Prebiotic galactooligosaccharide (GOS) improves piglet growth performance and intestinal health associated with alterations of the hindgut microbiota during the peri-weaning period

Background Weaning stress reduces growth performance and health of young pigs due in part to an abrupt change in diets from highly digestible milk to fibrous plant-based feedstuffs. This study investigated whether dietary galactoo- ligosaccharide (GOS), supplemented both pre- and post-weaning, could improve growth performance and intestinal health via alterations in the hindgut microbial community. Methods Using a 3 × 2 factorial design, during farrowing 288 piglets from 24 litters received...