The importance of Transition Nutrition for Sows and Piglets

Transition feeding is linked to the transitional period of the sow, which is commonly defined as the last 10 days of gestation and the first 10 days of lactation. This period aligns with the sow’s transfer from the gestation section to the farrowing quarters.

For the sow

During late gestation, the sow’s nutritional needs increase due to the exponential growth of the fetus. However, this fetal growth becomes most pronounced during the last 20 to 25 days before parturition.

Glucose concentrations rise during the final days of gestation to meet the high demand for fetal growth, alongside the growing nutrient demands.

This presents a challenge because insulin action does not increase at the same rate, resulting in the sow’s inability to store glucose as energy reserves for subsequent utilization.

This is condition is known as insulin resistance, which develops in sows towards the end of gestation.

There’s also an increase in blood flow from the portal vein to the liver to help maintain glucose concentrations, providing energy to the sow and supporting fetal tissue growth.

In fact, the liver undergoes a transition from a phase of ‘glucose utilization’ (glycolysis, glycogenesis) to a phase of ‘glucose production’ (gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis) in the later stages of gestation, intimately linked to the sow’s energy state.

Physical changes include the growth of mammary glands, preparing for colostrum and subsequently milk production. Components of colostrum like α-lactalbumin and lactose are detectable a week before farrowing.

For the fetus (neonatal piglet)

The vitality of piglets depends on the sow’s nutrition and her capacity to support the growth of her litter.

The length of the farrowing process is a variable tied to the occurrence of stillborn piglets.

An extended duration of farrowing and longer intervals between piglet births trigger a cascade of effects, which may increase the likelihood of stillborn piglets.

Furthermore, piglet vitality is compromised as it can affect their colostrum intake, which can negatively impact piglet performance during the lactation period.

This is also linked to the high piglet mortality often observed in the first few days after birth.

How Can We Address the Transition Period?

The implementation of feeding strategies during the transition period can improve:

The sow’s energy levels for parturition.
Colostrum and milk production.
Enhance the vigor of newborn piglets.

As a result, this can potentially elevate survival rates during the lactation phase.

Several strategies can be adopted during this pivotal transition period. These include:

The ultimate goal is to provide the sow with a constant energy source before and during parturition to enhance both sow and piglet performance during lactation and achieve optimal performance at weaning.

Conclusions

Transition nutrition has received very little attention due to its brief duration and the complexities involved in its integration into production systems.

Nevertheless, transition feeding aims to align with the dynamic nutritional requirements of the transitioning sow.

By gaining a better understanding of the transition period and how to implement various feeding strategies during this phase, it is possible to positively influence the vitality and survival of piglets during nursing and weaning. As a result, the reproductive performance of modern highly prolific sows can be enhanced.

You may also like to read:“Advances in Dairy Cattle Nutrition during the Transition Period.”

Source: This article was originally published a s a content in spanish in nutriNews LATAM 2023