Farm Animals

Pig Welfare and Welfare and Gut Health Advanced

Gut health is a fundamental component of pig welfare, with the gut microbiome influencing immunity, behaviour, and overall wellbeing.

Key Facts

The gut-brain axis connects intestinal microbiome composition to pig behaviour and emotional state
Post-weaning diarrhoea affects up to 30% of pigs and causes significant welfare suffering
Dietary fibre provision supports beneficial microbiome composition and reduces gut disease
Probiotic and prebiotic supplementation shows promise for gut health and welfare improvement
Antibiotic reduction programs require gut health management strategies to maintain welfare

Welfare Considerations

Gut health is foundational to pig welfare. Investment in dietary and management strategies that support beneficial microbiome composition prevents suffering from gut disease.

What You Can Do

Advocate for dietary fibre provision standards in pig welfare certification
Support research on microbiome-based approaches to pig welfare
Choose pork from farms using evidence-based gut health management approaches