchers
Institution Name Number of
Permanent staff
contributing to
project
Total Time
contribution (months)
Average time
contribution per
permanent staff
member
UCD 5 27 5.4
Total 5 27 5.4
DAFF Ref: RSF 06 326 11
8. Researchers Funded by RSF
Type of Researcher Number Total Time
contribution (months)
Average time
Post Doctorates
Contract Researchers 5 25.9 5.18
PhD postgraduates 1 39 39
Masters postgraduates 1 23.2 23.2
Temporary researcher
Other
Total 7 88.1 67.38
9. Postgraduate Research
Total Number of PhD theses: ___1_
Please include authors, institutions and titles of theses and submission dates. If not submitted
please give the anticipated submission date
Title: Effect of sow nutrition on the immune modulating effects of suckling piglets
Author: Stephen Leonard
Submitted: August 2010
Graduated: December 2010.
Total Number of Masters theses: __1__
Please include authors, institutions and titles of theses and submission dates. If not submitted
please give the anticipated submission date
Title: Studies related to the use of sea weed extracts in post weaned piglet diets
Author: Sinead Dillon
Submitted: November 2008
Graduated: June 2009.
10. Project Expenditure
Total expenditure of the project: €549,317.79
Total Award by RSF €533,845.00
DAFF Ref: RSF 06 326 12
Other sources of funding (specify) €
1.
2.
Breakdown of Total Expenditure
11. Future Strategies
Outline development plans for the results of the research.
We do intend to hold another information day on the results of this project in the future. This
will be done in conjunction with the Irish Grain and Feed Association (June 2011).
12. Industry Collaboration
Granted an Enterprise Ireland innovation partnership grant with Bioatlantis Ltd as a follow up
to this project. This grant is to further develop and commercialise the sea weed extracts in
animal and human nutrition.
Category UCD Teagasc
Moorepark DAFF Total
Contract staff 42862.65 42862.65
Temporary staff 776.92 776.92
Post doctorates
Post graduates 51990.01 63000 114990.01
Consumables 123202.1 12529.21 18519.40 154250.71
Travel and
subsistence 4881.75 231.09 5112.84
Sub total 223713.43 75760.30 18,519.40 317993.13
Durable
equipment 943.99 943.99
Animal Costs 501.7 501.7
Subcontracting
work to Queens 139575.73 139575.73
Overheads 62019.22 22728.19 5555.83 90303.24
Total 426754.07 98488.49 24075.23 549,317.79
DAFF Ref: RSF 06 326 13
Involed in an FP7 SME grant with Bioatlantis Ltd and five other European partners. This
application is based on the research from this project.