Probióticos for weaned piglets: A natural solution for a healthier start

• Grant number: 25/21325-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2025
• End date: November 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Cesar Augusto Pospissil Garbossa
• Grantee: Niveka Vena Sretlaw Johnson
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Weaning is one of the most critical and challenging phases in pig farming. It is characterized by social, environmental, and nutritional stresses, such as separation from the sow, dietary changes, and mixing of piglets, which compromise the intestinal health of piglets. These stresses influence the occurrence of post-weaning diarrhea, reduced zootechnical performance, and increased mortality. Traditionally, these adverse effects have been mitigated with the use of antibiotics as a preventive strategy. However, in light of the growing concern about antimicrobial resistance, natural and sustainable alternatives such as probiotics are gaining prominence. The probiotics are live microorganisms capable of modulating the intestinal microbiota, reducing enteric disorders, and improving animal welfare. This project aims to evaluate the effect of supplementation with a probiotic blend, administered in different doses, in the diet of weaned piglets. The study will be conducted on a commercial farm with 480 piglets distributed across five treatments: a negative control and four levels of probiotic inclusion. Zootechnical performance parameters such as weight gain, feed conversion, and incidence of diarrhoea will be analyzed. The data obtained will be subjected to statistical analysis to validate the results. Supplementation with the probiotic blend is expected to reduce the incidence of post-weaning diarrhea, improve zootechnical performance, and promote a more sustainable production, in line with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Keywords - Swine, zootechnical performance, intestinal health, antibiotics, additives, nursery (AU)