🐷 Low-Stress Piglet Weaning at Heartwood Farm : Piglets Gain Independence Before Forest Rotation

🌄 Weaning is a milestone on any farm, and for pasture-raised livestock it is a careful process. Heartwood Farm, a regenerative operation listed in the Dunlap, Tennessee area, recently shared how its piglets are moving toward independence, with a focus on keeping the transition as calm as possible for both sows and young pigs.

📍 Where the Farm Is

Heartwood Farm is located at 110 H Grant Rd, Dunlap, Tennessee 37327, according to its directory listing. The farm describes itself as a regenerative operation built on a deep connection to the land and a vision for sustainable agriculture. 🌱

🐽 A Gentler Approach to Weaning

In a post from its own account, the farm wrote that weaning is inherently stressful, but that the team works to make it as low stress as possible. Mothers and piglets can still see one another, but they can no longer nurse. 🍼

The farm explained that once the sows’ milk dries up and hormone levels decrease, there is less pull toward the nursing relationship. The piglets are also gaining independence each day. 📈

👭 New Pen-Mates on the Way

According to the post, Miss Piggy is set to become a pen-mate with Maple by the following week. The farm expressed hope that the two will become friends, and that Maple will give up her escape-artist habits. 😄

🎓 Training Before the Forest

The piglets will remain in the training pen for about four weeks. The farm said the goal is to have them well trained to electric fencing before they begin rotating through the forest. ⚡🌳

The post’s accompanying image, which carries the text “Low Stress Piglet Weaning,” shows several small black and white piglets in a wooded enclosure covered with dry leaves. 🍂

💬 Share Your Thoughts

Heartwood Farm invited readers to leave comments about the weaning process. The farm’s posts are also tagged with topics including regenerative agriculture, small farms, pastured pork, and knowing your farmer. 🧑‍🌾