Welcome to the Q4’26 WAGS newsletter. At the time of writing this, we have just seen sweeping change with the blue wave of the US midterms and recent Alberta referendum behind us. The world turns quickly these days but one thing that stays constant is the need for livestock farmers to produce high-quality proteins to feed the world!


We appreciate the wonderful turnout at our Customer Appreciation Days in Swift Current and Lethbridge in late September. It was great seeing a lot of the producers we work with in those regions. Thanks for your support and we hope you enjoyed the days as much as we did! In turn, we are looking forward to what looks to be a very well attended Customer Appreciation Day in Great Falls later this month!

Our nutrition team has, as usual, taken great care in putting together some informative and timely articles for your viewing pleasure this quarter. Our swine section focuses on late gestation nutrition, while our poultry focus is probiotics and prebiotics which can help to improve both cost and performance. On the ruminant side, probiotics is the focus as well which plays into Lactipro, an exciting product WAGS has had the pleasure of carrying to support faster transitions into lactation rations and performance.

We appreciate your interest in the newsletter this quarter. Thank you very much for choosing WAGS to be part of your team.

Commodity markets have been a wild ride of late with high energy prices creeping into many supply chains. On top of that, a significant delay in harvest especially in the Midwest led to major feed commodities increasing at a time we usually see them decrease in price. Having said that, the farmers tend to find a way to get the crop off and some good weather mid October allowed for harvest to progress quickly. This coupled with a bearish WASDE report from the USDA has created a buying opportunity in the past few weeks that didn’t seem to exist in September and early October.

These factors above have led to grain markets pulling back. While wheat had increased in price with conflict in Russia and Ukraine blocking some shipments to export markets, the market seems to have decided these challenges can be overcome, and wheat has trended closer to $300 per MT the past few weeks. Corn has also dropped considerably with futures moving down by close to $1 per bu the past 3 weeks. Corn is currently trading around $295 delivered Southern Alberta. While barley has trended up a few dollars, it has been and likely will continue to be capped by corn prices. There appears to be a buying window for grains.

Protein markets peaked in late September and early October at close to $700 with a perfect storm of events pumping up the market. There were at least 7 soybean crush plants in the US that went down for unplanned maintenance, taking thousands of railcars of soybean meal out of the market as well as delayed harvest making soybean availability more challenging and all the while exports remained strong. Having said that, markets are coming back down to earth and we are currently seeing soybean meal trading between $610 to 620 per MT in Alberta and a little under $600 per MT in parts of Saskatchewan. At the same time, canola meal climbed over $400 but has also dropped below the highs. Expectations are that we could see a little more downside, but we are getting into a better time to buy, especially for soybean meal.

We have selected sows to produce more piglets, support faster growing litters, and sustain greater milk production. But have nutritional programs kept pace with the demands of these animals?

Genetic progress has increased the reproductive potential of modern sows, but it has also increased the nutrients required to support pregnancy and lactation. Today’s hyperprolific sows are generally leaner and may have limited capacity to increase feed intake enough to meet these demands. When nutrient supply falls short, sows mobilize body reserves to support fetal development and milk production. Excessive tissue mobilization can compromise milk production, delay the return to estrus, impair subsequent fertility, and shorten productive life (Clowes et al., 2003; Maes et al., 2004). Larger litters also bring greater challenges for piglet survival.

These pressures make late gestation an important opportunity to improve nutritional support. During this period, fetal growth accelerates and mammary tissue develops in preparation for lactation. Recent research suggests that providing a more nutrient-dense diet or targeted supplementation during late gestation may benefit farrowing performance, piglet survival, subsequent reproductive performance, and sow livability.

Why late gestation deserves more attention
During early and mid gestation, nutritional management focuses on maintaining body condition, restoring reserves depleted during lactation, and supporting growth in young females (Boyd et al., 2002). Demands change considerably as pregnancy progresses. During late gestation, fetal growth and protein accretion increase rapidly, while mammary development adds another important demand for nutrients. Fetal protein accretion rises substantially after approximately day 70 of gestation. In one study, estimated fetal protein needs for tissue gain increased 19-fold after day 69 (McPherson et al., 2004). Similarly, the estimated SID lysine requirement increases by approximately 149% between days 104 and 115 of gestation (Feyera and Theil, 2017; Figure 1). These changes occur over a relatively short period, making the nutrient density of the late-gestation diet particularly important.


Many conventional feeding programs respond to this increase in demand through “bump feeding,” or increasing the amount of the same gestation diet. Although this raises total nutrient intake, it does not necessarily provide enough additional amino acids to support fetal and mammary development. In practice, feed intake is often managed around the sow’s energy needs. Increasing the quantity of a diet with relatively low amino acid concentrations can therefore increase energy intake without adequately increasing amino acid supply.

The objective should not simply be to feed more, but to provide the appropriate balance and concentration of nutrients. Excessive energy intake during late gestation can result in fat sow, something undesirable, as it can negatively affect mammary development and subsequent milk production, as well as parturition duration and voluntary feed intake during lactation. A more targeted approach is to increase the nutrient density of the diet, particularly its amino acid, vitamins and trace minerals supply, while keeping energy intake appropriate.

Phase feeding is one way to achieve this: a conventional diet during early and mid gestation, followed by a late-gestation diet with higher amino acid, vitamin and mineral levels. Separate diets have not always been practical in facilities with limited feed-delivery systems, but newer feeding technologies are making phase feeding more feasible.

Enriched late-gestation nutrition and reproductive performance
A recent study by McClellan et al. (2025) provides an example of how a more comprehensive late-gestation feeding program may influence sow and litter performance. The researchers compared a conventional gestation diet with an enriched diet supplied from days 70 to 110 of gestation.

The control diet contained 11% protein and 0.52% SID lysine, along with industry-standard organic trace minerals and vitamins. The enriched diet increased protein to 16% and SID lysine to 0.87%, doubled the levels of organic trace minerals and vitamins (except selenium), and included 500 mg/kg of supplemental vitamin C.

Sows receiving the enriched diet had a shorter farrowing duration, averaging approximately 290 minutes compared with 360 minutes for control sows (Figure 2). Stillbirth rate also tended to be lower, decreasing from 6.8% to 3.4%. The enriched group weaned more piglets on average (13.4 vs. 12.3), while piglet survivability increased from 84.8% to 90.5%. The number of total born and live-born piglets in the first cycle was similar between treatments, so the improvement in pigs weaned was mainly associated with better pre-weaning survival rather than larger litters at birth.


An interesting finding emerged in the subsequent reproductive cycle. Among the 49 sows that completed both cycles, sows receiving the enriched diet produced 19.24 total-born and 17.70 live-born piglets, compared with 16.84 total-born and 15.00 live-born piglets in the control group (Figure 3). Although this was a relatively small group, the results suggest that the effects of late-gestation nutrition may extend beyond the immediate litter.

Because the study tested several nutrients together, it cannot identify which ones drove the improvements. However, the results suggest that enriched late-gestation diets may improve sow and litter performance.


Late-gestation nutrition and sow mortality
Sow productivity depends on more than the number of piglets produced. Sow health, farrowing performance, ability to wean good quality pigs, and subsequent reproductive performance are equally important. Sow mortality also carries economic and welfare costs, making livability an important measure of nutritional program success.

Knauer (2023) evaluated vitamin C and vitamin E supplementation in 466 sows. Sows received a top-dress containing 1.05 g of vitamin C and 500 IU of vitamin E twice weekly, beginning on day 87 of gestation. Sows supplemented with vitamin C and E tended to have fewer deaths at or before farrowing, but stillborn percentage did not differ between groups. These findings suggest a possible benefit for sow livability.

Two studies by Knauer et al. (2026a) evaluated pre-farrow supplementation with dicalcium phosphate and additional vitamins. Sows received 50 g of dicalcium phosphate per day, additional vitamins, the combination, or no supplementation (control diet), beginning on day 109 or 110 of gestation until farrowing.

Sow mortality was lower in sows receiving dicalcium phosphate and additional vitamins than in sows fed the control diet (3.2% vs. 8.4%). The supplemented group also had fewer prolapses (1.1% vs. 3.8%). The clearest response was associated with the combination of dicalcium phosphate and extra vitamins. Neither dicalcium phosphate alone nor additional vitamins alone significantly reduced mortality compared with the control diet.

Vitamin D3 has also been evaluated as a targeted strategy to support sow survival. In a 2026 commercial study reported by Knauer, 937 females received either their standard feeding program or five weekly boluses of 50,000 IU of vitamin D3, beginning on day 80 of gestation. Overall mortality was numerically lower in sows supplemented with the vitamin D3 boluses (3.6% vs. 5.7%). However, the response differed by parity. Mortality was similar between treatments in younger sows (parities 1–4), whereas older sows (parities 5–8) receiving additional vitamin D3 had lower mortality than sows without vitamin D3 bolus supplementation (0.7% vs. 8.4%). The number of piglets weaned per sow was similar between groups.

Conclusion
Genetic selection has increased the reproductive potential of modern sows, but it has also increased the nutritional demands associated with pregnancy and lactation. Late gestation is a particularly important period because fetal growth and mammary development accelerate just before the sow enters lactation.

Recent research suggests that enriched late-gestation nutrition may improve farrowing performance, piglet survival, subsequent reproductive performance, and sow livability. More research is needed to establish the most effective nutrient levels and strategies, but supporting modern sows requires more than simply increasing the amount of a conventional gestation diet.

Poultry production has become increasingly focused on gut health—not simply because the intestine digests and absorbs nutrients, but because it is also a major interface between the bird, its feed, the environment and the immune system (Aruwa et al., 2021). A stable intestinal microbial community helps break down nutrients, produces useful metabolites, supports the intestinal barrier and limits opportunities for undesirable bacteria to become established. When that balance is disrupted by diet changes, stress, enteric disease or management challenges, birds may become less efficient at using nutrients and more vulnerable to intestinal problems.

Prebiotics and probiotics are two tools used to influence this microbial ecosystem (Clavijo et al., 2018). They are not interchangeable, and neither is a replacement for sound nutrition, biosecurity, vaccination, water management or disease control. Their value is greatest when the product is selected for a defined production objective and used consistently.

What is the difference between prebiotics and probiotics?
A prebiotic is a substrate that is selectively used by host microorganisms and provides a health benefit. In poultry diets, commonly studied examples include mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS), fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), inulin and selected yeast-cell-wall fractions. These materials are not all identical; their structure, fermentability and ability to interact with specific microbes differ (Ricke et al., 2020).

Some prebiotics are fermented by intestinal bacteria, particularly in the lower gut and caeca, producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as acetate, propionate and butyrate. These metabolites can influence gut pH, provide energy to intestinal cells, support barrier function and affect microbial competition (Liu et al., 2021). Certain yeast-derived mannans may also bind selected pathogens such as Salmonella and E.coli, reducing their ability to attach to the intestinal lining. The effect depends on the specific ingredient and its mode of action; not every yeast product or oligosaccharide should be assumed to work in the same way.

Probiotics, by contrast, are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit to the host. Poultry products commonly include selected strains of Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, Enterococcus, Bifidobacterium and beneficial yeasts such as Saccharomyces (Jha et al., 2020). The strain designation matters; results obtained with one strain cannot automatically be applied to every member of the same species or genus.

Depending on the organism and product, probiotics may compete with pathogens for attachment sites and nutrients, produce organic acids or antimicrobial compounds, influence immune responses, and support intestinal barrier integrity (Pan and Yu, 2014).


Adapted from: engormix.com
The two approaches can also be combined, a strategy known as synbiotic supplementation. A synbiotic combines a live microorganism with a substrate intended to be used by beneficial microorganisms. The aim is to support the introduced probiotic, the resident microbial community, or both. However, combining a probiotic and a prebiotic does not automatically produce a synergistic effect; the selected substrate must be compatible with the microorganism and the intended production objective.

How can they help the bird?
Competitive exclusion and pathogen pressure : A diverse, well-adapted microbial community can make it harder for incoming pathogens to become established. Probiotics may compete for nutrients and attachment sites, while selected prebiotics can encourage helpful resident bacteria or interfere with pathogen attachment. Luoma et al. (2017) found that synbiotic supplementation (combination of probiotics and a prebiotics) helped improve laying-hen performance (Figure 5) and reduced Salmonella enteritidis colonization in the caeca following an experimental challenge. The supplemented hens also showed higher egg production during several weeks before and after the challenge. These findings suggest that combining beneficial microorganisms with an appropriate prebiotic may help support production performance while limiting pathogen colonization in laying hens.


Production of antimicrobial metabolites: Beneficial bacteria, supported by probiotics and prebiotics, ferment complex substrates to produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate. These compounds can help limit acid-sensitive pathogens, provide energy to intestinal cells, and support gut development. Some probiotic strains also produce antimicrobial substances, including bacteriocins and hydrogen peroxide. Supporting these benefits, Zeng et al. (2021) found that broilers receiving a probiotic combination (Clostridium butyricum, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus licheniformis) had higher caecal SCFA concentrations, improved intestinal morphology, and better body weight and average daily gain than birds without supplementation (Figure 6). These results highlight the potential of probiotics to improve intestinal health and production performance.


Immune modulation: The intestinal microbiota communicates with the bird’s immune system, and selected prebiotic and probiotic interventions can influence immunoglobulin levels and antibody responses. The goal is to support an appropriate immune response while maintaining intestinal integrity. Supporting this, Al-Khalaifah et al. (2025) evaluated the effects of the probiotic Bacillus clausii, the prebiotic mannan-oligosaccharide (MOS), and their combination in broiler chickens. Birds receiving the combined supplementation showed higher IgM, IgA, and IgG levels, increased antibody responses to Newcastle disease and infectious bursal disease vaccines, and improved intestinal morphology compared to control group that received no dietary additives.

Conclusion
Prebiotics and probiotics provide nutritionists and producers with practical tools to influence the poultry gut microbiome and support performance across different stages of production. Prebiotics supply selected substrates that encourage beneficial microbial activity, while probiotics introduce defined live microorganisms that can compete with pathogens, produce useful metabolites, and support intestinal function. Synbiotics combine these approaches when the components are deliberately matched. In broilers, early supplementation can help establish a balanced gut microbiota, improve nutrient utilization, and support body weight gain and feed efficiency. In pullets, these additives can help maintain gut health, support immune development, and promote flock uniformity during stressful periods such as vaccination, beak trimming, and transfer to the laying house. In laying hens, a healthy gut microbiota supports calcium and phosphorus absorption, helping maintain egg production and eggshell quality throughout the production cycle. However, the strongest approach is not to use an additive simply because it is marketed for gut health, but to match a clearly characterized product to a specific production-stage objective, verify proper handling and delivery, and measure its response under the farm’s own conditions. Used strategically, prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics can be valuable components of a broader gut-health program for broilers, pullets, laying hens, and breeder flocks.

Rumen contains more than 400 species of bacteria (microbes). Megasphaera elsdenii is one of them and a key functional bacterium in the rumen. It has core roles in ruminal digestion and animal’s health which are directly linked to production (1-6).
Regulate rumen pH and prevent acidosis:
Megasphaera is the dominant lactic acid utilizing bacterium in the rumen. Therefore, it can rapidly convert lactic acids to other forms (propionate and butyrate), preventing the ruminal pH from dropping below 5.0 and significantly reducing the risk of sub-acute and acute ruminal acidosis (SARA and ARA). After having controlled rumen acidic conditions with pH 5.5–6.0, it also helps lactic acid degradation as below (Figure 7). A form of lactic acid called D-lactic acid is more toxic to animal body and it can cause neurological signs and mobility issues. Megasphaera up-regulates the conversion of D-lactic acid to L-lactic acid which is relatively lower toxicity to animal’s body; no or minimum neurological signs. Combined use with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (live yeast) can further increase propionate production and enhance the alleviating effect on acidosis (1,2).


Malate functions as a metabolic primer or synergistic substrate for Megasphaera in ruminal digestion. When malate is introduced into the rumen environment, it strongly stimulates Megasphaera to multiply and accelerate its clearance of accumulated lactic acid, stabilizing the pH (4). When Megasphaera metabolizes lactic acid via the acrylate pathway, it balances its internal redox environment (NAD⁺/NADH ratio). While malate itself can enter the succinate-propionate pathway or be converted into pyruvate, its presence typically shifts the overall fermentation profile (3-6).

Alimentary track health and energy source:
Short chain fatty acids (SCFA) or volatile fatty acids (VFA) such as propionate and butyrate produced by Megasphaera provide the core energy source for rumen epithelial cells, promote the growth of rumen papillae and the expansion of absorptive surface area, and improve nutrient absorption efficiency (1,2,5,6, Figure 1). Despite the rumen, epithelial cells in the rest of the alimentary track, particularly large intestine and colon, have a similar boost in growth and function increasing the efficiency of digestion and absorption (1-4).

Benefits to calves:
Supplementation of Megasphaera to young claves increases the production of VFA and accelerates the development of the rumen. In addition to VFA production, Megaspaera helps produce branched-chain fatty acids (BCF) in the rumen and colon. Branched chain fatty acids can provide growth factors for other gut microorganisms and optimize the micro-ecological structure in the lumen (Figure 7). Overall, Megasphaera reduces diarrhoea, bloat and D-lactic acidosis in young animals (2,4,6). In terms of production performance of beef animals, Megasphaera improves the average daily gain (ADG), hot carcass weight, and body condition score. Megasphaera also reduces methane emissions by 10–15% through competitive utilization of substrates for methanogens (1,2,Figure 7).

Commercially available product containing ‘live’ Megasphaera elsdenii is Lactipro (Figure 8). Lactipro is beneficial in ruminants eating high grain feed (transition cows and feed lot cattle), calves, lambs and animals recovering after diseases.


Note: For all articles, references are available upon request.

Congratulations to the WAGS partners who won in various major industry awards.

CANADA PACKERS LETHBRIDGE SIGNATURE AWARDS

2026 Signature Producer – 1st Blue Ridge Colony

Index Award
1st Starbrite Colony
2nd Blue Ridge Colony
3rd Roseglen Colony

Meat Quality Award
2nd Blue Ridge Colony
3rd Prairie Home Colony

In-core Award (over 200)
2nd Armada Colony
3rd Roseglen Colony

In-core award (less than 200)
2nd Blue Ridge
3rd Wolf Creek

Lethbridge Livestock Show Carcass Competition:
4th Milford Colony


HYPOR'S KENLIS CUP WINNER
1st in North America – Armada Colony (35.96 pigs weaned per mated female per year for 2025.

INDEPENDENT MEAT BEST MARBLING: Hilltop Colony

INDEPENDENT MEAT BEST PIG: Hilltop Colony

Congratulations to WAGS partners who made it to the H@ms Marketing October Top 10 list for carcass quality.

THUNDER CREEK, BRITCO AND NORTH 49.

Average Index
3rd Wymark Farming Company Ltd.
5th Raley Colony

Percent Demerit Free
2nd Bench Farming Company

Percent in Core Area
5th Raley Colony
8th Wymark Farming Company Ltd.

Carcass Wt. Target
9th Raley Colony

OLYMEL
Average Index
1st Whitesand Farming Co. Ltd.
5th Summerland Farming Co. Ltd.

Percent Demerit Free
6th Clearlake Farming
7th Sovereign Farming

Percent Tattoo
4th Skylight Colony
7th Old Elm Farming Co. Ltd.
8th Clearlake Farming
10th Summerland Colony Farming

Percent in Core Area
1st Whitesand Farming Co. Ltd.
3rd Old Elm Farming Co. Ltd.
7th Summerland Colony Farming

Carcass Wt. Target
3rd Whitesand Faming Co. Ltd.