theporkindustry.docVIP

THE PORK INDUSTRY AGRI-FOOD INNOVATION FUND SUMMARY OF RESEARCH PROJECTS FUNDED 1998-2005 Submitted by Sask Pork - May 2006 Sask Pork 2, 502-45TH Street West, Saskatoon, SK S7L 6H2 Tel: (306) 244-7752 Fax: (306) 244-1054 email: info@ PROJECT: FLAX SEED AND FRACTIONS AS AN ANTIBIOTIC REPLACEMENT IN SWINE DIETS SASK PORK PROJECT # 2002-11 Dr. Andrew Van Kessel Department of Animal and Poultry Science University of Saskatchewan 51 Campus Drive Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A8 Project Summary: In an Expert Advisory Committee on Animal Uses of Antimicrobials and Impact on Resistance and Human Health report to Health Canada, the committee made numerous recommendations to further regulate anti-microbial use including elimination of over-the-counter anti-microbial sales for livestock and rapid phasing out of anti-microbials for growth promotion which do not meet strict criteria. The Canadian swine industry is likely to experience highly restricted access to anti-microbials in the near future and will require alternatives to the prophylactic and growth promoting use of antibiotics. Flax seed may have desirable nutrient and antibiotic characteristics for swine, however, effects of flax seed or flax fractions on intestinal microbial populations are unknown. This project will test effects of flax seed and fractions on intestinal microbial populations, but the nutritional value of flax seed and fractions will also be measured. Start Date: January 2003 Completion Date: March 31, 2004 Amount Funded: $20,000 (for Year 1 only) Progress Reports: April 5, 2004 – FINAL REPORT Summary of Results Increasing pressure to discontinue the feeding of growth-promoting antibiotics has prompted examination of novel feed ingredients and their effect on intestinal microbial ecology. The impact of low-level inclusion of antibiotics in swine diets, together with flaxseed, or flaxseed fractions on small intestinal microbial profiles was investigat