Maintaining continuity of nutrient intake after weaning. I. Review of pre-weaning strategies

Abstract

Weaning is a crucial phase of swine production marked by a multitude of biological and environmental stressors, which have a significant impact on immediate post-weaning behavior and feed intake (FI). During this time the piglet’s gastrointestinal (GI) system is also undergoing extensive epithelial, immune and nervous system development. In this review, our objective is to describe the different pre-weaning strategies that can be used to minimize nutrient intake disruption and improve FI in the immediate post-weaning period. Reducing nutrient disruption post-weaning can be accomplished through the implementation of management and nutritional strategies. Research consistently demonstrates that weaning older, more developmentally mature pigs helps prevent many of the adverse GI effects associated with weaning stress. Providing creep feed to pigs during lactation is another reliable strategy that has been shown to increase immediate post-weaning FI by acclimating pigs to solid feed prior to weaning. Likewise, socialization by allowing pigs to mix before weaning improves social skills, minimizing mixing stress and aggression related injury immediately post-weaning. Supplemental milk replacer has also been shown to elicit a positive response in pre-weaning growth performance, which may help to reduce pre-weaning mortality. While socialization and milk replacer are acknowledged to ease the weaning transition, these strategies have not been widely adopted due to labor and application challenges. Additionally, the cost of milk replacer and logistics of retrofitting farrowing houses to accommodate litter socialization have limited adaptation. Further exploration of maternal nutrition strategies, particularly fetal imprinting, is needed to better understand the implications of perinatal learning. Other areas for future research include, combining environmental enrichment with feeding strategies, such as large destructible pellets or play feeders, as well as determining at what time point producers should start socializing pigs before weaning. While more research is needed to develop strategic pre-weaning management programs, many of the strategies presented in this review provide opportunities for producers to to minimize nutrient intake disruption by preventing feed neophobia, reducing stress, and easing the wean pig transition.

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