Weaning is a critical event in the pig’s life cycle, frequently associated with severe enteric infections and overuse of antibiotics; this raises serious economic and public health concerns. In this review, we explain why gut microbiota dysbiosis, induced by abrupt changes in the diet and environment of piglets, emerges as a leading cause of post-weaning diarrhea, even if the exact underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Then, we focus on nonantimicrobial alternatives, such as zinc oxide, essential oils, and prebiotics or probiotics, which are currently evaluated to restore intestinal balance and allow a better management of the crucial weaning transition. Finally, we discuss how in vitro models of the piglet gut could be advantageously used as a complement to ex vivo and in vivo studies for the development and testing of new feed additives.

断奶是猪生命周期中的关键事件，经常与严重的肠感染和抗生素的过度使用有关；这引起了严重的经济和公共卫生问题。在这篇综述中，我们解释了为什么由仔猪的饮食和环境的突然变化引起的肠道菌群失调会成为断奶后腹泻的主要原因，即使确切的潜在机制尚不清楚。然后，我们重点研究非抗菌替代品，例如氧化锌，精油以及益生元或益生菌，目前已对其进行评估以恢复肠道平衡并更好地管理关键的断奶过渡。最后，我们讨论了如何将仔猪肠道的体外模型有利地用作离体和补体的补充。在体内研究新饲料添加剂的开发和测试。