Precautions for Weaning Piglets: Get These Points Right and Piglets Won't Have Diarrhea

Weaning and moving piglets to a new group is an extremely important task. If the weaning method is improper, it may cause stunted growth and development in piglets, resulting in runt pigs, and in severe cases may even lead to death. All the precautions for weaning piglets must be known!

1. Piglet management

If piglet management is done well, after weaning the piglets can be raised in their original pen and moved directly into the nursery pen. However, the nursery pen should be prepared in advance: cleaned, disinfected, and equipped with water supply equipment and nursery equipment. After the piglets enter the nursery pen, they should be checked frequently, and manure should be cleaned up promptly to keep the pen clean. Under normal circumstances, keeping the temperature inside the pen at 25°C is sufficient.

2. Moving weak piglets to a new group

Moving weak piglets to a new group is done to protect them from being harmed. It is best to separate the strong piglets from the weak piglets in the early morning or in the morning, and as far as possible not at night, as this can reduce the stress response of the piglets. When moving them to a new group, special attention must be paid to handling technique so as not to harm the piglets and cause unnecessary injury.

3. Drinking water management

After piglets are weaned and moved to a separate group, drinking water management is also extremely important. Before weaning, milk is the piglets' main source of water; after weaning, drinking water becomes the main source of water. We should place a drinker in the nursery pen, and the height of the drinker from the ground is best set at the piglets' average shoulder height plus 5 cm. This ensures a suitable water flow.

4. Feeding management

Two hours after the piglets are moved to a new group, they can be fed a small amount. We should observe the piglets' activity and feed intake, and keep records to make management easier. Within one week of moving to a new group, we should slowly increase the amount fed according to the specific situation. If piglets with poor feed intake are found, artificial milk powder can be added to enhance their appetite.

Weaning piglets is an essential step in the pig-raising process. This process is extremely important and relatively complex. To reduce the losses caused by this process, you must understand the precautions for weaning piglets.