LAUSR

Of all the stressors a pig encounters in production, early weaning is the most stressful. Under current early weaning practices, the young pig is exposed to multiple concurrent stressors including maternal and littermate separation, transportation, changes in social hierarchy, and a change in environment and food source. Moreover, the stress of weaning causes significant intestinal barrier loss and inflammation during critical stages of postnatal gut development. The immediate, negative impacts of early weaning on gut health and performance are well-known, but the long-term consequences are poorly understand. However, recent evidence from field investigations and basic science research have demonstrated that early weaning has negative consequences on performance and health from wean-to-finish. A fundamental understanding of the biological mechanisms by which current early weaning practices alter gut develop and predispose pigs to performance inefficiencies and disease throughout the production lifespan is lacking. This represents a significant gap in knowledge for the U.S. swine industry, as biological targets for interventions and management are currently lacking. This presentation will provide an overview of postnatal gut development in the pig and how early life stressors, such as early weaning, alter the normal development of critical gut health parameters, including intestinal epithelial barrier function, nutrient transport and immune function, and the link to performance and disease resistance throughout the production lifespan.