What is the recommended age limit in days to foster a piglet to another sow?

Fostering piglets to another sow is a common practice in swine management, particularly when a sow has an insufficient number of milk-producing teats or needs to reduce her litter size. The recommended age limit of up to 3 days for fostering is based on the critical period in a piglet's early life.

Within the first few days after birth, piglets undergo significant bonding with their biological mother, which includes establishing a scent and recognition of their mother's feed. Fostering piglets beyond this critical window may lead to complications such as rejection by the new sow due to the absence of this bonding process.

Therefore, fostering piglets when they are still very young—ideally within the first 3 days—maximizes their chance of successfully integrating into a new litter, as they will still have a strong instinct to suckle and bond, making it easier for them to adopt a new maternal figure. Additionally, younger piglets are typically more adaptable and have a better chance of thriving when placed with another sow.