Farm Animals

Pig Welfare: Intestinal Health and Pathogen Control

Intestinal health management is central to pig welfare, with enteric pathogens causing significant suffering and mortality particularly in young pigs.

Key Facts

Post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD) caused by E. coli is a leading cause of piglet suffering and mortality
Zinc oxide has been widely used to control PWD but EU regulations banned therapeutic zinc oxide from 2022
Alternative approaches including vaccination, dietary management, and probiotic use are replacing zinc oxide
Gut microbiome management through early seeding and appropriate diet is a growing research priority

Welfare Considerations

Intestinal disease causes significant suffering in young pigs, with severe diarrhoea causing dehydration, pain, and death. The transition away from zinc oxide requires integrated alternative strategies. Research into microbiome-based approaches offers promising alternatives that may also improve welfare over baseline.

What You Can Do

Support research into post-weaning diarrhoea prevention without zinc oxide
Engage with pork producers about their strategies for intestinal health following zinc oxide removal
Advocate for welfare monitoring programmes that track enteric disease burden as an indicator