I start introducing piglet-appropriate feed when piglets are about two to three weeks old. That is my management practice, not a rule that every litter must follow. At that stage the piglets are still nursing; I am giving them an opportunity to begin learning what solid feed is before weaning.

Why Offer Solid Feed Before Weaning?

Swine nutrition guidance supports giving piglets access to a palatable starter diet before weaning, and Merck notes that a pig starter offered at about three weeks can improve growth when piglets are weaned later than three weeks. [1] Reviews of piglet nutrition also emphasize that exposure to solid feed before weaning helps prepare piglets for the transition away from sow's milk. [2]

What We Use

We use a complete feed appropriate for young pigs rather than random grain, kitchen scraps, or an unbalanced homemade ration. Piglets are growing quickly, and the solid feed should complement—not replace—the sow's milk during this learning period.

How We Introduce It

Shallow feeder with a small fresh portion of pig starter feed beside clean water in a dry straw-bedded pen
A simple setup keeps a small fresh portion of starter feed easy to investigate, with clean water close by.
  • Offer a very small fresh portion where piglets can reach it easily.
  • Keep the feeder clean and remove stale or contaminated feed.
  • Expect exploration before real consumption; some litters begin eating sooner than others.
  • Keep clean drinking water available as piglets begin consuming more solid feed.
  • Watch manure, appetite, growth, and activity rather than forcing a fixed daily amount.

What About Fermented Feed?

BF Farm has used wet or fermented feed because some piglets find the softer texture appealing. Research on fermented liquid feed in pigs shows potential benefits, especially around the transition from milk to solid feed, but results vary and the quality of the fermentation process matters. [3] We therefore treat fermentation as a separate management choice, not as a requirement for introducing feed.

If your main goal is simply to soften pellets, a fresh wet mash mixed shortly before feeding is different from trying to create a true fermented feed. Do not assume that feed is safe merely because it smells sour.

Let the Litter Set the Pace

One litter may begin eating quickly while another mostly plays with the feeder for several days. That is normal. We are looking for a gradual transition: nursing stays important, solid feed becomes familiar, and weaning is less abrupt when the time comes.

When the litter is confidently eating and the sow and piglets are ready for separation, continue with the Kunekune piglet weaning guide.

Sources & References

  1. Merck Veterinary Manual: Feeding Levels and Practices in Pigs
  2. PubMed: Using Nutritional Strategies to Shape the Gastro-Intestinal Tracts of Suckling and Weaned Piglets
  3. PubMed: Fermented Liquid Feed for Pigs

About the Author

Mark Bengtson has managed piglets from birth through weaning on BF Farm. Introducing feed at about two to three weeks is his current farm practice. The nutrition discussion in this article remains tied to the cited veterinary and research sources rather than treating one farm routine as a universal rule.