As U.S. producers show growing interest in improving drinking water quality, the Kanters Weaning Protocol offers a practical next step. Recent field results from Independence, Iowa, demonstrate that better water hygiene and targeted supplementation can measurably support animal health and help reduce antibiotic use. This provides producers with a clear, evidence-based opportunity to strengthen weaning performance and overall farm results.
Trial under commercial conditions
The trial was conducted at a 2,600-head pig farm, comparing two groups of weaned pigs (±1300 each) over a period of three weeks. The control group followed standard practices with feed-based antibiotics, zinc oxide, and routine water treatments. The trial group received the Kanters Weaning Protocol, consisting of Nutrihealth Forte and Nutribalance pH, both delivered via drinking water through our Optimus Dosing Module. No antibiotics or other water/feed additives were used in this group. To ensure a fair comparison, both sides were housed under identical environmental conditions, and drinking lines were thoroughly cleaned with Kanters AgsanSol before the start of the trial, with ATP values below 10 RLU.
Better growth, lower costs
Despite starting with a slightly weaker health status, the pigs receiving the Kanters protocol outperformed the control group on multiple levels as seen in table 1.
While the protocol itself added $2,455 in product costs, it also reduced feed and medication expenses and led to extra weight gain and lower mortality. The result: a net profit increase of $2.28 per pig, nearly $3,000 across the complete trial group.
Real progress begins with gut balance and water uptake
One of the key mechanisms behind this success lies in the controlled acidification and gut stabilization provided by buffered organic acids. These help suppress pathogenic bacteria and improve nutrient digestion, without irritating the intestinal lining or damaging water systems. Additionally, water intake increased significantly in the treatment group. More stable and frequent drinking behavior supports hydration and nutrient absorption. The combination of Nutrihealth Forte and acidified water appears to enhance both intestinal vitality and water palatability, supporting consistent performance even in the absence of medicated feed. Buffered acidifiers also provide greater stability when using low-buffering water sources such as reverse osmosis (RO) water, where pH control is more difficult but essential.
Farmers’ experience
“I tested the Kanters Weaning Protocol with a trial group that initially showed some health issues, which was somewhat debilitating for the pigs. However, they settled down without the use of antibiotics. A very positive outcome was the absence of strep joint inflammation compared to the control group, which resulted in a lower mortality rate. Overall, I consider the Kanters protocol to be highly effective, as the trial group remained healthier than the control group, even though they entered looking weaker.”
– J. Thoma, Pork Producer (Independence, IA)
A clear alternative to antibiotics
The results speak for themselves: despite the complete removal of in-feed medication, the Kanters Weaning Protocol delivered superior growth, efficiency, FCR, and lower mortality, alongside a meaningful reduction in antimicrobial use. These findings highlight the value of precision water supplementation as a practical, scalable, and profitable solution for modern weaning systems.
For producers looking to reduce antibiotics without sacrificing performance, Kanters offers a proven, data-backed alternative.
Reach out to Kanters for more information about the Weaning Protocol or other drinking water related questions.
Macy Loecke: (563) 929-8350 m.loecke@kantersusa.com
Tommy Vereijken: (952) 245-4806 t.vereijken@kantersusa.com
