Energy Metabolism and Gut Inflammation in Swine Nutrition

By David Saornil, Global Swine Applications Manager at Lallemand Animal Nutrition

Energy metabolism in pigs is a complex process involving the breakdown of nutrients to produce energy, essential for growth, reproduction, and overall health. However, this process can be significantly impacted if gut inflammation occurs.

Common sources of gut inflammation include the presence of pathogens, the release of toxins, as well as abiotic stressors, such as heat stress or transportation. As an example, during heat stress, blood flow is redirected to peripheral circulation, reducing the blood supply to the gut and potentially altering its function.

Under healthy conditions, the energy from feed is used for maintenance functions and production, such as growth and lactation. When the gut is inflamed, energy is diverted to resolve the inflammation, away from other processes like growth and reproduction. This disruption leads to energy inefficiency, impacting the feed conversion ratio (FCR) and the overall performance and health of the animals.

The cost of immunological stress significantly impacts nutrient use. Considering lysine, an essential amino acid, a study by Johnson¹ estimated that at maintenance, a healthy animal uses about 0.5-2% of the body’s lysine for leukocytes, antibodies and acute phase proteins. During a robust immune response to an infectious pathogen, this can increase to about 9% of the body’s lysine.

LEVUCELL SB, a specific probiotic live yeast dedicated to monogastric animals, helps manage inflammation by balancing the gut microbiota, strengthening the animal’s natural defenses, and supporting optimal gut barrier integrity. Several studies have demonstrated LEVUCELL SB’s ability to modulate inflammatory responses and its beneficial impact on energy metabolism.

LEVUCELL SB can improve feed efficiency by increasing energy retention. This has been measured in several studies, in particular, the research done by Labussiere et al. in 2022 at the metabolic chambers previously used by Dr. Jean Noblet² to validate the Net Energy System, indicating an energy valorization of 1.6% (30-35 kcal Net energy/kg) in the feed.

In conclusion, understanding and managing gut inflammation is essential for optimizing energy metabolism and feed efficiency in pigs. In the global context of more sustainable farming practices, LEVUCELL SB offers a proven nutritional tool with demonstrated technical and economic benefits, supporting healthy and productive pigs.

Remember, a healthy gut leads to healthy and more efficient pigs!

Watch the Lallemand Expert Talk video in full!

¹Johnson, R.W. (2012). Fueling the immune response: what’s the cost?. In: Patience, J.F. (eds) Feed efficiency in swine. Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen. https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-756-1_10

²Noblet, Jean & Fortune, Herve & Shi, X.S. & Dubois, Serge. (1994). Prediction of net energy of feeds for growing pigs. Journal of animal science. 72. 344-54. 10.2527/1994.722344x. DOI:10.2527/1994.722344x