PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) were used to monitor the development of bacterial community in faeces of 12 weaning piglets. The regions V6 to V8 of the 16S rDNA of faecal bacteria were amplified. DGGE profiles of the PCR amplicons were compared by similarity analysis. Results revealed simple DGGE profiles for faecal samples from piglets on the first day of weaning and piglets from the same sow showed similar DGGE profiles. After weaning as the piglets grew DGGE profiles became complicated and diverse. Each individual piglet had its unique DGGE profile, with low similarity between piglets. The source of sow and the diet showed no apparent effect on the DGGE profiles. For the piglets fed a diet containing oliogofructose, DGGE similarity analysis showed bacterial community in the faeces developed fast during the first week and relatively slow later after weaning.