Low levels of antibiotics have been used in animal diets since the 1950’s to improve growth rates by stabilising the gut flora. At higher levels antibiotics have also been used as prophylactics against enteric diseases.

As a result of growing public concern of the the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in the animal industry there are now strict controls on their use. An alternative approach to the use of antibiotics in the control of the gut flora is the use of what have become known as probiotics. Probiotics include viable lactobacillus bacteria cultures and fermentation products which actively colonise the gut wall, and suppress further colonisation by potential pathogens such as virulent E. coli organisms. At times of stress in an animal’s life, such as weaning or re-grouping, the oral application of probiotic agents could be beneficial by both preventing disease and minimising the clinical use of antibiotics.

Early-weaned artificially-reared piglets are particularly at risk to enteric disease and therefore the purpose of the present study was to assess the efficacy of a probiotic agent in pigs weaned at 6 hours of age.