WHAT A PIGLET NEEDS TO SURVIVE

Orphan piglets are time-consuming to rear by hand, but it's so rewarding. Often a poorly piglet can't get the feed it needs because its mother has a poor milk supply or too many piglets.

The demands of newborn piglets are simple.

Goat milk is the closest compositionally to sow milk, so it's easiest for a piglet to digest. However, a commercial calf milk replacer will do the job (once a piglet has had 2-3 days of colostrum). Piglets drink from their mother every hour or so, so frequent feeding is necessary to prevent blood sugar levels from dropping too low.

Many piglets die from the cold. Unlike other mammals, piglets aren't born with brown fat reserves and can't regulate their body temperature. The highest risk is in the first three weeks of life, but they can become hypothermic at any age. Sows emit intense body heat when nursing, and piglets huddle together for warmth. An orphan needs an environmental temperature of at least 34°C. You can use a warmed wheat bag or hot water bottle (covered with a towel for protection from burns). However, I recommend a heating pad for longerterm temperature regulation.

WHEN DO SOWS WEAN PIGLETS?

A sow naturally weans her piglets when they're 14-16 weeks of age.

Until this time, they live as a close family unit. Eventually, their mother starts to feed them while she stands instead of lying down. Then she shortens the time they can feed before weaning them completely.

The meat industry weans piglets at four weeks. Gentler weaning methods aim to wean piglets at around eight weeks old.

HOW SMART ARE PIGS?

Pigs outrank dogs in IQ, especially in problem-solving. They're also considered to be more trainable than a cat or a dog.

Research suggests pigs have excellent long-term memories, are skilled at mazes, can remember the location of objects over time, learn from each other, and understand empathy.