Nursery, weaning and cages for weaned piglets

• When piglets are 21 days age, the sow milk supply begins to decline and unable to provide enough milk to piglets, especially for sows with 8-9 piglets.

• Therefore, we can train piglets to feed at 7-10 days age by feeding them high-protein feed, 22%, by grinding into small pieces and breaking to smaller pieces several times.

• It is best to wean piglets at 28 days age and when they weigh approximately 8 kg.

• Weaned piglets should kept in old cage for a week before separated to new cages because, first, will not be cared for by sow. Second, if separate them into new cages at the same time, the piglets will be more stressed.

Figure: Cage for weaned piglets

• Before weaning the piglets, consider the following risks: health, hygiene, feed, and cage.

• Everything in the weaning cage must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before a new group of weaned piglets are brought into the cage.

• We need to provide a warm place for all the little piglets, using plastic or nylon netting to cover the cage tightly, especially in cold weather.

• Not all small piglets are resistant to climate change.

• A spacious, warm, easily accessible space, good quality feed and water should be available at all times when the piglets need it.

• Farmers must carefully observe and immediately treat any piglets that have problems.