The docile temperament of the Chinese Meishan makes it promising as a nurse sow to which ill nourished pigs due to be weaned from their own dam around 3 weeks of age can be fostered for a further period of milk feeding. An alternative strategy to cater for such problem 3 week old pigs is to wean and attempt to rear them under very favourable conditions, including the provision of a highly digestible diet containing a high proportion of dried milk products. Such diets are now very expensive.