Raising pigs to meet market demands has required considerable research to manage pig health, sow fertility, genetics, nutrition, meat quality and production costs. Weaning age trials done by Pipestone Applied Research shows promising results across many factors. An older pig grew faster and was hardier, requiring less labor and overall production inputs on the finishing floors. At the same time, total born improved in the breeding barn.
Source: Swineweb, May 27, 2022. Link. Trial results were consistent:
- Weaning a pig with an elevated age significantly enhanced sow performance on subsequent litters with no increase in sow body weight loss.
- Elevating wean age significantly reduced wean to market mortality and substandard pigs.
- Although lifetime average daily gain (ADG) was not reduced when elevating wean age, it did significantly improve wean to market ADG.