Control of E. coli and Salmonella in growing-finishing pigs through the use of potassium diformate (KDF) – European case studies

Control of pathogenic bacteria has a high priority in European pork production. They can be a significant cause of zoonotic diseases and cause major economic losses in the pork production chain, through reduced productivity, increased veterinary and hygiene control costs. Preventing the spread of E. coli and Salmonella to the consumer requires special control measures during slaughter and processing. The extra cost of these controls is increasingly being transferred back to the producer in the form of financial penalties or the loss of the market for contaminated pigs. Improving gut health has been shown to be effective against intestinal pathogens, a strategy that has only really been made possible through the removal of antibiotic growth promoters in feed. Creating and maintaining a healthy intestinal environment has become essential to productivity and food safety programmes alike