Supported by the UK Agri-Tech Centre, on-farm trials being run by  Aga2Tech across Yorkshire are proving that in-water peracetic acid (PAA) can support gut health, tackle scours, and dramatically cut antibiotic use in pigs.

The UK pig sector has already achieved a 75% reduction in antibiotic use over the past decade, but with the ban on zinc oxide and growing AMR concerns, the industry needs new tools, says Adrian Fellows, CEO of R&D company Aga2Tech.

“After seeing positive results in commercial poultry trials involving 250,000 broilers, we were keen to see how our patented peracetic acid treatment Peranan™ could help pigs too,” he says.

The trials have been conducted in collaboration with the Yorkshire Farmers cooperative, on two bed-and-breakfast pig units in Yorkshire.

Tested across multiple batches of pigs, the trials involved administering a precise dosage of 2% of the Peranan™ concentrate, giving up to 150ppm PAA via the water system, starting just after weaning and continuing through the early stages of growth.

“The initial results have been very encouraging, with improvements in several key areas,” says Mr Fellows.

“First off, we saw a marked reduction in scours, especially during the weaning phase, which is always a critical time for gut health,” he explains.

“The pigs on PAA had much firmer stools compared to the untreated ones, which is a huge win when it comes to their overall gut health.

“As a result, the trial farms were able to reduce or even eliminate the use of blanket antibiotics during the weaning phase – presenting a real cost-saving for farmers, and a big step forward in helping tackle the problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).”

The treatment also helped foster cleaner farm environments.

Mr Fellows explains: The pigs on PAA had drier and cleaner bedding, with less build-up of wet litter – not only improving the pigs' living conditions, but making it a nicer work environment for the farmer.”

The pigs also seemed calmer and quieter, he adds.

“We observed fewer stress-related issues like tail biting, which is crucial because a reduction in stress means fewer health problems and less risk of infections that can spread in a stressed environment.”

With the UK pig industry working towards meeting stringent antibiotic reduction targets, PAA represents a scalable and effective solution.

“The results of these trials are just the beginning,” adds Mr Fellows.

“As the industry faces growing pressure to reduce antibiotics, we believe PAA can offer a practical, cost-effective, and sustainable solution that supports both animal welfare and farm productivity.”