Post-weaning diarrhoea is one of the most common and welfare-significant conditions in commercial pig production, with prevention through improved weaning management offering significant welfare benefits.
Post-weaning diarrhoea causes genuine suffering — pain, dehydration and systemic illness in young piglets already stressed by separation from their mothers. The condition is largely a consequence of early weaning — a management choice made for production efficiency — meaning prevention requires addressing the root cause rather than simply treating the manifestation. Extended weaning, better transition diets and improved creep feeding management reduce diarrhoea incidence while simultaneously improving weaning welfare. The restriction of zinc oxide in the EU has accelerated the search for welfare-compatible alternatives.