Impact of Early Weaning on Development of the Swine Gut Microbiome.

ABSTRACT: Considering that pigs are naturally weaned between 12 and 18 weeks of age, the common practice in the modern swine industry of weaning as early as between two and four weeks of age increases challenges during this transition period. Indeed, young pigs with an immature gut are suddenly separated from the sow, switched from milk to a diet consisting of only solid ingredients, and subjected to a new social hierarchy from mixing multiple litters. From the perspective of host gut development, weaning under these conditions causes a regression in histological structure as well as in digestive and barrier functions. While the gut is the main center of immunity in mature animals, the underdeveloped gut of early weaned pigs has yet to contribute to this function until seven weeks of age. The gut mi

SUBMITTER: St-Pierre B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10385335 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature