Understanding post-weaning piglet feeding behaviour and nutrition to address post-weaning anorexia. Adisseo’s insight

Adisseo’s insight lab

Feeding behaviour studies offer a more dynamic approach, especially when enhanced by complementary technologies. Adisseo’s Insight Lab, in collaboration with the NEPSUI team at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, integrates precision feeding systems, automated weighing, and video analysis. The system and the types of techniques used allow for passive collection of data, with minimal human intervention, from pigs in their natural setting in a modern production system.

A recent study using this system monitored 16 post-weaning piglets (6.95 kg ± 0.086) at 24 days of age in two pens over 41 days. Results showed that piglets during the first 24 hours after weaning spend 78% of their time inactive, 17% having social interactions including fighting, and only 3% exploring the food source (see Table 1). This means they spent more than five times as much time in social interactions, including fighting, as they did eating. By the fourth day, social interactions decreased to only twice the time spent eating, and by the sixth day, this relationship was reversed, with piglets spending three times as much time eating as engaging in social interactions.

Table 1. Breakdown of the time spent by the piglets on different activities (% of day) on different moments after weaning (Adisseo Insight Lab/UFMG 2025)

Analyses of feeding behaviour kinetics over 24 hours showed that piglets exhibit a bimodal consumption pattern, with two pronounced peaks (Figure 2) that are interestingly closely following the feeding behaviour of lactating sows, highlighting that feeding could be learned behaviour for the piglets.

In Figure 3, some still images from the video captured is shown with the top part showing the pen and its equipment and the bottom part showing how guided artificial intelligence can identify and analyse pig activity. The Adisseo insight lab can be used to further our understanding of piglet behaviour, where one can test the effects of different management practices after weaning, the addition of feed additives in the diet, or the use of alternative or functional raw materials in the piglet diet to help get them to eat quickly after weaning.

Using Delistart® to enhance feed intake of post weaning piglets

As discussed earlier, early feed intake after weaning is crucial for piglet growth and long-term performance. Internal studies commissioned by Adisseo at leading universities have shown that optimizing feed intake in the nursery phase with Delistart® led to better growth rates and feed efficiency in later production stages. Delistart is designed to stimulate appetite through a unique three-component flavour system to enhance palatability and mask unpalatable feed components. The combination of specific sweet and savoury taste cues signal energy and protein presence, encouraging piglets to consume feed from day one. By improving the sensory experience and reinforcing post-ingestive feedback, Delistart® supports consistent feed intake and overall growth potential. This represents a valuable tool for producers seeking to enhance weaned piglet performance through targeted sensory imprinting and appetite stimulation.

More technical information here