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Piglet Processing Schedule.

Enter a litter birth date to generate a day-by-day piglet processing schedule — iron injection, teeth clipping, tail docking, ear tagging, creep feed intro, and weaning prep. Download as PDF with checkboxes.

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Validated2026-04-08
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Load example piglet processing schedule data to see the full workflow

Litter Information

Enter the farrowing date to calculate all target processing dates.

Schedule based on standard commercial swine management practices. Follow your farm veterinarian's protocols — timing may vary with herd health status and farm SOP.

When to use

  • After every farrowing — generate a fresh schedule with exact processing dates
  • Training new farrowing barn staff on piglet processing protocols
  • Printing a PDF checklist to post at the crate for each litter
  • Auditing whether processing procedures were completed on schedule

Do not use for

  • As a substitute for farm-specific SOPs reviewed by your herd veterinarian
  • For research herds — follow IACUC-approved protocols

Batch processing reduces labor time

In large farrowing rooms, group all same-age litters and process on the same day. This is more efficient than daily individual-litter rounds. Keep accurate birth date records to enable this.

Sterilize instruments between litters

Use separate, sterilized teeth clippers and castration scalpels for each litter. Contaminated instruments spread Staphylococcus hyicus (greasy pig disease) and other pathogens. Use a disinfectant dip between pigs.

Iron injection site selection matters

Inject iron dextran in the neck muscle, not the ham. Ham injection leaves a dark tissue stain that decreases carcass value. Use a 20-gauge, 1-inch needle.

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Method

Schedule milestones are derived from National Pork Board Swine Care Handbook guidelines and standard commercial farrowing management protocols. All date computations are performed client-side in the browser. No data is stored or transmitted.

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Validated

Last validated 2026-04-08. Calculations are designed for planning and documentation support; verify procurement decisions against manufacturer specifications or institutional SOPs.

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How to cite

How to Cite

ConductScience Piglet Processing Schedule (v1.0). ConductScience, Inc. 2026. Available at: https://conductscience.com/tools/swine-piglet-processing-schedule

National Pork Board. Swine Care Handbook. NPPC, 2021.

Merck Veterinary Manual. Neonatal Pig Care and Management. Merck & Co., 2023.

Standard Piglet Processing Protocols

Piglet processing refers to the cluster of management procedures performed in the first 1-3 weeks of life that are essential for health, identification, and growth performance. When performed correctly and on schedule, these procedures reduce pre-weaning mortality and improve lifetime productivity.

Key procedures and rationale: - Iron injection (Day 1-3): Prevents iron-deficiency anemia. 200 mg iron dextran IM is standard. - Navel dipping (Day 0-1): Dipping with 7% iodine solution prevents umbilical infections. - Needle teeth clipping (Day 1-2): Reduces teat laceration in multiparous sows and face wounds in larger litters. - Tail docking (Day 2-3): Reduces tail-biting behavior, especially at high stocking densities. Leave a 1-inch stub. - Ear tagging/notching (Day 2-3): Provides individual identification for record keeping. - Castration (Day 3-7, males): Eliminates boar taint in market hogs and improves pen management.

Creep Feeding and Weaning Preparation

Creep feeding — providing supplemental solid feed to nursing piglets — is a critical tool for weaning transition success. Piglets that consume creep before weaning show dramatically better post-weaning feed intake and growth.

Creep feed goals by age: - Day 5-10: Palatability exposure. Target 10-20 g/day/pig. - Day 10-17: Gut development. Enzymes for starch and protein digestion develop with dietary stimulation. - Day 17-21: Active consumption. Piglets should eat 50-200 g/day.
Weaning criteria: - Minimum age: 21 days (regulatory minimum in most commercial systems) - Minimum weight: 14+ lbs (6.4 kg) - Behavioral readiness: independently accessing creep feed and water nipple

Piglets that do not meet weight or behavioral criteria may benefit from delayed weaning or split-weaning strategies.

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