Impact of organic acid supplementation on gut health and post-weaning diarrhea in early-weaned piglets

Abstract

Post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) caused by pathogenic Escherichia coli is a major challenge in pig production. This study evaluated the efficacy of dietary organic acids in mitigating PWD and enhancing performance in weanling pigs. Thirty piglets, weaned at (21 ± 2 days old), were allocated into control and treatment groups, with the latter receiving malic acid and medium-chain fatty acids (lauric acids) for 28 days. Supplementation markedly reduced post weaning diarrhea. Treated piglets exhibited improved hematological and biochemical parameters, reduced severity of diarrhea, and superior growth performance, including average daily gain and feed conversion ratio. These findings indicate that organic acids improve gut health, reduce pathogen load, and enhance productivity, providing a sustainable alternative to antibiotics for managing PWD.