Feeding Piglets Before & After Weaning: Best Practices

   Feeding Piglets Before and After Weaning: Best Practices for Healthy Growth

Raising healthy piglets is both an art and a science—especially during the critical transition from milking to solid feed. For smallholder farmers in Rwanda, Uganda, Nigeria, and across Africa, mastering piglet feeding before and after weaning can mean the difference between thriving livestock and costly losses. In fact, post-weaning stress is one of the leading causes of piglet mortality and poor growth performance worldwide. Check on the report of  FAO

At FarmXpert Group, we’ve worked with pig farmers from Rwanda country to over the world, especiallyin East Africa countries, and one truth remains consistent: nutrition during the weaning phase sets the foundation for lifelong productivity. This guide delivers practical, field-tested strategies—backed by global research and tailored for African farming realities—to help you raise robust, fast-growing piglets with confidence for future production.

 Why Weaning Matters: The Make-or-Break Phase in Piglet Development

Weaning is more than just stopping milk—it’s a biological and behavioral upheaval for piglets. Typically occurring between 21 to 35 days of age (though practices vary by region), weaning forces piglets to:

- Switch from highly digestible sow’s milk to complex solid feed  

- Cope with separation from the sow and littermates  

- Adapt to new environments, pathogens, and social hierarchies  

This “triple stress” often leads to reduced feed intake, gut inflammation, diarrhea, and stunted growth—a condition known as post-weaning growth check.

            Piglets nursing from sow  

Did You Know?  

According to Pluske et al., 2018, piglets that lose weight in the first 3 days post-weaning take up to 10 extra days to reach market weight.

For African farmers operating on tight margins, those 10 days translate to higher feed costs, delayed cash flow, and increased disease risk. That’s why pre-weaning nutrition and post-weaning feeding strategies are non-negotiable.

 Feeding Piglets Before Weaning: Setting the Stage for Success

 1. Colostrum: The First Line of Defense

Within the first 6–12 hours after birth, piglets must consume colostrum—the antibody-rich first milk from the sow. Unlike humans, piglets cannot receive antibodies through the placenta, so colostrum is their only source of passive immunity.

Best Practice:  

- Ensure every piglet nurses within the first hour.  

- For large litters, consider split suckling: divide piglets into two groups, allowing smaller/weaker ones first access to teats.  

- Monitor intake—piglets should gain at least 200–300g in the first 24 hours.

Learn more about newborn piglet care in our guide: Essential Steps for Piglet Survival in the First 72 Hours.

2. Creep Feeding: Training Piglets to Eat Solid Food

Creep feeding—introducing solid feed while piglets still nurse—is the single most effective way to prepare them for weaning.

Start offering high-quality creep feed from day 5–7 of life. Even if intake is minimal at first, early exposure:

- Stimulates enzyme production for digesting starch and protein  

- Develops the gut microbiome  

- Reduces weaning shock  

Ideal Creep Feed Characteristics:  

- Crude protein: 18–22%  

- Highly digestible ingredients (e.g., milk replacer, cooked cereals, fish meal)  

- Pelleted or crumbled form (easier to chew than mash)  

- Palatable (additives like lactose or sweeteners help)

            Farmer offering creep feed in shallow tray

African Context Tip:  

In Rwanda and other regions where commercial creep feed is expensive, farmers can use homemade blends with roasted soybeans, maize, and milk powder. Always ensure proper grinding and mixing to avoid choking or digestive upset.

 3. Water Access from Day One

Many farmers overlook this, but clean, fresh water must be available from birth—even before solid feed. Sow’s milk is ~80% water, but as piglets grow, their hydration needs exceed milk supply.

Provide shallow, non-spill waterers at piglet height. Clean them daily to prevent biofilm buildup.

The Weaning Transition: Minimizing Stress, Maximizing Intake

When to Wean: Balancing Biology and Economics

While early weaning (14–21 days) allows sows to rebreed faster, it increases piglet vulnerability. In resource-limited settings, weaning at 28–35 days is often more sustainable.

Consider these factors:  

- Sow’s body condition  

- Piglet weight (aim for ≥6–7 kg at weaning)  

- Farm biosecurity capacity  

- Feed availability and quality  

FAO Recommendation:  

In smallholder systems, weaning at 4–5 weeks improves survival and reduces antibiotic use FAO Livestock Policy Brief, 2022 .

 Reducing Weaning Stress: Practical Steps

- Keep piglets in familiar pens for 3–5 days post-weaning (avoid moving them immediately).  

- Group by size to prevent bullying and ensure equal access to feed.  

- Maintain ambient temperature at 28–30°C for the first week (use heat lamps or insulated housing).  

- Avoid mixing litters if possible—this reduces disease transmission and social stress.

Feeding Piglets After Weaning: The 3-Phase Strategy

Post-weaning feeding should be gradual, nutrient-dense, and highly digestible. A three-phase approach works best:

 Phase 1: Days 0–7 Post-Weaning (Starter Diet)

This is the most critical period. Feed should mimic sow’s milk as closely as possible.

Key Nutrients & Ingredients:  

- Lactose (15–20%): primary energy source; supports beneficial gut bacteria  

- Animal proteins: spray-dried plasma, fish meal, or poultry meal (highly digestible)  

- Low fiber: <3% to avoid gut irritation  

- Zinc oxide (if permitted): helps control post-weaning diarrhea (note: banned in the EU but still used in many African countries under veterinary guidance).

                                3-Phase Post-Weaning Feeding Plan

Caution:  

Avoid soybean meal in Phase 1—it contains anti-nutritional factors (e.g., trypsin inhibitors) that can trigger diarrhea in young piglets.

Feeding Method:  

- Offer feed 4–6 times daily in shallow trays  

- Use wet mash (mix feed with water) to increase palatability and intake  

- Never let feeders run empty—piglets eat small, frequent meals

 Phase 2: Days 8–21 (Grower Diet)

As the gut matures, gradually introduce more plant-based proteins.

- Reduce lactose to 5–10%  

- Introduce heat-treated soybean meal  

- Increase crude protein to 18–20%  

- Add prebiotics (e.g., mannan-oligosaccharides) to support gut health

 Phase 3: Day 22+ (Finisher Transition)

By this stage, piglets should be eating well and gaining 350–450g/day.

- Shift to standard grower/finisher rations  

- Focus on cost-effective energy sources like maize, cassava, or sorghum  

- Ensure balanced amino acids (lysine is critical)

 Sustainable Tip:  

 Explore insect-based protein (e.g., black soldier fly larvae meal)—a promising, eco-friendly alternative gaining traction in East Africa. Read our feature on alternative proteins.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced farmers fall into these traps:

1. Weaning too early without adequate creep feeding → leads to starvation and scours  

2. Switching feed abruptly → causes digestive upset  

3. Overcrowding post-weaning pens → increases stress and disease spread  

4. Ignoring water quality → contaminated water = diarrhea = death  

5. Using moldy or improperly stored feed → mycotoxins suppress immunity

Pro Tip: Store feed in airtight, rodent-proof containers off the ground. In humid climates like Rwanda’s, add natural mold inhibitors like neem leaf powder used traditionally and studied by ILRI, 2021

Monitoring Success: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Track these metrics weekly to assess your feeding program:

Indicator	Target
Average Daily Gain (ADG)	≥300g/day (first week), ≥400g/day (weeks 2–4)
Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR)	<1.4 in Phase 1, <1.8 by week 4
Mortality Rate	<5% post-weaning
Diarrhea Incidence	<10% of piglets

If performance lags, revisit feed quality, hygiene, and environmental conditions—not just medication.

 Case Study: Success in Rwanda’s Smallholder Pig Farms

In 2024, a cooperative in Nyamagabe District, Southern Rwanda, implemented a structured pre- and post-weaning feeding program with support from FarmXpert Group advisors. Key changes included:

- Starting creep feeding at day 7 using a local blend of roasted soy, maize, and milk powder  

- Weaning at 35 days (average weight: 7.2 kg)  

- Using wet mash feeding for the first 5 days post-weaning  

- Installing nipple drinkers at piglet height  

Results after 6 months:  

- Piglet mortality dropped from 18% to 4%  

- Average weaning-to-market time reduced by 12 days  

- Farmer income increased by 32% due to faster turnover and lower vet costs

Before, we lost many piglets after weaning. Now, they eat well and grow fast. Even my children help with feeding!” — Jeanne Mukamana, Pig Farmer, Nyamagabe

        Rwandan pig farmer in Nyamagabe with healthy weaned piglets

Integrating Local Resources for Cost-Effective Feeding

Imported piglet feeds can be prohibitively expensive. But African farmers can leverage local agro-resources:

- Cassava leaves (dried and processed): rich in protein  

- Sweet potato vines: excellent energy source  

- Dairy by-products: whey or skim milk from local cooperatives  

- Poultry offal meal: underutilized but high in amino acids  

Always test new ingredients gradually and consult a local animal nutritionist. For formulation help, explore FAO’s Feedipedia database  which includes African feedstuffs.

Conclusion: Healthy Piglets, Healthier Farms, Stronger Communities

Feeding piglets through weaning isn’t just about animal husbandry—it’s about food security, rural livelihoods, and sustainable development. Every piglet that survives and thrives represents income for a family, protein for a community, and resilience in Africa’s evolving food system.

By investing in smart, science-backed feeding practices before and after weaning, you’re not just raising pigs—you’re building a more prosperous agricultural future.

Your Turn!  

Have you tried creep feeding or homemade starter rations? Share your experience in the comments below!  

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