Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
keep the mouth open. You will need a good visual on these teeth as they are clipped. Be sure
to avoid nicking the gums because the pigs will have a hard time eating with a sore mouth.
Weaning
Weaning pigs on a small farm can be done successfully by 8 weeks of age. You will start noti-
cing the pigs beginning to munch on some of the sow's food by roughly 6 weeks of age. Once
they begin to develop a taste for solid food, you can begin setting aside an area for weaning.
To reduce stress on both pigs and the sow, pick an area where neither will be able to see, hear,
or smell one another.
The initial weaning holding area should be relatively small. Something in the neighborhood of
4 feet by 6 feet is adequate space for an average size litter of ten pigs. A smaller area will be
more comfortable for the pigs when first being pulled away from the sow. They will pile to-
gether seeking comfort. Ensure the holding area is secure. The pigs will spend much of their
free time looking for a way to get out and find the sow. Remember that fencing materials have
to be designed to contain animals as small as shoats. Standard pig containment materials will
have gaps wide enough for them to crawl through.
Use shallow containers of food and water when first introducing them to their new diet. They
will need to be filled frequently, but pigs will not have any problems accessing the food. Add
flavored gelatin to the water to encourage them to drink regularly.
Monitor the shoats closely to see that they are all eating and drinking enough. Expect a slight
drop, or at least a stabilization of their weight, during the transition to the new diet. Tie any
feeders open until they learn where the food is located and how the feeder operates.
Health and safety issues
Weaning healthy pigs safely should be the priority of every pig farmer. Monitoring weight,
observing behavior changes, and noticing food or water intake changes may be the only clues
you have of existing problems. Keeping food and water available will not be enough to trans-
ition pigs to a new way of eating. There are numerous ways to add flavoring to both food and
water. Try anything that will safely work. Be persistent because malnutrition, even over short
periods, affects the overall health of the pig.
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