Postbiotics and piglets: a perfect pairing

In modern pig production, maintaining health and performance during critical periods such as weaning is essential. As producers increase their focus on making animals robust from the inside out, additional management tools such as postbiotics come into play.

Postbiotics are a preparation of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confer a health benefit on the host. Postbiotics may contain intact inanimate microbial cells, microbial cell fragments, and/or metabolites produced during the fermentation process by the microorganisms.

Undoubtedly, you’ll be familiar with pre- and pro-biotics. Prebiotics are nutrients for host microorganisms, and probiotics are live microorganisms that confer a health benefit. Postbiotics offer the opportunity to modulate and support a healthy gut environment. Inanimate by nature, postbiotics offer advantages over probiotics in terms of stability, safety, and ease of storage and handling - especially in animal feed and supplements. 

GutServ® Biotix: a postbiotic-based solution

GutServ® Biotix’s efficacy stems from the bioactive compounds derived from heat-inactivated Limosilactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus delbrueckii, delivered in a stabilized form for maximum flexibility and impact.

GutServ® Biotix offers a scientifically validated approach to sustaining young pig performance through enhanced gut integrity and microbiome balance, even under challenging conditions.

Mode of action: building resilience from within

GutServ® Biotix works through four synergistic mechanisms:

Gut Barrier Reinforcement

• Strengthens tight junctions and mucosal integrity, especially during stress periods like weaning or dietary changes.

Pathogen Control

• Inhibits pathogen adhesion and internalization, reducing the incidence and severity of enteric infections such as pathogenic E. coli.

Microbiome modulation

• Increases the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium species, supporting a healthier microbial profile.

Anti-inflammatory Activity

• Supportsand promotes immune vigilance by interacting with epithelial and immune cells, helping piglets mount a fast and balanced immune response.

Supporting producers’ biggest challenges

Swine producers face a critical set of challenges when managing piglets, particularly during vulnerable stages such as weaning and post-weaning. One of the most pressing concerns is post-weaning diarrhea (PWD), which is often triggered by stress, dietary changes, and exposure to enteric pathogens like E. coli.

Another challenge is growth setbacks that occur during transition periods, especially around weaning. These phases are typically marked by reduced feed intake, immune stress, and inflammation, which can impair nutrient absorption and lead to long-term performance losses.

GutServ® Biotix is specifically designed to help producers address these pain points. By reinforcing gut integrity, modulating the microbiome, and reducing inflammation, it provides a stable, scientifically supported approach to enhance resilience, reduce treatment dependence, and maximize feed efficiency.

Trial-proven benefits in piglets

E. coli Challenge Trial

Methodology

• Design: 525 piglets (42 days), randomized, blinded
• Groups: Control (challenged), GutServ® Biotix (20g/ton), ZnO (2000g/ton)
• Challenge: E. coli K88/F4 on Day 10 post-weaning

Result

• Significant reduction in diarrhea scores
• Sustained piglet performance under harsh challenge
• Outperformed zinc oxide in resilience

Conclusion

GutServ® Biotix was able to demonstrate excellent gut resilience through reducing the diarrhea score after an applied E.coli challenge. GutServ® Biotix sustained piglet performance significantly, even under harsh conditions, outperforming zinc oxide as benchmark.

Semi-commercial nursery trial 

Methodology

• Design: 702 piglets, 40 days, commercial diet
• Dosing: 15g/mt (pre-starter), 10g/mt (starter)

Result

• Improved growth performance
• Fewer animals required treatment

Conclusion

GutServ® Biotix significantly improved the growth performance and health status of nursery piglets in a semi-commercial environment. This led to a reduced number of piglets requiring medical attention and treatment, highlighting the product benefits beyond performance.

Commercial field trial

Methodology

• Design: 288 piglets, randomized and blinded
• Dosing: 20g/ton (d21–42), 10g/ton (d42–70)

Result

• Boosted growth performance
• Proven effectiveness even under low-stress, commercial conditions

Conclusion

GutServ® Biotix boosted the growth performance of nursery piglets in a highly commercial setup without stressors, underlining the value for customers under optimal production conditions.

Benefits to swine producers

• Sustain young swine performance by maintaining gut functionalities
• Consistent ROI of 5:1 to 10:1
• Works with all feed types and processing conditions
• Stable, easy to handle, heat-tolerant postbiotic
• Backed by science and multiple trials across geographies

Producers can be confident that their business goals can be supported with the introduction of GutServ® Biotix - the architect of gut resilience for pigs. Whether in challenged or optimal systems, GutServ® Biotix enables swine producers to build robust, resilient pigs - from the gut up.