What is the primary purpose of Segregated Early Weaning (SEW) in swine production?

The primary purpose of Segregated Early Weaning (SEW) in swine production is to improve the health status of nursery and market pigs. SEW involves weaning piglets earlier than traditional practices, usually at around 2-3 weeks of age, and raising them in a separate environment to minimize exposure to disease-causing organisms. This practice significantly enhances the health status of the pigs by reducing their risk of infections, particularly from pathogens present in the sow herd that can lead to diseases such as PRRS and other common swine health issues.

By improving the health status of the pigs early on, SEW can lead to better overall performance as these pigs enter nurseries and grow to market weight. Healthy pigs are more likely to experience better feed conversion and growth rates, which may be reflected in enhanced production efficiency later on. Thus, while other factors such as feed costs, growth rates, and labor involvement may be indirectly influenced by healthier pigs, the primary aim of SEW is unequivocally focused on establishing a superior health status right from the weaning phase.