It is vital for pork producers to see their piglets thrive straight after weaning. Weaner pigs doing well immediately leads to less diarrhoea, a continuation of good health later in life and eventually more uniformity at the slaughter line. A multi-enzyme complex can help piglets find the balance in those essential weeks after weaning.
Modern ways of pig rearing have significantly impacted weaning. After all, half a century ago, piglets were weaned between 8 and 12 weeks of age, whilst they gradually increased their solid feed intake. Today, however, weaning is carried out at much earlier ages (at three to four weeks old), which can be managed using pre-starter as well as starter feeds.
Another significant change is the increased sow prolificacy. A higher number of piglets born per litter has led to a large within-litter variation, something that becomes especially apparent at the end of each nursery period (at about 25-30 kg of body weight).
Managing those larger litters requires more intensive care and resources. Producers need to ensure that all piglets receive adequate nutrition and care, which can be a challenge. It is critical to implement scientifically studied strategies to better address the specific dietary requirements of the nursery piglets.
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