The Effects of Supplementing Weanling Pig Diets with Organic and Inorganic Acids on Growth Performance and Microbial Shedding

Newly weaned pigs are very susceptible to developing digestive disturbances and gastrointestinal diseases, resulting in stresses on the pig and consequently an inability to meet their growth potential. The continuous use of antibiotics at low levels at this crucial time has been recognized to improve feed intake, growth performance and feed efficiency. However, growing public concern relating to food safety and antibiotic resistance is forcing the swine industry to explore alternatives to the sub-therapeutic use of antibiotics. The objective of this study was to investigate the use of dietary organic and inorganic acids on the growth performance of nursery pigs and microbial shedding.