Weaning stress and post weaning performance 

Weaning in pigs is a stressful event, triggering social, physiological, and immune challenges that impact health, feed intake, and growth. Despite advancements in management, it remains one of the most stressful periods in a pig’s life, leading to intestinal and immune dysfunctions with short- and long-term effects on performance. 

  • Weaning stress affects pig health, feed intake, and growth.
  • Stress from weaning disrupts gut development and nutrient absorption. 
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Weaning period, a stressful event for piglets

In nature, weaning in pigs is a gradual process that occurs at about 3 months of age and represent the shift from the piglet’s reliance on sow’s milk to other feed sources.

In modern production systems, and despite advancements in livestock management and biosecurity, weaning is still one of the most stressful events in the pig’s life. They face social and physiological changes while they are neither physiologically nor immunologically mature.  

All these factors contribute to intestinal and immune system dysfunctions that may have both short and long-term effects on reduced pig health, feed intake, and growth. 

Picture with pink Piglets looking at the camera

Understanding the complexity of weaning

Weaning in pigs introduces several stressors: social stress from mixing litters, environmental stress from changes in surroundings, and feed transition, from liquid to solid and milk protein to plant-based protein.

These stressors primarily cause depressed feed intake, leading to reduced nutrient absorption and limit gut development. The immaturity of the intestines, along with dietary changes, results in insufficient enzyme secretion and altered enzyme activity, reducing digestive capacity of the animal and energy absorption. Besides, the combined stresses disrupt intestinal barrier integrity, increasing the risk of diarrhea. Finally, oxidative stress from these challenges triggers inflammation, which, if uncontrolled, can compromise immune responses.

Managing these stresses is crucial for improving piglet performance and future development. 

Picture with Pink pigs eating in a stable

Key figures

10-20%

Around 10-20% of piglets face growth issues due to the stress of weaning.

2-5 days

Piglets take 2-5 days to adapt and consume solid feed after weaning begins.

50-70%

After weaning, piglets lose 50-70% of passive immunity from the sow’s milk.

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Related solutions

Product names and availability may vary by region, please contact your local Adisseo representative for more information.

Selisseo®
Selisseo® contains 100% hydroxy-selenomethionine (OH-SeMet), a pure and highly available form of organic selenium that helps animals fight oxidative stress.
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PoultrySwineRuminantsAquaculture
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Rhodimet® AT88
Rhodimet® AT88 is a hydroxy-methionine in liquid form, with a concentration of 88%. This source of methionine has various benefits for every decision maker in the feed mill.
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PoultrySwineAquaculture
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Rhodimet® NP99
Rhodimet® NP99 is a white, free-flowing methionine source in powder containing at least 99% DL-methionine.
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Delistart
Unique combination of flavorings, appetizing substances and sweeteners formulated specifically for inclusion in young animal feed.
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SwineRuminants
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Optisweet
Optisweet is a synergistic combination of high-intensity sweetener components to stimulate early feed intake.
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Helpful resources

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Picture with a piglet and text "Reveal their full potential"
New challenges call for a fresh weaning strategy for piglets
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Technical article
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Adopt a multifactorial approach on piglets weaning stress
Adopt a multifactorial approach on piglets weaning stress
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Technical article
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Get your piglets to eat like a pig from day one
Get your piglets to eat like a pig from day one
Tag Separator
Technical article
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Support and protection to the naïve immune system of young piglets
Support and protection to the naïve immune system of young piglets
Tag Separator
Technical article

Why choose our solutions?

Adisseo’s swine solutions offer a comprehensive and science-backed approach to managing stress in piglets, particularly around the critical weaning period.
Our strategies are designed to mitigate the negative impacts of weaning stress on animal health and both short- and long-term performance.
 

  • By promoting early feed intake with palatability enhancers like Delistart® and Optisweet®, we help stimulate appetite and reduce the risk of depressed feed consumption.
  • Our Rovabio® enzyme range, including Rovabio® Excel® and Advance®, supports nutrient digestibility leading to a better energy absorption.
  • To further protect health, FRA products such as FRA C12, FRA Gut Balance®, and FRA Gut Protect® help maintain intestinal barrier integrity. In addition, oxidative stress triggered by these challenges can lead to inflammation and weaken immune responses—Selisseo® provides targeted selenium-based support to enhance oxidative stress resistance and immunity.

Adisseo combines innovative nutritional tools with expert support to help producers optimize piglet health and performance in a sustainable, cost-effective way. 

Contact us today to explore how our solutions can meet your specific needs. 

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