Previously, low levels of antibiotics were supplied in feed so that post-weaning diarrhea was reduced. Feed additives may be able to help replace antibiotics and decrease the incidence of post-weaning diarrhea. Three types of prebiotics and an organic acid salt were added to the diets. The organic acids were found to have more beneficial outcomes than the prebiotics since they enhanced both piglet growth and digestibility. Prebiotics with zinc and glucan increased digestibility but not growth. Organic acids can be implemented in diets to replace some aspects of the antibiotics that were historically used.
Reducing Post-Weaning Diarrhea – Digesting the Results (full article)