Managing without zinc oxide

Zinc oxide has been used for many years to reduce diarrhoea in post-weaned pigs. However, because of potential risks to the environment – and in line with regulations set by the European Union – therapeutic use of zinc oxide will be banned in June 2022.

While the Veterinary Medicines Directorate recently announced that any zinc oxide veterinary products that are Qualified-Person-released by 26 June 2022 can continue to be used until the end of their shelf life, it is vital that producers continue to prepare for a future without zinc.

Join our national pig club (online) at 2pm on 15 February to hear from some well-known feed companies and nutritionists. They will be talking through some options for effectively managing weaned piglets without zinc oxide, including a case study from a unit that has successfully done so already.

Speakers

• Dr Sadie Douglas, Primary Diets
• Emma Slater, ForFarmers
• Dr Phil Baynes, Baynes Nutrition Ltd.
• Lauren Dimmack, AHDB

Topics

Therapeutic zinc oxide removal

Sadie will explain the effect that zinc oxide has on piglet gut health, and talk through the process of putting research into practice to develop alternative piglet diets.

Farm case study

Emma will showcase a case study of an indoor producer in Yorkshire who has effectively removed zinc from weaner diets.

Water and acidification

Phil will discuss the impact of water on pig health, and explain the practicalities and benefits of water acidification.

What next?

Despite the recent VMD announcement that any zinc oxide veterinary products that are qualified-person-released by 26 June 2022 can continue to be used until the end of their shelf life, it is vital that producers continue to prepare for a future without zinc and look at all the options to phase it out.

Lauren will provide a brief update on the current situation and management options that don’t rely on antibiotics.

Register

To register or find out more, get in touch with Pat Loten:

E: patrick.loten@ahdb.org.uk

T: 07990 441699