For most piglets in commercial farms, weaning means the abrupt separation from the sow, relocation to an unfamiliar pen, along with regrouping with unfamiliar piglets from other litters. This social stress is also accompanied by nutritional challenges as the piglet is transitioned from the sow’s milk to a plant-based diet – shifting from liquid to solid feed.
These factors, along with other stressors, make weaning one of the most difficult periods in a pig’s production cycle. This phase is especially critical because piglet performance during this time directly impacts the economic success of swine farms. It is well known that the growth rate is dependent on sufficient nutrient intake. However, in the first few days after weaning, feed intake often drops significantly, and some piglets may go a day or two without eating. As piglets fail to eat, they also fail to grow or even lose weight, which can delay development and affect lifetime performance.
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