84. It is FAWC's view that piglets should not be weaned at less than three weeks of age. This has been embodied in the Welfare of Livestock Regulations 1994 which state that:
"Piglets must not be weaned from the sow at an age of less than three weeks unless the welfare or health of the dam or piglets would otherwise be adversely affected."
85. We have been told of the increasing use of ISO-weaning (segregated early weaning), which was developed in the United States. It is claimed that weaning pigs earlier than three weeks may offer benefits from the higher passive immunity derived from the dams colostrum. However, we are concerned that such practices have nutritional and practical disadvantages and may not comply with present legislation. We ask Ministers to seek from the industry clear, qualitative evidence of the adverse effects on either sows or litters which are avoided by such early weaning.
86. Some argument was presented to us that the minimum weaning age should be increased above three weeks of age. Although we have some sympathy with these views and, in particular, accept that the younger the weaning age the greater the behavioural problems found after weaning, we do not yet have sufficient information to be confident that a higher weaning age will have definite welfare benefits. We believe research is needed into the age at which pigs are nutritionally, immunologically and psychologically best suited to weaning.