Litter management from birth through weaning significantly affects piglet welfare, with critical welfare events during this period including processing and weaning stress.
The first weeks of a piglet's life involve multiple potentially painful procedures that are often performed without pain relief. Iron injection, teeth clipping, tail docking and castration all cause acute pain and should be minimised or performed with appropriate analgesia. Early weaning at 3-4 weeks removes piglets from maternal care weeks before natural weaning would occur, causing stress responses including redirected oral behaviour and stereotypic activities. Systems that extend weaning age and reduce procedural interventions achieve measurably better welfare outcomes.