The effect of different weaning strategies on piglet growth performance, onset of feed intake and gut health

Abstract In the present study, we evaluated the effects of weaning strategy on piglet growth performance and intestinal health. A total of 254 crossbred piglets were used. The experimental period lasted 45 days. The piglets were assigned to the fallowing treatments: early strategic weaning (ESW, n = 85), piglets weaned at 16 days of age and transferred to the pre-nursery unit; strategic segregated weaning (SSW, n = 85), piglets weaned at 21 days of age and kept in the farrowing crate until 24 days of age; and conventional weaning (CW, n = 84), piglet weaned at 24 days of age and transferred directly to the nursery unity; this experimental group was used as a control. Piglets from all treatments were transferred to the nursery unit at 24 days of age. For the nursery phase three periods of evaluation was considered: nursery phase I (0–7 d), nursery phase II (7–14 d), and nursery phase III (14–21 days). Piglets from the ESW and CW had greater (P P P < 0.001) in the incidence of diarrhea was observed for ESW piglets. Overall, there was no effect of weaning strategy on intestinal permeability. In conclusion, the results of our study showed that the weaning strategy, Segregated Strategic Weaning, can be used to mitigate the deleterious effects of early weaning.