USDA researchers studied the large intestine of nursery pigs after reduced feed intake.
Feed intake after weaning
Reduced feed intake often follows weaning or illness in nursery pigs. USDA Agricultural Research Service scientists Sarah Pearce and Brian Kerr examined changes in the large intestine when feed was restricted. Their paper appeared in the Journal of Animal Science on 25 March 2026.
Changes in the colon
The researchers reported a thinner intestinal lining and changes in the balance of gut bacteria under limited feeding. The paper describes the effect on colonic structure and function under the tested conditions. Its title notes that colonic function was minimally affected, even though tissue and microbial measures changed.