Swines often suffer stress-related gastrointestinal issues that impair intestinal integrity, nutrient absorption, growth, and overall welfare, especially during critical phases like weaning and fattening. Existing solutions such as increased housing space or traditional prebiotics and probiotics are limited in effectiveness and practicality.
To address this, researchers at the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA) are developing a consortium of four bacterial strains designed to restore gut integrity, reduce inflammation, and enhance microbiota resilience in stressed pigs.
The bacterial consortium is designed to enhance intestinal health and mitigate stress-induced inflammation. The innovative approach surpasses conventional interventions by leveraging early-life microbial modulation, taking advantage of critical windows of opportunity to establish a stable and beneficial microbiota from the start. Unlike prebiotics, which depend on the pre-existence of specific bacterial species, this approach directly introduces the necessary strains, guaranteeing their presence and activity.
Benefits of this technology:
- Mitigates the negative effects of stress on feeding behavior and productivity, supporting a more resilient physiological response.
- Supports overall welfare and production sustainability, improving efficiency while reducing dependence on synthetic additives or antibiotics.
- Enhances growth performance and feed conversion efficiency, with significant improvements observed in males during and after supplementation.
- Improves gut health by enhancing intestinal barrier integrity and reducing susceptibility to infections and digestive disorders.
The represented institution is seeking commercial feedback on the technology to tailor it to market needs, and is also looking for a collaboration that leads to the commercial exploitation of the presented invention.
Institution: Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA)
TRL: The consortium has been validated with various genetic lines, including Iberian pigs, showing an increase in body weight, and its effect on gut health has been confirmed in germ-free (microbiota-free) mouse models.
Contacto: Ana Carlota de la Cruz / a.cruz@viromii.com