Commercial pig weaning typically occurs at 21-28 days — far earlier than natural weaning at 12-17 weeks. Understanding the welfare case for later weaning guides both policy and practice.
Weaning age is a welfare parameter with direct, measurable effects on piglet health and behaviour. Piglets weaned before 28 days have incompletely developed immune and digestive systems; the stress of premature weaning compounds this vulnerability. Post-weaning diarrhoea — a major welfare problem causing pain, dehydration, and death — is substantially reduced in later-weaned piglets. The commercial pressure toward earlier weaning reflects its benefit to sow reproductive efficiency — but the welfare cost of the resulting post-weaning disease is substantial. The EU's 28-day minimum is a welfare improvement over earlier practices, but the evidence supports further extension. Consumer and certification pressure for later weaning standards creates the market incentive producers need to implement welfare-positive management.