Successful weaning of piglets without antimicrobial use – Methods to prevent post weaning diarrhoea

In nature, sows would wean their piglets at the age of 13 – 17 weeks. However, in organic pig production in Switzerland, they are weaned at the earliest age of 6 weeks. In conventional farming systems piglets are weaned even earlier, at the ages of 3 – 4 weeks. This causes a significant disruption in the life of the piglet leading, among other things, to diarrhoea. Recent analysis of antibiotics usage in organic pig farming in Switzerland showed that the weaning period is the most critical moment concerning antimicrobial use (AMU) for pigs. Around 6 % of all weaned piglets were treated with antibiotics during this period. The AMU is farm specific, leaving room for improvement.

Piglets, AMU, Animal health, Animal Handling