Farm Animals

Welfare of Farmed Animals and Gut Health

Gut health is a fundamental welfare indicator in farmed animals; poor gut health causes pain, immune compromise, and reduced welfare across species.

Key Facts

Gut dysbiosis causes painful inflammatory conditions in pigs, poultry, and fish
Antibiotic-resistant gut infections are increasing in intensive livestock systems
Probiotic and prebiotic interventions improve gut health without antibiotic reliance
Fibrous diets dramatically improve gut health in pigs compared to simple grain-based rations
Feed composition is among the most accessible welfare improvements for producers

Welfare Considerations

Gut health welfare is both a farm animal welfare priority and a pathway to reduced antibiotic use. Improving fiber content in pig diets, reducing dietary stress triggers in poultry, and maintaining gut microbiome diversity in fish all produce welfare improvements at scale.

What You Can Do

Support welfare certification standards that include gut health indicators
Advocate for fiber requirements in pig diet standards
Donate to research into probiotic alternatives to antibiotic use in aquaculture
Choose farmed animal products from operations that prioritize gut health management