Amara Benn is a PhD student at the University of California, Davis, in the Nutritional Biology Graduate Group. She is working under Dr. Slupsky in the Nutrition Pillar of the PIG-PARADIGM project. Her sub-project focuses on the effects of maternal diet on piglet outcomes.

Weaning marks a crucial phase in a piglet’s development, often causing stress and diarrhea, which can jeopardize their health. Incorporating dietary fiber into the mother’s diet may indirectly mitigate post-weaning diarrhea by supporting intestinal health and development.

"We are specifically adding a new type of fiber to the mother's diet starting in late gestation and continuing through lactation. This unique fiber, derived from Nopal cactus leaf powder, is high in fiber and contains additional polyphenols and minerals. We aim to see how this addition impacts the development of the piglets' gastrointestinal and immune systems.

"We predict that the piglets' development will be influenced in utero through nutrient transfer via the placenta and during lactation through changes in milk composition, thereby affecting the development of the piglets' gut system," says Benn. Their goal is to promote a stronger gastrointestinal and immune system early on, reducing the need for antibiotics later. “Overall, we aim to support piglets from the start while also focusing on the health of the mothers”.

“I believe we sometimes forget that without healthy mothers, there are no healthy piglets. This is what makes our project unique, and I am excited to see the results."