The age at which piglets are weaned from their mothers has significant welfare implications, with the EU minimum of 28 days representing a welfare improvement over the 14-21 day weaning commonly practised in intensive systems.
Weaning is an inherently stressful event for piglets regardless of age, but the severity of welfare impact is greatly amplified by early weaning. Piglets weaned at 14-21 days are immunologically immature, have incompletely developed digestive systems unable to efficiently digest non-milk diets, and experience the social stress of separation and regrouping without the social learning that older piglets receive from their mothers. Extended suckling to at least 28 days, and ideally longer, allows piglets to develop immunological and digestive competence and reduces the severity of weaning-associated welfare impacts. Earlier weaning primarily serves production economics rather than animal welfare.