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Weaning piglets from the 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 the adult individual 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 separated from the sow?
Among experienced pig breeders, discussions often arise about at what age it is more appropriate to wean piglets from the sow. There are two main weaning methods:
- Early.
- Late.
The choice of the optimal method of weaning piglets from their mother depends on the goals pursued by the pig breeder, since each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Early weaning is the weaning of piglets carried out before 2 months of age. It is most actively used on large farms with large numbers of animals. The advantages of the method include the following aspects:
- sows require less time to recover after fattening piglets, since they are not as exhausted as with late weaning;
- it is possible to get more than 2 farrows per year from one sow;
- after a short time the pig can be mated to the boar again;
- the digestive system of piglets develops faster due to the early introduction of solid foods;
- a sow from which her offspring have been weaned consumes less feed due to the fact that she does not need to feed piglets for a long time, and this, in turn, significantly saves money.
Late weaning is carried out after the piglets have reached the age of 2.5 months. This method is rarely used on 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 get sick much less often and have a stronger digestive system.
The disadvantages of this weaning method include:
- if piglets are not weaned before 2 months, the mother’s weight decreases much faster, which is why she does not go into heat longer;
- a nursing sow needs to eat more, which entails additional costs;
- young animals that are weaned at later stages of growth have a more difficult time transitioning to solid food and are more likely to be picky;
- Piglets have a hard time being separated from their mother, which negatively affects their health.
For these reasons, most pig farmers prefer to wean the litter from the sow before the piglets are 50 to 60 days old. However, in some cases, farmers practice even earlier weaning.
At what age are piglets weaned very early?
With the right approach, it is possible to separate young animals from the sow even before the piglets are 1 month old. In this case, they talk about ultra-early weaning. It has all the benefits of early weaning, while further reducing the cost of keeping the sow and allowing for an increase in the annual number of farrows. However, this method is rarely practiced in the CIS due to the fact that weanlings under the age of 26 days require a special diet of milk and specialized concentrates, which are very expensive and difficult to obtain.
There is no clear answer to the question of when it is best to wean piglets from their mother: each pig farmer must decide for himself at what time to carry out this event. However, no matter when the weaning is carried out, it is necessary to approach such a procedure with the utmost care.
How to wean piglets from a sow
Proper weaning of piglets from the sow is the key to the future health of both the offspring and the mother. This process requires caution, since any wrong action can traumatize the animals’ psyche 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 great stress, so it is necessary to prepare them for this gradually. Conditionally, preparation can be divided into 2 stages:
- introduction of solid 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:
- Starting from the 3rd day of life, the offspring must be given boiled water daily so that the microflora necessary for processing more solid food is formed in the piglets’ bodies.
- On the 5th day, it is worth introducing boiled cow's milk into the diet of young animals.
- The menu of 7-day-old piglets can already be diversified with a thick mixture prepared from oatmeal with water or milk.
- On the 10th day, it is worth giving the young animals finely chopped high-quality hay.
- At the age of two weeks, the offspring is already able, in addition to milk, to assimilate fresh grass and root vegetables.
During the introduction of complementary feeding, it is necessary to leave the piglets the opportunity to feed on their mother's milk. In this case, the offspring must be kept together with the sow.
How to wean correctly
As soon as the piglets get used to the new type of food, weaning can begin. For this:
- A few days before the procedure, the sow's milk production is suppressed 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%.
- Then the piglets begin to be taken away from their mother for a short period of time, increasing the time of separation every day. Ideally, young animals are brought to the sow only for the feeding period.
- The number of feedings for the offspring is also gradually reduced from 6 to 1.
- After the sow is removed from the piglets, the weaned piglets are kept in a pen under normal conditions for about 7 to 10 days to reduce the effects of stress on the animals.
Caring for weaned piglets
Weaned piglets require special care, even if they were weaned from their mother without any complications. Within 2 - 3 weeks after weaning, additional attention should be paid to the well-being of the young animals.
Feeding
Once without their mother, weanlings may begin to feed more intensively than usual. This is how the stress response manifests itself. In this case, pig farmers should cut the daily diet of young animals by 20% for 3–4 days. This will help eliminate overeating and prevent problems with the delicate gastrointestinal tract of animals. Over the next 7 - 10 days, the amount of feed should be gradually returned to its previous volumes.
Feeding young animals after weaning is carried out 5 times a day, using only fresh, finely chopped food. Food can be left in the pen for a time not exceeding 1.5 - 2 hours, since the digestive system of weanlings is not yet strong enough and food that has been stored 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.
Weanlings are often susceptible to anemia, so it is necessary to enrich their menu with nutritional supplements and vitamins containing iron.
If it is necessary to wean piglets from the sow before 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 pig is 20 liters, and the animal should be fed at intervals of 2 - 3 hours. From two months, weanlings are transferred to solid food, continuing to feed them milk 5 times a day.
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Piglets whose condition has stabilized after weaning can be grouped. Weanlings, who are more physically developed, are united in herds of 20–25 individuals. Small and weakened animals are divided into groups of up to 15 individuals. The latter are provided with more intensive nutrition to gain weight.
All young animals must be thoroughly washed and treated with compounds against parasites and viruses. This will not only serve as a disease prevention, but will eliminate foreign odors that can irritate piglets and provoke conflicts between animals from different litters. At the same time, weanlings are vaccinated.
In rooms where piglets that have been weaned from their mother very early are kept, it is worth especially carefully maintaining cleanliness and monitoring temperature indicators. The air temperature in such pens should remain within 20 - 25°C. Older weanlings should have free access to feed and fresh drinking water.
Pig management after weaning piglets
A sow whose litter has been weaned also requires increased attention. Proper nutrition and care will help her quickly recover from fattening and return to normal in the shortest possible time.
Feeding
The time when sows come into heat directly depends on how fat they are.In 2 months of fattening piglets, a female can lose up to 30 kg, and if the offspring are 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 mating. This will significantly increase the efficiency of fertilization. Some pig breeders use the flushing method to fatten weakened sows, which consists of increasing the amount of food by 25 - 30% 1 - 2 weeks before insemination. After mating, the amount of food is reduced to the usual levels.
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Apart from a special diet, caring for a sow is not much different from caring for other pigs. Often it comes down to maintaining cleanliness in the pen, regular hygiene procedures and a stable drinking regime.
The sow should not be kept in the same pen with the piglets during the post-weaning adaptation period; it is better to provide her with a separate room.
It is also worthwhile to examine the female, in particular her udder, which is necessary to prevent the development of mastitis. If there are any warning signs, you should immediately seek help from a veterinarian.
When is the sow ready for her next farrow?
After piglets have been weaned from the sow, her condition should be carefully assessed. Females that have not lost much weight while feeding their offspring usually come into heat 7 to 12 days after weaning, after which they can be mated to a boar. Mating is carried out 2 times with a break of 10 - 12 hours.
Thin sows should be fed first and given time to get into shape.Insemination is organized during the next estrus period, after 20 - 25 days.
Conclusion
Whenever piglets are weaned from a sow, it requires the pig farmer to pay close attention to the well-being of the animals and the conditions in which they are kept. If you strictly follow the nuances of the procedure, it is quite possible to wean the young animals from their mother with minimal difficulties and without financial losses.
