Recent Advances in Management of Pre- and Post-Weaning Diarrhea in Piglets

Abstract

Piglet diarrhea is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in swine production and is associated with substantial economic losses worldwide. This review summarizes recent advances in the prevention and management of diarrhea during the pre-weaning and post-weaning periods. Important pre-weaning interventions include optimization of colostrum intake and sow nutrition, maternal vaccination against enteric pathogens, improved farrowing-house hygiene, appropriate farrowing accommodation, and the provision of probiotics or synbiotics to neonatal piglets. Gradual weaning and creep feeding may facilitate gastrointestinal adaptation, whereas diets with reduced crude protein and balanced amino acid profiles can reduce excessive protein fermentation and associated diarrhea after weaning. Several nutritional alternatives to conventional antimicrobials and pharmacological levels of zinc oxide, including organic acids, essential oils, enzymes, and postbiotics, have also been investigated for maintaining intestinal health. Microbiome-oriented interventions, including fecal microbiota transplantation, together with precision feeding, improved housing, molecular diagnostics, and digital monitoring, represent emerging approaches for disease prevention and early intervention. Overall, integrated nutritional, environmental, immunological, and management strategies are likely to provide the greatest benefits when adapted to the specific risk factors and production conditions of individual herds. Further region-specific research is required to evaluate the feasibility, efficacy, safety, and economic suitability of these approaches under Indian production conditions.