
AB Agri
AB Agri
11 Projects, page 1 of 3
assignment_turned_in Project2024 - 2027Partners:University of Edinburgh, University of Surrey, Edinburgh Napier University, AB AgriUniversity of Edinburgh,University of Surrey,Edinburgh Napier University,AB AgriFunder: UK Research and Innovation Project Code: BB/Y004086/1Funder Contribution: 575,317 GBPIn most countries, farmed pigs are typically weaned at around four weeks of age. Young pigs are especially vulnerable to gut problems due to their immature digestive system and are particularly susceptible to a condition known as post-weaning diarrhoea. Post-weaning diarrhoea results in distress and discomfort in affected animals, and can lead to death. Recovered piglets often have poorer health and reduced growth, affecting welfare and farm productivity. Gastro-intestinal disease is currently the single most significant challenge to the sustainability of UK and global pig systems and affects more than half of pig farmers worldwide, at significant cost to the industry. Until recently, post-weaning diarrhoea was controlled by the addition of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) to feed after weaning, which reduced disease and improved piglet outcomes. However, due to concerns that ZnO contributes to the development of antibiotic resistance, prophylactic use of ZnO has recently been banned in both the EU and UK. At present, there is no direct replacement for ZnO, but rather a range of practices. These include a variety of nutritional and management changes, that may be variously applied according to the circumstances of each farm. This is prompting concern that by withdrawing ZnO, post-weaning diarrhoea may become more difficult to manage, with adverse consequences on piglet health and welfare. Despite the sector's best efforts, treatment will more likely need to rely on antibiotics to treat disease and manage diarrhoea. This, therefore, presents us with a conundrum: banning ZnO may possibly increase antibiotic resistance on farms, because farmers may need to use more antibiotics in practice, to treat sick piglets after weaning. These intended and unintended consequences of ZnO withdrawal are the focus of this proposal. In this study, we will work closely with producers over the withdrawal period to investigate the impact of ZnO withdrawal on piglet health and to identify measures that may help. In particular we are interested in the consequences of ZnO withdrawal on the levels of disease-causing bugs on farms and any changes in carriage of antibiotic resistance by pigs. We will do so by collecting dung samples from a small number of commercial herds across the UK and comparing samples from before and after the ZnO ban. We have already collected pre-ban samples from a number of UK commercial herds, in a precursor pilot project to this proposed study. Laboratory analysis of these dung samples will show which disease-causing bugs are present, and allow us to look for changes in the characteristics of these bugs and their association with disease, before and after the ZnO ban. Using genome sequencing technologies, we will look for antibiotic resistance markers, to see whether these all change after ZnO is withdrawn. Our findings will provide a 'barometer' of piglet health across UK farms during the transitional withdrawal period. We will also examine what differences are seen in the healthy gut microflora in pigs in the presence of ZnO and whether particular beneficial bacteria can be identified. We will investigate how we can exploit these differences to develop alternative feed supplements, such as "friendly bug" supplements that may help in the control of disease and improve piglet health. By providing evidence-based information, this project will help offset existing uncertainties and inform wider discussion as the sector adjusts to 'zero zinc.' This in turn would be expected to lead to the development of pig production systems that deal sustainably with the challenge of managing the post-weaned piglet.
All Research productsarrow_drop_down <script type="text/javascript"> <!-- document.write('<div id="oa_widget"></div>'); document.write('<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.openaire.eu/index.php?option=com_openaire&view=widget&format=raw&projectId=ukri________::6ff28b77985c76a9d7a4f6034f9c4937&type=result"></script>'); --> </script>
For further information contact us at helpdesk@openaire.eumore_vert All Research productsarrow_drop_down <script type="text/javascript"> <!-- document.write('<div id="oa_widget"></div>'); document.write('<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.openaire.eu/index.php?option=com_openaire&view=widget&format=raw&projectId=ukri________::6ff28b77985c76a9d7a4f6034f9c4937&type=result"></script>'); --> </script>
For further information contact us at helpdesk@openaire.euassignment_turned_in Project2017 - 2021Partners:NTU, AB Agri, University of Nottingham, AB Agri LtdNTU,AB Agri,University of Nottingham,AB Agri LtdFunder: UK Research and Innovation Project Code: BB/R50645X/1Funder Contribution: 98,212 GBPDoctoral Training Partnerships: a range of postgraduate training is funded by the Research Councils. For information on current funding routes, see the common terminology at https://www.ukri.org/apply-for-funding/how-we-fund-studentships/. Training grants may be to one organisation or to a consortia of research organisations. This portal will show the lead organisation only.
All Research productsarrow_drop_down <script type="text/javascript"> <!-- document.write('<div id="oa_widget"></div>'); document.write('<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.openaire.eu/index.php?option=com_openaire&view=widget&format=raw&projectId=ukri________::6a8c8e698b40e49e67981f848babf3c7&type=result"></script>'); --> </script>
For further information contact us at helpdesk@openaire.eumore_vert All Research productsarrow_drop_down <script type="text/javascript"> <!-- document.write('<div id="oa_widget"></div>'); document.write('<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.openaire.eu/index.php?option=com_openaire&view=widget&format=raw&projectId=ukri________::6a8c8e698b40e49e67981f848babf3c7&type=result"></script>'); --> </script>
For further information contact us at helpdesk@openaire.euassignment_turned_in Project2017 - 2021Partners:University of Leeds, University of Leeds, AB Agri, AB Agri LtdUniversity of Leeds,University of Leeds,AB Agri,AB Agri LtdFunder: UK Research and Innovation Project Code: BB/R506096/1Funder Contribution: 98,212 GBPDoctoral Training Partnerships: a range of postgraduate training is funded by the Research Councils. For information on current funding routes, see the common terminology at https://www.ukri.org/apply-for-funding/how-we-fund-studentships/. Training grants may be to one organisation or to a consortia of research organisations. This portal will show the lead organisation only.
All Research productsarrow_drop_down <script type="text/javascript"> <!-- document.write('<div id="oa_widget"></div>'); document.write('<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.openaire.eu/index.php?option=com_openaire&view=widget&format=raw&projectId=ukri________::30824d1950b532bcbb1648a4d07cfdc7&type=result"></script>'); --> </script>
For further information contact us at helpdesk@openaire.eumore_vert All Research productsarrow_drop_down <script type="text/javascript"> <!-- document.write('<div id="oa_widget"></div>'); document.write('<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.openaire.eu/index.php?option=com_openaire&view=widget&format=raw&projectId=ukri________::30824d1950b532bcbb1648a4d07cfdc7&type=result"></script>'); --> </script>
For further information contact us at helpdesk@openaire.euassignment_turned_in Project2022 - 2023Partners:University of Edinburgh, University of Surrey, AB Agri Ltd, University of Surrey, AB AgriUniversity of Edinburgh,University of Surrey,AB Agri Ltd,University of Surrey,AB AgriFunder: UK Research and Innovation Project Code: BB/W020467/1Funder Contribution: 201,721 GBPPiglet weaning through separation from the sow is a critical and stressful period in the life of a pig. At this stage piglets are particularly vulnerable to gut problems and have a tendency to develop a condition called post-weaning diarrhoea. This disease is primarily caused by bacteria and viruses which challenge the piglet's immature gut, and is a welfare and economic concern to farmers, because piglets suffer weight loss, discomfort and sometimes death. Zinc oxide is currently added to pig feed as a dietary supplement to reduce post-weaning diarrhoea and boost growth. However, whilst Zinc oxide improves piglet gut health, there are environmental concerns due to the potential contamination of land with zinc through pig manure and waste. High zinc levels are also thought to promote the ability of bacteria to evade antibiotics, resulting in antimicrobial resistance. For these reasons, from June 2022 the supplementation of pig feed with high levels of Zinc oxide will be banned in the UK and Europe. Within the pig farming sector there are serious concerns that this ban will have a damaging impact on the health and welfare of piglets during weaning. Farmers and veterinarians anticipate post-weaning diarrhoea will become harder to manage and will require more medical treatment. As a consequence, antibiotic use to treat piglet gut infections may increase, exacerbating already high usage within the pig industry. This has implications for limiting levels of antimicrobial resistance in livestock and the food-chain. Working directly with farmers during the transitional period to "zero zinc", in this study we aim to investigate the impact of the ban on piglet health and growth. Our goal is to identify practical measures that will make an on-farm difference to reducing disease, whilst improving animal welfare and productivity. We will examine a range of farm management, husbandry and biological measures, to see which factors influence post-weaning diarrhoea in piglets. We will do this by collecting pig faecal samples from farms both before and after the introduction of the June 2022 ban, and identifying any changes in the type and numbers of microbes found in piglet faeces. We will look at the composition of the "friendly" gut bacteria, as well as disease-causing bugs, and examine levels of resistance to antibiotics. At the same time we will analyse data from participating farms to measure piglet health status, and track any management changes farmers may have introduced to lessen the impact of the Zinc oxide ban. This, together with a questionnaire-based survey of pig farmers across the UK, will provide a picture of both the perceptions and reality of the Zinc oxide ban on piglet weaning. Crucially, by working directly with farmers, we hope to find acceptable solutions that may reduce disease in piglets, whilst providing information to help offset the uncertainty accompanying the journey to "zero zinc".
All Research productsarrow_drop_down <script type="text/javascript"> <!-- document.write('<div id="oa_widget"></div>'); document.write('<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.openaire.eu/index.php?option=com_openaire&view=widget&format=raw&projectId=ukri________::8eda69edcc5c6ca7368a6a90e0a4cdaa&type=result"></script>'); --> </script>
For further information contact us at helpdesk@openaire.eumore_vert All Research productsarrow_drop_down <script type="text/javascript"> <!-- document.write('<div id="oa_widget"></div>'); document.write('<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.openaire.eu/index.php?option=com_openaire&view=widget&format=raw&projectId=ukri________::8eda69edcc5c6ca7368a6a90e0a4cdaa&type=result"></script>'); --> </script>
For further information contact us at helpdesk@openaire.euassignment_turned_in Project2024 - 2026Partners:University of Leicester, Carus Animal Health Ltd, AB Agri, University of Nottingham, Fixed Phage Ltd +1 partnersUniversity of Leicester,Carus Animal Health Ltd,AB Agri,University of Nottingham,Fixed Phage Ltd,Aparon LtdFunder: UK Research and Innovation Project Code: BB/Y51374X/1Funder Contribution: 637,155 GBPAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasing global health threat. In 2019, 4.95 million deaths were associated with bacterial AMR infections and annual death tolls worldwide are predicted to reach 10 million by 2050 unless interventions are taken. AMR in clinical settings is linked to antimicrobial use in animal production, where 70% of total antimicrobials manufactured are used. This is evidenced by high AMR levels in bacterial pathogens such as Salmonella which cause disease in livestock and foodborne illness in humans. Globally, Salmonella causes 93 million human infections every year, with poultry and swine being the main foodborne reservoirs, at 48% and 27% respectively. Salmonella infections are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, and alternative treatments are urgently needed for animal infections in order to improve animal welfare, produce healthy food and prevent foodborne transmission. We have been developing bacteriophages (phages) as a new treatment and in this grant will carry out the work necessary to translate our laboratory and experimental trial work into products that can be developed for widespread agricultural use. Phages are natural viruses that specifically kill bacteria. They are highly specific to bacteria, only affecting their targeted bacterial species so they can be developed as new medicines that maintain a healthy microbiome whilst treating disease. Phages have been identified by many, including the UK government and the World Health Organisation as having great potential to prevent and treat infections. We have robust data on the use of phages to treat Salmonella in poultry and swine in experimental settings. To translate this work to the widespread usage it is necessary to establish how to use phages most effectively, produce products at scale and how to effectively regulate their use. The phage product we developed effectively kills the Salmonella strains that are commonly associated with poultry and swine, including those which are multi-drug resistant. This would benefit human and animal health, and improve food security and productivity. Our product uses two phages; SPFM10 and SPFM14. We showed that this combination effectively kills strains from the most prevalent UK Salmonella subgroups that cause infection in poultry and swine; in vitro and in vivo, and improves animal health and their productivity. To translate this to commercial veterinary products requires knowledge of parameters needed to scale up phage production. It also needs data on the optimal phage dosage, on all safety aspects of the final product and a clarification of regulatory pathways. Work resulting from this grant will overcome these barriers, and provide the foundation for our research to achieve commercial, economic and societal benefits.
All Research productsarrow_drop_down <script type="text/javascript"> <!-- document.write('<div id="oa_widget"></div>'); document.write('<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.openaire.eu/index.php?option=com_openaire&view=widget&format=raw&projectId=ukri________::f0a3908174e65522234d104ed6155982&type=result"></script>'); --> </script>
For further information contact us at helpdesk@openaire.eumore_vert All Research productsarrow_drop_down <script type="text/javascript"> <!-- document.write('<div id="oa_widget"></div>'); document.write('<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.openaire.eu/index.php?option=com_openaire&view=widget&format=raw&projectId=ukri________::f0a3908174e65522234d104ed6155982&type=result"></script>'); --> </script>
For further information contact us at helpdesk@openaire.eu
chevron_left - 1
- 2
- 3
chevron_right