Each suckling pig should receive ≥200 g of colostrum within the first 24 h of life, but with increased litter size this is now difficult to achieve. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of split-suckling and post-partum meloxicam provision to sows as means of ensuring adequate colostrum intake, on growth and health in pigs pre- and post-weaning. One hundred and four sows (Large White × Landrace) and their litters, averaging 16.3 piglets born alive, were assigned to one of four treatments in a two by two factorial arrangement. Factors were provision of meloxicam (yes/no; Mel/N-Mel) and split-suckling (yes/no; Split/N-Split). Meloxicam was administered intramuscularly at 0.4 mg/kg body weight to sows on release of the placenta (~2 h post-partum). Split-suckling commenced 4 h after birth of the first piglet, with the six heaviest piglets removed from the sow for 1 h to allow the lightest piglets suckle. This was repeated after 1.5 h. Pigs were weighed at birth and at day 1, 6, 14 and 27 after birth and at day 6, 14, 21, 28, 47 and 129 post-weaning. Carcass data were collected at slaughter. Medication usage was recorded from birth to slaughter. There was a split-suckling by meloxicam interaction effect at day 1-6 (P<0.001) and 6-14 (P<0.001) after birth. Meloxicam administration had no effect on average daily gain (ADG) when split-suckling was applied; however, when split-suckling was not applied, post-partum meloxicam administration increased ADG. There was a meloxicam x split-suckling interaction for ADG from weaning to day 6 post-weaning (P=0.03). Meloxicam increased ADG when split-suckling was applied but not in its absence. Carcass weight was increased by meloxicam (P=0.01) but was not affected by split-suckling (P>0.05). Meloxicam use in sows reduced the number of clinical cases of disease (P=0.04) in suckling pigs which tended to reduce the volume of antibiotics (P=0.08) and anti-inflammatories (P=0.08) administered. Split-suckling had no effect on medication usage in sows and piglets during lactation but increased their use from weaning to slaughter. In conclusion, post-partum administration of meloxicam to sows is an easily implemented strategy. It reduced clinical cases of disease, increased ADG in pigs during the first two weeks of life and early post-weaning and increased carcass weight at slaughter. However, no split-suckling benefit was observed.