Nutrition programs for segregated early-weaned pigs .1.

Overcoming management challenges and following nutrition principles are important for implementation of successful nutrition programs when using segregated early-weaning disease-control programs. Management challenges include feeding behavior education, providing a property designed feeder, and furnishing the proper environment. Concentration of management resources in the first few days after weaning is especially critical for the implementation of segregated early-weaning nutrition programs. The use of a four-phase feeding program and feed budgets allows for the transition from more expensive to less expensive diets while keeping growth performance and nursery feed costs competitive. Also, dietary amino acid concentrations that support maximum growth for segregated early-weaned pigs are higher than those previously suggested. This article is the first in a two-part series that reviews management procedures and nutrition principles used by the authors to implement successful segregated early-weaning programs.