Digestive and metabolic changes in pigs during the post-weaning period were studied to elucidate the effects of feeding strategies on pig performance and health. Sixteen creep fed litters were divided at weaning (5 weeks of ages); half the litter was fed ad lib (FF), while the other half was fed restricted (RF) from day 3 to day 8 after weaning (restrictive period: 50% reduction on day 3, another 50% reduction on day 4, minimum ration 100 g pig−1day−1, the same amount on days 5 and 6, double the amount on days 7 and 8, and then ad lib). Food intake (per pen), weight and diarrhoea (individually) were registered daily for 14 days post weaning. Studies of faecal haemolyticE. coli(days 4, 5, 6, 8 and 14), blood plama levels of total cortisol and immunoreactive cationic trypsin (IRCT) (days 2, 6, 9 and 14) and body temperature (days 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8) were done on two pigs per pen.