October 2000

Meeting the challenges of early weaned pigs is the focus of this 31st edition of the Blueprint series from National Hog Farmer.

To cover this timely topic, we assembled some of the top experts in the pork industry.

The opening article provides the reader with an overview of this subject, detailing the birth of early weaning programs, where they succeed and where they fail to meet expectations and why.

The second article looks at 10 challenges that comprise developing a successful feeding program for early weaned pigs.

In the third article, a pair of Minnesota swine practitioners tackles the health concerns, debunks some myths about “high-health” herds and details the problems of juggling weaning age and adequate levels of immunity.

The evolution of nursery pig housing and equipment and the trend to wean-to-finish systems are reviewed in the fourth article.

Finally, a North Carolina animal scientist analyzes the early weaned sow, including physiology and reproductive management, lactation length and intervention strategies.

Blueprint Features: Early Weaned Pigs

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