Early weaning of piglets is common in commercial pig farming, with welfare implications for both piglets and sows that differ from natural weaning patterns.
Early weaning causes significant acute welfare impacts for both sow and piglets through abrupt separation before natural weaning readiness. Sows show distress behaviors including restlessness, vocalizations, and searching behavior for piglets in the first hours after separation. Piglets separated at 3-4 weeks are immunologically immature and physiologically stressed by the simultaneous challenge of social disruption, new environment, and dietary change. Post-weaning diarrhea is common and painful. The EU minimum of 28 days reflects welfare science showing outcomes are worse with earlier separation, though this still falls far short of natural weaning age. Later weaning reduces the welfare impact of separation and improves piglet health outcomes significantly.