How to lay the foundation for successful weaning
The successful rearing of many high-quality piglets is highly related to the transition from a milk-based diet to a solid feed diet. Starting this transition in the farrowing unit will reduce the risk of post weaning growth lag as well as post-weaning diarrhoea while continuing to maximise daily gain and growth rates.
Increase success rate in the weaning section
Regardless of production type, weaning is a stressful event for pigs. Successfully managing the change from a liquid based diet to feeding solid food can significantly help to reduce this stress. Many pigs will undergo a post weaning growth lag (PWGL) in the 3-7 days after weaning. The use of creep feeding to start the change from milk to solid feed initiates a transformation in the digestive system of the pigs in order for them produce enzymes that digest the nutrients in solid feed (DPRC, 2010). Furthermore, creep feeding has been shown to increase weaning weight, average daily gain post weaning as well as reduce PWGL (Eastwood, 2018).
Offering creep feed to piglets from of 7-10 days will train the piglets to not only eat solid food but will also help stimulate their digestive enzymes. Feed intake will vary between the piglets but slowly increasing the feed allowance reaching ad lib feeding around the age of 3 weeks is the currently recommended strategy (DPRC, 2018).
To ensure hygiene and to keep the piglets interested in the feed, always feed small amounts many times a day and ensure the troughs are clean and dry before feeding.
It is also good practice to have the pigs consume all the creep feed before the next feeding to assure hygiene and reduce the risk of diarrhoea (DPRC , 2018). To increase piglet feed intake, increase the number of feedings instead of increasing feed amount per feeding. Start by feeding twice a day and build up to feeding the piglets 4 to 5 times a day (DPRC, 2010).
Due to rapid growth rate, new born piglets require a higher amount of iron than the deposit they are born with or the amount which can be supplied from sow milk. Ideally piglets should receive a minimum of 200 mg iron within the first week to support daily gain as well as their immune system (DPRC, 2017).