Nutritionists and pig producers often consider creep feed as a growth tool before weaning. In my experience, that misses the point. The main value of creep feed is not the weight gained in the farrowing room. It is what happens in the first week after weaning. That is where creep feed earns its money, especially when pigs are weaned at 21 days.
A piglet weaned at 28 days has had one extra week for its digestive system to mature, learn pen behavior and cope with social stress. That extra week matters. A 21-day piglet is still a baby, no matter how good the genetics are. Expecting that piglet to jump from sow’s milk to a dry starter diet without a hitch is wishful thinking. Creep feed is our bridge. It teaches the piglet that feed comes from a feeder, smells a certain way, and can be eaten without the sow nearby.
