Farm Animals

Pig Gut Health and Welfare

Gut health is fundamental to pig welfare and production, with the microbiome, diet, and management all influencing digestive health and overall welfare from early life onwards.

Key Facts

Post-weaning diarrhoea affects most pig producers and causes significant welfare suffering
Gut microbiome diversity is established in early life and affects lifetime health
Zinc oxide use at weaning reduces diarrhoea but EU restrictions require alternatives
Dietary fibre improves gut health and reduces tail biting through satiety and enrichment
Probiotics and prebiotics show evidence of gut health benefit in some trials

Welfare Considerations

Pig gut health welfare requires nutritional management from birth through weaning and beyond. The post-weaning period is a critical welfare window where gut health problems cause significant suffering. Reducing antibiotic dependency through improved gut health management benefits both welfare and AMR.

What You Can Do

Support research into alternatives to zinc oxide for post-weaning gut health
Advocate for fibre-rich diets in pig nutrition standards
Engage with the connection between pig gut health, welfare, and antibiotic stewardship