Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Wean-to-Finish Nutrition Welfare

Nutrition from weaning through finishing significantly affects pig health and welfare. Optimizing nutrition at each stage prevents disease and improves welfare outcomes.

Key Facts

Post-weaning diarrhoea is the most significant nutritional welfare challenge
High-quality protein sources in weaner diets reduce diarrhoea incidence
Dietary zinc oxide reduces post-weaning diarrhoea but has AMR concerns
Transition between feed phases should be gradual to allow gut adaptation
Finishing diets affect carcass quality and pig welfare through stocking density implications

Welfare Considerations

Pigs that develop post-weaning diarrhoea suffer from dehydration, weight loss, and abdominal discomfort. Nutrition that supports gut health through the weaning transition prevents this welfare impact while reducing antibiotic and zinc oxide dependency. Optimizing nutrition at each phase from weaning to finishing is both a welfare and a production investment.

What You Can Do

Support farms with documented nutrition management programs
Advocate for weaner nutrition as a welfare standard in pig assurance schemes
Support research into antibiotic and zinc oxide alternatives for weaner gut health
Learn about the connection between pig nutrition and disease welfare