Vol. 10, Issue 4, Part A (2025)

Author(s): P Boro, D Bharali, G Das, J Brahma, D Choudhury, MC Kalita and J Thakuria

Abstract: The present study was carried out to find out the impact of split weaning on piglet behaviour and its mortality. Piglet behaviour like playing, feeding, water intake, chewing objects, tail-biting, ear-biting, belly-nosing, aggression, fighting, sleeping etc. were observed and studied using CCTV camera for 48 hours post farrowing. It was found that certain behaviour were comparatively more expressed in early split weaned piglets than the piglets weaned traditionally at 56^th day after farrowing without affecting their subsequent growth. Farrowing is a critical stage which requires farrowing house management plan. Scheduled farrowing through a well-organized production system is needed for good performance, health and comfort for the sow and their piglets. Early weaning at 28 or 35 weeks of age has advantage over late or traditional weaning at 42 or 56 days (Kalita et al., 2012) ^[2]. These split weaning practices, along with good management of the litter will result in increased litter weights at weaning and thereby improve the profitability of the enterprise through economic piglet production.