A practical guide to managing pigs through the phases

Dr Dorothea Mostert, veterinarian at CSVet, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about practical strategies for managing pigs from weaning to finisher phases, highlighting nutrition, environment, and welfare as key drivers of efficiency and profitability.

- Octavia Avesca Spandiel

Managing pigs from weaning through to market weight is a meticulous process that combines science, management, and attention to detail.

Each production stage carries unique challenges, from nutrition and housing to herd health and environmental management. Optimising these aspects is critical, not only for achieving desirable growth rates and carcass quality, but also for ensuring economic viability and animal welfare.

Dr Dorothea Mostert, a veterinarian at CSVet, provides extensive practical guidance for farmers navigating the complex journey from weaning to finishing, offering insights into how to measure, monitor, and manage pigs for optimal results.

DIVIDING PRODUCTION PHASES: WEANER AND GROWER-FINISHER

“By convention, we divide the growing pig's life into two main sections. From weaning until transfer, pigs are classified as weaners. After transfer, they move into the grower and finisher phase, where they remain until market weight," says Mostert.

This division is crucial, because pigs’ nutritional needs, growth potential, and housing requirements differ markedly between these phases. Understanding these differences allows farmers to set realistic targets and intervene proactively when performance deviates from expectations.

Weaner phase

Weaning represents a significant transition for piglets, moving from a milk-based diet to solid feed. Their digestive systems are still developing, and their environmental requirements are very specific.

Target weights: piglets weaned at 21 days should ideally weigh between 6,8kg and 7kg, while those weaned at 28 days should approach 8kg. Mostert recommends weighing entire litters rather than individuals to monitor overall litter quality;

Average daily gain (ADG): weaners typically achieve an ADG of around 450g/day, though this can vary depending on breed, nutrition, and housing;