Good feed intake in the farrowing pen pays off 

For piglets, the transition to creep feed is often a trigger for diarrhea. According to Earlyfeed specialist Eddy Van Herck, good intake of solid feed in the farrowing pen can help prevent this. 

When it comes to piglet nutrition, three challenges continue to stand out: low feed intake, diarrhea, and a weaning dip. According to Eddy Van Herck, who specializes in young animal nutrition and management, these challenges are closely connected. 

“We consider feed intake of less than 200 grams per piglet during the farrowing period to be poor,” Van Herck explains. “In my work with young piglets, I constantly see how this affects their further development. 200 to 300 grams is moderate, 300 to 400 is good, and more than 400 grams is excellent. A feed intake of 500 grams per piglet during the farrowing period is possible, but only when feed is offered correctly.” 

It is important to choose feed with the right balance between highly digestible nutrients and components that support gastrointestinal health – in other words, the right balance between fine and coarser nutrients. “That is exactly what our Earlyfeed specialists focus on: feed that supports young animals in their natural development,” says Van Herck. “If this balance is disrupted, the risk of diarrhea increases and the animals become more vulnerable.” 

In addition, reduced feed intake results in less robust piglets, poorer gut health and a higher risk of a weaning dip, since the piglets do not become sufficiently accustomed to solid feed during the farrowing period. “That’s why good creep feed, with the right nutrient balance, is so important. And make sure it’s offered in the right way. Place a feed trough near the sow’s head so the piglets can copy their mother’s eating behavior. This will help them adopt it more quickly and improve feed intake. This learning process also applies to drinking water.” 

“However, avoid putting down excessive amounts of feed. Keep it fresh, palatable, and occasionally make it more appealing by offering a small treat feed.” 

Another dietary supplement is milk. However, Van Herck believes that pig farmers should use this with caution. “Only provide supplemental milk when necessary, such as for weak or underweight piglets, as it doesn’t help their digestive system in the long run. Split suckling is often the better strategy for supporting weaker piglets.”  

According to Van Herck, focusing on feed intake from an early stage in the farrowing pen helps piglets achieve a good weaning weight more quickly. “Choose the right feed at the right time, and you set piglets up for healthy growth – right from the start. And ultimately, isn’t that what everyone is aiming for?”