Feeding baby pigs requires special attention to ensure they receive the necessary nutrients for growth and development. Here are some tips on what to feed baby pigs:

• Newborn piglets: Newborn piglets need colostrum, which is the mothers milk, to transfer vital antibodies and essential immunoglobulins to their systems right after they are born. While feeding on colostrum is not necessarily critical, access to it right after birth will have a very positive impact on their survival rates and long-term good health and development. A young piglet needs a diet of warm milk fed in increments of every 30-60 minutes during the day and every 4-6 hours at night.

• Weaning piglets: When weaned, piglets should be fed a relatively diverse, balanced diet that includes corn meal or soybean meal, fruits, vegetables, and food scraps. Allowing young pigs to forage naturally will also allow them to snack on insects and native plants, all of which are great options for their omnivorous dietary needs.

• Orphaned piglets: Piglets under 6 weeks of age who are not living with their mother or are not able to get sufficient milk from their mother (or from a foster mother) will need to be fed an appropriate milk substitute. A favorite among piglet caregivers is to feed pasteurized goat’s milk, which is available in many grocery stores. If your local grocer does not carry it, you should be able to buy powdered goat’s milk online.

• Solid food: You can start offering piglets solid food (in the form of milk-soaked pig(let) pellets or baby rice cereal) around the time piglets are 3 days old, though some caregivers prefer to wait until piglets are a bit older to start introducing pellets. You can also try giving them dry pellets as early as 10 days of age, though you may find that piglets are uninterested in it until they are a bit older.

It is important to note that feeding management should be carefully considered, and piglets, especially those of a weak constitution, will not easily accept eating from normal feeding methods. Therefore, it is recommended to use pan or syringe feeding to deliver the colostrum. Bottle feeding is not recommended as it is associated with a risk of aspiration that can lead to respiratory issues, such as pneumonia, which can be fatal quickly.

In summary, baby pigs require a balanced diet that includes milk, solid food, and other nutrients to ensure their growth and development. Careful feeding management is necessary to ensure that piglets receive the necessary nutrients and to prevent respiratory issues.