The Swine it Podcast Show - #223 - Acidifiers and the ABC value: nutrition in nursery pigs

In this episode, Ethan delves into the crucial phase following weaning, where nutrition is pivotal for the health and vitality of piglets. He sheds light on the essential task of keeping a balanced gastric pH in nursery pigs to foster optimal growth and development. He emphasizes the significance of recognizing the acid-binding capacity (ABC) in their diets, its direct impact on health, and the careful selection of ingredients that support a low ABC. Moreover, he examines the use of acidifiers and their integral role throughout this process.

What you’ll learn:

• Acidifying the gut of young nursery pigs
• Understanding the normal pH of a newly weaned pig
• How to measure and formulate acid-binding capacity
• History and future goals of acidifying starter diets in swine nutrition
• Importance of ABC-4 value in pig's gut health programs
• Major hurdles and opportunities in nursery diets and formulations 

Meet the guest:

Ethan Stas

Experience

• Current: Ph.D. Student at Kansas State University

Background

• M.Sc. (Kansas State University)
• B.Sc., Animal Science (Penn State University)