Given the purported different modes of action against PWD and gastrointestinal sites where inulin and benzoic acid are effective, we hypothesised that feeding weaner pigs with diets supplemented with inulin and benzoic acid is a means to reduce ETEC colonisation and the incidence of PWD. Accordingly, this experiment was designed to evaluate whether dietary supplementation with 8% inulin and/or 0.5% benzoic acid would reduce ETEC colonisation and subsequently the frequency and severity of PWD under the conditions of an experimental ETEC challenge. The study found that feeding inulin-supplemented diets reduced the incidence and severity of PWD in weaner pigs experimentally challenged with live ETEC. Dietary modulation with inulin and benzoic acid failed to reduce average ETEC shedding, although a significant relationship occurred between average FC and average faecal shedding of ETEC. Overall this study suggests that feeding weaner pigs an inulin-supplemented diet has potential to reduce the incidence and severity of PWD in pigs without reducing the weaner pig performance.

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