BioPIGLET

Biocontrol of post-weaning diarrhoea in piglets a sustainable alternative to antibiotics and zinc oxide

BioPiGLET will develop a phage-feed-additive that efficiently prevents enterotoxigenic E. coli causing post-weaning diarrhoea in piglets. This condition is currently controlled by prophylactic use of zinc oxide to be banned in 5 years, with no efficient, economic or sustainable preventative alternatives available.

Phages - the natural killers of bacteria – can prevent post-weaning diarrhoea in piglets, but efficient, stable and easy to use phage products are not marketed. Here we innovatively combine design of phage cocktails specifically targeting ETEC with novel application technologies for phage delivery in solid feed-additive production.

BioPiGLET develops a phage-feed-additive with prophylactic efficacy, superior safety, easy to use at farms at a competitive price. BioPiGLET will urgently substitute zinc oxide to boost productivity, improve animal health, decrease antibiotic consumption and emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in pig production.   

The project is funded by Innovation Fond Denmark by 13 million Danish Kroner and is a collaboration between University of Copenhagen, Danish Technological Institute and the company Easy-AgriCare. Check the web site of the Innovation Fund Denmark for more information.