SPRING SUMMER BONUS MAGAZINE 2026

The first nutrients Colostrum provides the piglets with their first nutrients. Ensuring adequate colostrum within the first 6 hours of birth is the single most critical step, as it provides maternal antibodies and establishes gut immunity. During the pre-weaning phase, a high-quality creep feed should be introduced to the piglets from around 5 days of age. Creep feed is formulated with highly digestible, palatable ingredients such as milk proteins and cooked cereals to stimulate gut enzyme development and reduce the weaning shock that commonly triggers post-weaning scours. Creep feed intake is encouraged by feeding a mini pellet that includes raw materials to improve the taste and smell of the feed. At weaning, abrupt dietary changes should be minimised, and a high-quality weaner diet will lower the stress on the gastrointestinal tract of the piglet. A complete weaner feed, specifically developed to meet the nutrient requirements of young pigs, can ensure a smooth transition from the creep phase into the weaner-grower phase. Using highly digestible raw materials in the weaner diets will improve gut health and prevent scouring in a clean housing environment. Good weaner diets also include highly palatable and aromatic raw materials to improve feed intake. Water is an often-forgotten nutrient in a piggery because it does not contribute to a large portion of the operation costs of a farm. Poor water quality can, however, lead to poor performance. Water quality on the farm is an ever-changing factor dependent on source, season, and flow. Many pathogens can infect pigs through water, and therefore it is important to regularly test water sources and treat them accordingly to prevent the occurrence of diseases. When testing water, it is important to test the source and the drinking lines. Contamination can occur in storage tanks, with the biggest risks often arising from stagnant water. Stagnant water allows bacteria to multiply and form biofilms that may contaminate clean water. The treatment of water and flushing of drinking lines will prevent the proliferation of bacteria and prevent them from becoming a breeding ground for diseases. Feeding strategies When changing diets, a gradual change of feed can reduce the incidence of scours. This can be done by using a creep feed and a weaner feed that do not significantly differ in composition, and by gradually introducing the new feed. When changing from one diet to another, it is advised to slowly introduce the new feed by way of replacing a small percentage of the previous feed with the new feed. This percentage should be increased gradually over 5–7 days until the piglets have adjusted to the new feed, and at this point, they can be fed only the new feed. Adequate feeder space is essential in preventing scours in pigs because it ensures all animals have equal access to feed, reducing competition and stress within the group. When feeder space is limited, dominant pigs may overeat while smaller or weaker pigs consume insufficient feed, leading to inconsistent nutrient intake and digestive disturbances that can lead to scouring. Stress associated with overcrowding at feeders can also weaken the immune system, making pigs more susceptible to enteric diseases. Providing sufficient feeder space promotes uniform feed consumption, supports gut health, minimises stress, and helps maintain overall performance, thereby reducing the risk of scours. On average, each pig should have access to 10-15 cm of feeder space to ensure that all pigs get equal feed amounts. Nutritional strategies Nutritional strategies play a critical role in preventing scours in pigs by promoting a healthy and stable digestive system. Diets should be highly digestible and balanced to meet the pigs’ nutritional requirements without overwhelming the gut. Most producers focus heavily on the crude protein content of feed, without considering the amino acid Spring/Summer 2026 BONUS www.agribonus.co.za 120