Some developments on Dutch nutritional approaches to protect piglets against post-weaning gastrointestinal disorders in the absence of in-feed antibiotics

After withdrawing in-feed antibiotics for prophylaxis against post-weaning syndrome (PWS) and growth promoting in piglets, various research projects have been initiated in the Netherlands towards new aspects of the pathophysiology of PWS and new optional nutritional strategies. In this paper, some current Dutch research topics addressed to the pathophysiology of PWS (microorganisms associated with diarrhoea of weaned piglets, functional histology, enzymatic activity and permeability of the small intestine) and to the post-weaning nutrition in controlling PWS in piglets (probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids, antimicrobial bioactive peptides and immunomodulators, dietary composition) are briefly outlined.