Almost every pig farm knows that suckling piglets should be introduced to creep feed. But there is a huge gap between knowing and doing.
Pajor et al. (1991) found that from day 10 to 28 of the lactation period, each piglet consumed an average of 468g of creep feed, with a range of 13–1385g—a difference of more than 100 times. Measurements by Bruininx et al. (2002) also showed that each litter consumed between 0.44 and 0.78kg of creep feed from day 11 to 28 of the lactation period, equivalent to an average of just 377g per piglet. This means that, at many pig farms, piglets’ cumulative creep feed intake at weaning falls far short of the ideal level.
The key indicators of successful creep feeding are clear: before weaning, each piglet should consume a cumulative total of ≥600g, and have a daily intake of ≥50g for at least 3 days. At top pig farms with high management standards, a total intake of 400g by weaning at 21 days of age is a reasonable safety threshold. This allows the piglets’ intestinal surface to develop fully before they are completely switched to solid feed, enabling a smooth transition through weaning. The industry generally considers an intake of 600g at weaning at 25 days of age to be ideal, and it can greatly reduce the post-weaning diarrhea rate.
The reality is that at many contract pig farms, piglets’ cumulative creep feed intake by weaning is far below 400g. Some piglets have only “tasted” a few mouthfuls during the entire suckling period. This is the fundamental reason why your pigs’ feed intake fails to increase and their growth stalls after weaning.
The Cost of Insufficient Creep Feeding
Differences in creep feed intake are sharply amplified after weaning.
Feed intake and average daily gain: A comparative trial showed that after weaning, piglets fed high-quality creep feed had a feed intake of 359g/day and an average daily gain of 331g/day, while piglets fed standard piglet pellets had a feed intake of only 297g/day and an average daily gain of 210g/day. After weaning, the trial group’s piglets had 31% higher feed intake and 17% higher average daily gain than the control group. Their feed conversion ratios were 1.08:1 and 1.41:1, respectively; all differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).
Time to market: Piglets that consume >500g/day during lactation have a lower post-weaning feed-to-gain ratio by 0.2, and reach market 7 days earlier. A trial in the UK also confirmed that, at the same weaning age of 21 days and with target body weight met, piglets introduced to creep feed earlier had an average body weight 1kg higher than those introduced later at 46kg, and reached a market weight of 93kg 6 days sooner.
Amplifying effect of weaning weight: For every 0.5kg increase in weaning weight, the time to market after the finishing period can be shortened by 3—5 days, and the overall feed-to-gain ratio can be reduced by 0.05—0.10. Consuming 600g of creep feed can result in approximately 600g of weight gain—equivalent to directly contributing a substantial portion of weaning weight.
Put these figures together: piglets with insufficient creep feed intake consume over 30% less feed after weaning, have over 35% lower average daily gain, and have a feed-to-gain ratio more than 0.3 higher, extending time to market by 7—15 days. For contract-rearing farms, this means a lower barn turnover rate, reduced contract-rearing fee income, and higher cost per unit of weight gain—three losses compounded.
Why are the consequences of insufficient creep feed intake so severe?
The core value of creep feeding is not “gaining a few extra ounces,” but stimulating intestinal development and building the ability to adapt to solid feed.
From 13 days after piglets are born, sow’s milk is already insufficient to meet their growth and development needs. If creep feeding is inadequate, the piglets’ digestive systems remain in a state of “digesting only liquid food”—amylase and protease activity is low, and the morphology of the intestinal villi is adapted to sow’s milk rather than solid feed.
When weaning suddenly arrives, piglets are forced to switch from sow’s milk to solid feed. An intestine that has not undergone creep-feeding training will rapidly develop villus atrophy and crypt hyperplasia in response to the physical stimulation and chemical composition of solid feed. By contrast, piglets that have consumed sufficient creep feed before weaning have already completed part of the “pre-adaptation” process: the crypts generate new intestinal villus tissue, digestive enzyme activity increases in advance, and the transition in intestinal barrier function is smoother.
The recovery of intestinal permeability lags behind morphological rebuilding. Even when the villi appear to have recovered, full restoration of intestinal barrier function may take longer. The significance of creep-feed intake is to shorten this “lag window” as much as possible before weaning.
Three-Stage Remediation Plan for Insufficient Creep Feed Intake
If piglets do not meet the creep feed intake target at weaning, does that mean there is no hope for them? No. The key to remediation is to help piglets “make up for” the gut adaptation process they did not complete before weaning by using a slower transition pace than for normal piglets, stronger feed-attracting measures, and more careful feeding management during the first two weeks after weaning.
Stage One: Days 1—3 After Weaning
These are the most dangerous 72 hours for piglets with insufficient creep feed intake. About 30% of normal piglets do not eat within 24 hours after weaning, and 5% do not eat within 48 hours. For piglets with insufficient creep feed intake, this proportion rises substantially.
Key points: Maintain lighting for 24 hours throughout the day to increase piglets’ desire to eat and ability to adapt to their environment. Use the moist-mixing method: mix creep feed with warm water at 40℃ in a ratio of 1:1 to form a paste, so that it “forms a ball when squeezed in the hand and crumbles as soon as the hand is released.” Feed once every 3 hours, using only a small amount each time. Key practice: Spray a small amount of milk replacer or collected sow’s milk onto the creep feed, using the familiar smell to attract piglets to the feeder. Put a “lead pig” that has learned to eat feed together with weaker piglets that have not learned to eat, using observational learning to encourage the group to develop feeding behavior.
Goal for this stage: Ensure that each piglet develops a positive association with the feeder and feed at least once within 72 hours.
Stage two: Day 4–7 after weaning
If the first stage goes smoothly and the piglets begin eating feed on their own, they enter the catch-up period.
Key operational points: Gradually transition the water-to-feed ratio from 1:1 to 1:2, then to 1:3; lower the temperature by 0.5℃ each day, gradually reducing the temperature in the pen from 28—30℃ to 26—28℃. Continue to “feed small amounts frequently,” 4—6 times per day, adding only enough each time for 1—2 hours of consumption. Gradually increase the target daily feed intake from approximately 50g on day 4 after weaning to 150—200g on day 7. For piglets that continue to refuse feed for more than 36 hours, use a 1:3 ratio of milk replacer to starter feed as a transition.
The key indicator at this stage: whether daily feed intake is increasing day by day. If it has not reached 100g by day 7, check: Is the drinker positioned appropriately? Is the trough clean? Is there subclinical diarrhea in the herd?
Stage three: Days 8—14 after weaning
The goal at this stage is to get piglets’ daily feed intake on track. A cumulative intake of 500–600 grams of creep feed within 10–14 days after weaning means the immune system is well supported and growth potential in the later stages is significantly enhanced.
Key points: Continue feeding creep feed until 14 days after weaning, and only then begin transitioning to nursery feed. The transition period is 7—10 days, and can be extended to 12 days for piglets with a lower weaning weight. Creep feed costs account for only about 3% of the total feed cost over the entire period. An additional 1—2kg of creep feed can shorten the age at which finishing pigs go to market by 3—5 days, resulting in a very significant return.
Five Key Steps for Successful Creep Feeding
Remediation is ultimately reactive. The real way to save money is to ensure the next batch of piglets meets the target at weaning.
First, begin creep feed training at 5—7 days of age. Choose pelleted creep feed with a high dairy product content (whey powder + milk protein ≥20%). Keep the pellet size within 2.5—3.0mm.
Second, replace it 4 times a day, using 20 g per tray each time. Use shallow trays or troughs that can be secured to the farrowing crate to keep the feed fresh. Place disinfected colored pebbles or plastic balls in the trough. This takes advantage of piglets’ rooting and exploratory behavior; experiments have shown that feeding frequency can increase by 40%.
Third, the “Happy Memory Creep Feeding Method.” When the sow is nursing, sprinkle a small amount of creep feed on her udder to build a positive memory of the creep feed’s taste through the piglets’ positive emotions while nursing.
Fourth, the “mash transition” 3 days before weaning. Mix creep feed with warm water at a ratio of 1:2 to make a mash, and apply it to the piglets’ snouts or corners of their mouths 2 times daily to promote taste memory.
Fifth, clear away leftover feed every day and provide wet and dry feed separately. If creep feed remains at the bottom of the trough for a long time, it can become moldy and suppress feed intake.
Conclusion
The essence of creep feed supplementation is to give piglets’ intestines a “rehearsal” for switching from liquid to solid feed before weaning. 600g is not an arbitrary figure, but the minimum feed intake needed for the intestines to adapt. Piglets that successfully learn to eat creep feed have a post-weaning feed intake that is 31% higher, average daily gain that is 17% higher, a feed-to-meat ratio that is 0.3 lower, and reach market 7—15 days earlier. For piglets that fail to learn to eat creep feed, even the best nursery feed and the most meticulous management can only partially make up for the developmental window already missed.