There is an urgent call for strategies enhancing the robustness of piglets at weaning to minimize the usage of antimicrobial treatments in pig production. During her PhD studies, Dar’ya Vodolazs’ka investigated strategies to improve piglets’ robustness via supplemental nutrition during suckling period and weaning age. Further, Darya has studied the individual neonatal characteristics of piglets and their effect on gut health and performance and robustness of piglets before weaning.

The research findings provided a scientific background for developing solutions applicable in practice, aiming to reduce antimicrobial usage and to enhance the overall robustness of piglets, when they are exposed to various weaning-associated challenges leading to increased risk for infectious diarrheic diseases.

The PhD study was completed at Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Tuesday, 30 May 2023, at 12:15
Place: 8814-3050,  Room 2, AU Viborg, Aarhus University, Blichers Alle 20, 8830 Tjele. If you want to attend the PhD defence virtually, please click here.
Title of PhD thesis: Early interventions for enhancing the robustness and intestinal health of piglets before and after weaning

Contact information: Dar’ya Vodolazs’ka, e-mail: dvs@anivet.au.dk, tel.: +45 26340856

Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Jürgen Zentek, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany

Associate Professor Stine Brandt Bering, Comparative Pediatrics and Nutrition, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Senior Scientist, Stig Purup (Chair), Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark

Main supervisor:
Professor Charlotte Lauridsen, Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark

Co-supervisors:
Professor Lene Juul Pedersen, Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark

Assistant Professor Takele Feyera, Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark

Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Technical Sciences/GSTS,

Jens Baggesens Vej 53, building 5221, 8200 Aarhus N.