Weaning piglets from sows

Weaning piglets from a sow can be called without exaggeration one of the most important stages in the activity of a pig breeder. Not only the well-being of the offspring, but also the efficiency of further reproduction of an adult depends on how competently this procedure is carried out. Therefore, it is important to study the details of this difficult process in advance.

At what age are piglets beaten off from a sow

Among experienced pig breeders, discussions often arise at what age it is more expedient to wean piglets from a sow. There are two main withdrawal methods:

1. Early.
2. Late.

The choice of the optimal method of weaning piglets from the mother depends on the goals pursued by the pig breeder, since each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Weaning of piglets carried out before 2 months of age is called early. It is most actively used on large farms with large livestock. The advantages of the method include the following aspects:

• sows require less time to recover from fattening piglets, as they are not exhausted as much as with late weaning;
• from one sow it is possible to get more than 2 farrows per year;
• after a short time, the pig can again happen to the boar;
• the digestive system of piglets develops faster due to the early introduction of solid foods;
• a weaned sow consumes less feed due to the fact that she does not need to nurse piglets for a long time, and this, in turn, saves money.

Late weaning is carried out after the piglets have reached the age of 2,5 months. This method is rarely used in farms where pigs are raised on an industrial scale, since it is less profitable from an economic point of view. However, it also has certain advantages:

• with late weaning, a stronger offspring is obtained, in which there are fewer weakened individuals;
• piglets are much less likely to get sick and have a stronger digestive system.

The disadvantages of this weaning method include:

• if the piglets are not weaned before 2 months, the mother’s weight decreases many times faster, which is why she does not go into hunting longer;
• the nursing sow needs to eat more, which entails additional costs;
• young animals that are weaned in the later stages of growth have a harder time switching to solid food and are more likely to be picky;
• piglets are having a hard time parting with their mother, which negatively affects their health.

For these reasons, most pig producers prefer to wean off the sow before the piglets are 50 to 60 days old. However, in some cases, farmers practice even earlier weaning.

At what age do piglets are weaned early?

With the right approach, it is possible to wean the young from the sow even before the piglets are 1 month old. In this case, we talk about early weaning. It has all the advantages of early weaning, while further reducing the cost of sow maintenance and increasing the number of farrowings per year. However, this method is rarely practiced in the CIS due to the fact that weaners under the age of 26 days need a special diet of milk and specialized concentrates, which are very expensive and difficult to obtain.

There is no single answer to the question of when it is better to wean piglets from their mother: each pig breeder must decide when to hold this event for himself. However, no matter how long the weaning is carried out, it is necessary to approach such a procedure with all care.

How to wean a piglet from a sow

Competent weaning of piglets from the sow is the key to further health of both the offspring and the mother. This process requires caution, since any wrong action can traumatize the psyche of animals and cause them health problems. Careful preparation will help mitigate the effects of weaning.

Preparing for weaning

For piglets, separation from their mother is always a big stress, so it is necessary to prepare them for this gradually. Conventionally, preparation can be divided into 2 stages:

• the introduction of solid complementary foods;
• reducing the amount of time spent with the mother.

So, at the stage of introducing complementary foods, you should adhere to the following rules:

1. Starting from the 3rd day of life, the offspring must be drunk daily with boiled water, so that the microflora necessary for the processing of more solid food is formed in the piglets’ organisms.
2. On the 5th day, boiled cow’s milk should be introduced into the diet of young animals.
3. The menu of 7-day-old piglets can already be diversified with a thick mixture made from oatmeal in water or milk.
4. On the 10th day, it is worth giving the young stock finely chopped high-quality hay.
5. The offspring at the age of two weeks is already able, in addition to milk, to absorb fresh grass and root crops.

During the introduction of complementary foods, it is necessary to leave the piglets the opportunity to eat mother’s milk. In this case, the offspring must be kept together with the sow.

How to properly wean

As soon as the piglets get used to the new type of food, you can proceed directly to weaning. For this:

1. A few days before the procedure, milk production is suppressed in the sow by reducing the amount of succulent food and drink. The day before weaning the offspring from the mother, the amount of feed is reduced by 50%.
2. At the same time, piglets begin to be taken away from their mother for a short period of time, increasing the time of separation every day. Ideally, the young are brought to the sow only for the nursing period.
3. The number of meals for the offspring is also gradually reduced from 6 to 1.
4. After the sow is removed from the piglets, the weaners are kept in a paddock with the preservation of the whole situation for about 7 – 10 days to reduce the effects of stress on the animals.

Care of weaned piglets

Weaned piglets need special care, even if weaned them from their mother without much difficulty. Within 2 – 3 weeks after weaning, additional attention should be paid to the well-being of the young.

Feeding

Once motherless, weaners may begin to feed more intensively than usual. This is the response to stress. In this case, pig breeders should cut the daily diet of young animals by 3% for 4-20 days. This will help prevent overeating and prevent problems with the delicate gastrointestinal tract of animals. In the next 7 – 10 days, the amount of feed should be gradually returned to the previous volumes.

Feeding of young animals after weaning is carried out 5 times a day, using only fresh finely chopped food. Feed can be left in the pen for a time not exceeding 1,5 – 2 hours, since the digestive system of weaners is not yet strong enough and food that has been stored for longer can cause intestinal infections. The diet of piglets after weaning must include:

• 20% juicy greens;
• 70% quality concentrates;
• 5% animal products (milk, eggs);
• 5% grain mixtures.

Weaners are often prone to anemia, so it is necessary to enrich their menu with nutritional supplements and vitamins containing iron.

If it was necessary to wean the piglets from the sow earlier than 1 month, it is necessary to take care of providing the young animals with a sufficient amount of cow’s milk. The daily norm for 1 piglet is 20 liters, while feeding the animal should be carried out at intervals of 2 – 3 hours. From two months old, weaners are transferred to solid food, continuing to feed them with milk 5 times a day.

Content

Piglets that have stabilized after weaning can be grouped. Weaners, more physically developed, are combined into herds of 20-25 individuals. Small and weakened animals are divided into groups of up to 15 individuals. The latter provide more intensive nutrition for weight gain.

All young animals must be thoroughly washed and treated with compounds from parasites and viruses. This will not only prevent diseases, but also eliminate odors that can irritate piglets and provoke conflicts between animals from different offspring. At the same time, weaners are vaccinated.

In the premises where piglets are kept, which were weaned from their mother by the ultra-early method, it is worth especially carefully maintaining cleanliness and monitoring temperature indicators. The air temperature in such pens should remain between 20 – 25 ° C. Older weaners should have free access to a feeder and fresh drinking water.

Keeping a pig after weaning piglets

A weaned sow also requires increased attention. Proper nutrition and care will help her recover faster after fattening and enter normal mode as soon as possible.

Feeding

The time when sows come into heat directly depends on how fat they are. For 2 months of fattening piglets, the female can lose up to 30 kg, and if the offspring was weaned later, then all 50 kg. Exhausted females have a significantly reduced interest in breeding, so it would be advisable for such sows to increase the amount of food by 15 – 20% before the start of mating. This will greatly increase the efficiency of fertility. Some breeders use the flushing method to fatten weakened sows, which consists in increasing the amount of food by 25 – 30% 1 – 2 weeks before insemination. After mating, the volume of food is reduced to the usual levels.

Content

Aside from a special diet, caring for a sow is not much different from caring for other pigs. Often it comes down to keeping the pen clean, regular hygiene procedures and a stable drinking regimen.

The sow should not be kept in the same pen with the piglets during the period of adaptation after weaning: it is better to provide her with a separate room.

It is also worth examining the female, in particular, her udder, which is necessary to prevent the development of mastitis. If there are warning signs, you should immediately seek help from a veterinarian.

When the sow is ready for the next farrowing

After the sow has been weaned, her condition should be carefully assessed. Females that have not lost much weight in the process of feeding the offspring, as a rule, come into heat 7 – 12 days after weaning, after which they can be with the boar. The mating is carried out 2 times with a break of 10 – 12 hours.

Lean sows should be fed first and given time to get into shape. Insemination is organized during the next estrus, after 20-25 days.

Conclusion

Whenever weaning piglets from a sow, it requires the pig breeder to be attentive to the well-being of the animals and to the conditions in which they are kept. If you strictly follow the nuances of the procedure, it is quite possible to wean the young from the mother with minimal difficulties and without financial losses.