22 December 2023
Getting weaned pigs drinking water earlier
Weaned pigs suffer a growth setback in the first week after weaning. Peadar Lawlor tells us that something as simple as providing supplementary water in a cube or turkey drinker can be of immense benefit during this time.
Just before weaning piglets can be growing at 400g/day. This can drop to less than 100g/day in the first week post-weaning. This happens because feed intake in newly-weaned pigs is very low and variable. In fact, it can be 24 hours or more before some pigs start eating solid starter diet at all.
Providing a nutrient-dense, highly-palatable starter diet at weaning will help in this transition period. However, it is very hard to expect pigs to eat solid feed if they are not drinking sufficient volumes of water at this time. It may surprise some to know that it can take weaned pigs more than seven days before they consume the equivalent volume of fluids that they were right before weaning.
Something as simple as providing supplementary water in a cube or turkey drinker can be of immense benefit in promoting water intake early post-weaning. Providing this supplementary water is particularly beneficial during the first 72 hour after weaning. It may help in a number of ways:
- It’s visible and accessible, so the pigs will drink;
- When pigs drink, they will explore solid food;
- Pigs will not become dehydrated, which would depress their feed intake further;
- It will give pigs a chance to explore their new pen and become familiar with the watering system.
These factors can contribute to reducing post-weaning mortality, increasing feed intake and thus increasing post-weaning growth rate. Twenty years ago the practice of providing supplementary water to pigs for a few days after weaning was commonplace on Irish pig units. Units should consider re-introducing the practice.
Below are some other pointers to increase early post-weaning water intake:
- Use the same drinker type in the weaner accommodation as in the farrowing rooms, so that pigs are familiar with where to get water. Ideally, these drinkers should be bowls;
- Ensure that water flow rates, drinker height, angle and position are not restricting water intake of your pigs;
- Ensure that the water supplied is of good microbial and mineral quality.
Speaking recently to some Danish farmers, they provide electrolytes in a supplementary drinker for the first 2-3 days after weaning. This drinker is gradually moved closer to the feeder to encourage increased feed intake. They were convinced that this strategy results in earlier feed exploration and higher post-weaning feed intakes. It may be a practice worthwhile trying here.
Weaning is the most challenging event that a pig will experience in its lifetime resulting in a major growth check. The only way to counter this is to encourage earlier exploration of feed and increased post-weaning feed intake. However, to achieve this your pigs must drink. Remember ‘if they don’t drink, they won’t eat’