A New Chapter Begins at the 2025 Wageningen Forum: Acidifiers—The Technological Path to Achieving a “Multiplying Effect” on Piglet Gut Health

As an innovation leader in the acidulant field, nuacid Nutrition showcased its cutting-edge research findings and solutions at the conference, offering new insights and hope for piglet nutrition and health. As is well known, China has been phasing out antibiotics in feed for nearly five years, yet intestinal health remains a highly discussed topic. Meanwhile, in Europe—pioneers in antibiotic‑free feeding—E. coli resistant to third‑ and fourth‑generation cephalosporins has been detected on pig farms. This development serves as a warning to the livestock industry, particularly concerning pre‑weaning and weaned piglets, where antimicrobial use is especially prevalent. Is there a technological approach that can simultaneously address intestinal health while mitigating antimicrobial resistance and supporting low‑zinc diets? At this critical juncture of industry upgrading, Researcher Hu Youjun, Chief Scientist at the nuacid Innovation Center, presented “A Technological Pathway to Achieve a ‘Multiplying Effect’ on Intestinal Health in Weaned Piglets Through Acidification.” The talk explored how acidulants can scientifically modulate gastrointestinal digestion in early‑weaned piglets and further demonstrated how optimized benzoic acid delivery can amplify its antibacterial efficacy, ultimately achieving dual goals of improved digestion and enhanced microbial control. The presentation received an enthusiastic response from attendees; the following summarizes the key points of Professor Hu’s report.

Ban on Antibiotics in Animal Feed: The Clash Between Intentions and Reality

The global ban on antibiotic use in animal feed has become a prevailing trend in the livestock industry, initially aimed at ensuring food and drug safety. However, this policy poses significant challenges to swine health. Issues of antibiotic residues (AR) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are becoming increasingly pronounced. Studies have reported the detection of fluoroquinolone- and fourth-generation cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli in German pig farms; these antimicrobials are critical for treating human diseases, and rising resistance threatens public health. Meanwhile, following the European phase-out of zinc oxide, increased use of aminoglycosides has further heightened the risk of multidrug resistance.

The Stomach’s Primary Functions: A Dual Role in Digestion and Defense

As the initial organ of the digestive system, the stomach performs crucial functions, including the preliminary digestion of food, activation of digestive enzymes, and inhibition of harmful microorganisms. Weaning represents a critical turning point in the growth and development of piglets; during this period, they experience substantial physiological, environmental, and nutritional changes, posing significant challenges to their digestive systems. Research indicates that within one month after weaning, piglets continue to exhibit insufficient gastric acid secretion. Gastric acid plays an essential role in protein digestion: it not only activates pepsinogen, converting it into active pepsin to initiate protein breakdown, but also maintains an acidic environment in the stomach, inhibiting the growth and reproduction of harmful microorganisms and helping to preserve intestinal microbial balance.

Synergy of “Acids–Probiotics–Enzymes”: A Complete Closed Loop for Gut Health

In the post‑antibiotic era, many companies focus solely on “microbe–enzyme” synergy, overlooking that a coordinated interplay of “acid–microbe–enzyme” constitutes the complete closed loop for gut health. Digestive enzymes play a critical role in piglet digestion, and an appropriate acid–base environment is essential to maintain their activity. In this presentation, Researcher Hu Youjun provided an in-depth analysis of pepsin’s physiological and biochemical characteristics. Pepsin is essentially a protease active under low pH conditions; its activity is highly sensitive to environmental pH and rapidly deactivates under neutral or slightly alkaline conditions. Only in a suitably acidic milieu does the zymogen convert into the active enzyme. Its optimal pH ranges from 1.0 to 3.0; if gastric pH exceeds 5.0, pepsin abruptly loses most of its activity, effectively becoming “combat‑ineffective.” Gastric acidification thus lays a solid foundation for intestinal health. Identifying the preferred digestive acids for piglets will become another key research frontier in precision nutrition.

The primary battleground for inhibiting pathogenic bacteria lies in the mid-to-late sections of the gastrointestinal tract. Criteria for selecting high-quality intestinal acids include a broad antibacterial spectrum, compatibility with beneficial microbes, and no impact on bacterial resistance. Benzoic acid exhibits strong antibacterial activity but requires high dosages. Recent research indicates that benzoic acid does not induce resistance; however, high doses can reduce feed intake in livestock and poultry, disrupt glycine metabolism, and cause visceral damage. Studies have shown that maximizing the retention of benzoic acid in its molecular form within the intestine is key to preventing reduced feed intake and visceral injury. To address this, European and American countries are actively developing composite benzoic acid formulations. nuacid nuacid has been researching encapsulation technology for benzoic acid since 2017, investigating its biological effects from multiple angles, and ultimately launched the controlled-release Aisuanling product line. These products safely pass through the stomach into the intestine, provide sustained antibacterial action for 4–6 hours, and can replace pure benzoic acid at a 1:2 ratio, overturning traditional practices of high-dose supplementation and their associated adverse effects.

Love Sour Spirit ^® 9001: Innovation Leads, Efficiency Upgraded

In recent years, research has focused on combining benzoic acid with essential oils, probiotics, medium-chain fatty acids, flavonoids, and other ingredients to enhance product efficacy and utilization. AINIC is the latest product developed by NIC. ^® 9001 not only upgrades the benzoic acid packaging and controlled-release technology, but also incorporates plant-derived essential oils into the coating, ensuring safe passage through the stomach. After reaching the duodenum, the sustained-release coating gradually disintegrates to release the active ingredient, which is then steadily delivered to different regions of the intestine over 6–12 hours. Furthermore, by carefully selecting permeation enhancers, it facilitates the accelerated uptake of more molecular‑form benzoic acid into pathogenic bacterial cells, preventing ionization caused by the high pH environment of the gut that would otherwise neutralize the released benzoic acid. Its aqueous solution exhibits low dissociation, allowing it to remain in molecular form for an extended period and providing long‑lasting antibacterial activity.

A joint study by NIC and the Subtropical Research Institute found that, in terms of growth performance, 0.1% Aisuanling ^® There was no significant difference in growth performance between 9001 and 0.3% benzoic acid powder during the first two weeks after weaning in piglets, but Aisuanling® 9001 demonstrated superior anti-diarrheal efficacy compared to benzoic acid powder. Regarding combined application, Aisuanling ^® There was no significant difference in growth performance between the 9001 group and the benzoic acid powder plus plant essential oil group in weaned piglets, but the latter showed superior anti-diarrheal efficacy. In large-scale application trials, Aisuanling ^® 9001 demonstrated a significant anti-diarrheal effect and also reduced mortality in piglets during the first 10 days after weaning.

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Summary

 

NIC (2025) posits that acid–microbiota–enzyme coordination forms a complete closed loop for gut health; big data on the target organs of conventional benzoic acid confirm its action in the stomach and proximal small intestine; moreover, the antibacterial mechanism of benzoic acid—operating via its molecular form rather than its ionic form—is increasingly accepted and substantiated by nutrition scientists. Recent research has found that a coating (benzoic acid + essential oils) can upregulate the expression of endogenous antimicrobial peptides, increase butyrate production, and repair the mucosa; reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines may underlie the gut acid multiplication effect. Furthermore, benzoic acid’s relatively low impact on microbial antimicrobial resistance will attract greater attention from the industry. This conference is not only a feast of knowledge but also a gathering of the entire sector. Together, we will witness the latest breakthroughs in piglet nutrition and health, share successful practices, and discuss future trends. Let us join forces, leverage technology, and contribute to the sustainable development of the industry. Looking ahead, nuacid Nutrition will continue to deepen its expertise in acidifiers, relentlessly exploring and innovating to deliver more efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly solutions for animal husbandry. We are confident that, led by acidifier technology, piglet nutrition and health will usher in an even brighter future. Let us work together to advance the sustainable development of the livestock industry and contribute to human health and well-being!

Written by: E Xiaodi

Review: Hu Youjun