3/16/98

Contacts:
Mark Honeyman, Animal Science, (515) 294-4621
Arlie Penner, Animal Science, (515) 294-5926
Wayne Roush, ISU Research Farms, (712) 294-885-2802
Ed Adcock, Agriculture Information, (515) 294-2314

SEGREGATED EARLY WEANING COMPATIBLE WITH OUTDOOR-FARROWING

DES MOINES -- Segregated early weaning works well with pigs farrowed outside, according to research at Iowa State University.

"Early weaning of outdoor-farrowed pigs improves pig uniformity, decreases mortality and may improve performance," said Mark Honeyman, ISU animal scientist. The research findings are to be presented at the annual meeting of the Midwestern sections of the American Society of Animal Science and American Dairy Science Association, scheduled for March 16-18 at the Des Moines Convention Center.

Segregated early weaning (SEW), a relatively new practice of weaning pigs at about two weeks of age into a "hot nursery" has been popular with confinement pork production systems, but its advantages of healthier, more uniform pigs had not been documented with pigs farrowed outside.

"The technique of early weaning pasture-farrowed pigs has the potential of extending the farrowing season while reducing piglet mortality and minimizing the negative effects of weather extremes," Honeyman said.

The study at the Western Research and Demonstration Farm started when pigs were two weeks old and continued for seven weeks. The study took place from September through November in 1995 and 1996.

The SEW pigs were weaned at two weeks, medicated and moved to an off-site nursery. The conventionally weaned pigs remained on pasture with the sows until they were weaned at five weeks to an open-front shed on the farm.

The first year the SEW pigs weighed more at nine weeks of age: 54 versus 50 pounds. The second year year the conventionally weaned pigs were heavier: 61 versus 59. Honeyman said weather probably accounted for the reversal.

Mortality was less for the SEW pigs for both years. No SEW pigs died the first year compared with 2.9 percent for the conventionally weaned pigs. The second year, the mortality rate was 1.3 percent for the SEW pigs and 2.7 percent for the conventionally weaned pigs.

"Segregated early weaning is compatible with pasture farrowing," Honeyman added. "However, pasture farrowing may not be as compatible with the mechanics of SEW. For example, because pasture farrowing is seasonal, the SEW nursery may not be kept full at all times."

The new practice of putting newly weaned 2-week-old, 10-pound pigs directly into finishing units would partially alleviate the problem, Honeyman said. This wean-to-finish system would match the outdoor farrowing schedule better, lowering fixed costs by bypassing the SEW nurseries.

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