A successful farrowing depends on proper peripartum nutritional management

In highly technified swine production systems, herds with highly prolific females bring increased productivity to producers, especially in indicators such as the number of piglets weaned per sow per year.

It is well known that the genetic evolution of sows has led to larger litters, but also brought some challenges during the gestational period (peripartum), such as reduced uterine blood flow per piglet, smaller piglet and placenta size, longer farrowing durations, and higher stillbirth rates. Piglet survival largely depends on fetal oxygenation, which is influenced by the duration of farrowing, the length and intensity of uterine contractions, and placental blood flow (den Bosch et al., 2023).

In recent years, there has been progress in nutritional strategies and additives aimed at the gestation and lactation phases. However, little attention has been given to the specific peripartum or transition period (from 5 to 7 days before farrowing to 2 days after). It's important to recognize that farrowing is a challenging event for both the sow and her piglets: for the sow, it involves drastic hormonal changes and high energy demands; for the piglet, it is a matter of surviving an increasingly prolonged farrowing process. As such, this period is being studied from both behavioral and endocrine perspectives.

Around two days before farrowing, the fetuses begin to synthesize cortisol, which triggers the farrowing process by affecting steroid production in the sow. Estrogen levels rise, inducing prostaglandin synthesis, which causes luteolysis and a subsequent drop in progesterone (Sumoy & Puig, 2016). This hormonal shift initiates farrowing, with uterine contractions expelling the piglets. Farrowing time is variable and physically demanding for the sow, even under normal conditions. When the sow is under stress, her cortisol levels may rise, which can lead to slower farrowing, increased stillbirths, and reduced milk production.

To support the sow's physiology during farrowing, several studies have been conducted to identify key nutrients that promote uterine contractions, enhance placental blood flow (Feyera et al., 2018; Guillemet et al., 2007), prevent constipation, reduce farrowing time, and boost colostrum production.

In this context, several important aspects of sow nutrition during the peripartum period should be considered.

1. Nutrition to support colostrum production

Approximately 30% of sows produce insufficient colostrum for their litters (Foisnet et al., 2010; Decaluwé et al., 2013). Colostrum is produced during the last month of gestation, but especially in the final week before farrowing. Body fat mobilization during this last week has been positively associated with colostrum production (Decaluwé et al., 2013).

During late gestation, the sow’s metabolism shifts to preserve glucose for the fetuses and upcoming lactation, while the sow increasingly uses ketogenic energy substrates (Robert & Kensinger, 1998). Therefore, a smooth metabolic transition from gestation to lactation is essential for optimal lactation performance (Martineau et al., 2013).

Both colostrum yield and its nutritional quality are influenced by the sow's body condition and peripartum feeding strategy (Decaluwé et al., 2014). Higher volumes and better nutrient profiles are found in sows with moderate body condition (17 to 23 mm backfat thickness).

Thus, feeding strategies that include fat supplementation in late gestation and during the transition phase can increase colostrum lipid content, lactose concentration, and IGF-I levels (Farmer & Quesnel, 2009).

In this sense, using a specific transition-phase product designed to meet these physiological demands may support colostrum and milk production, as well as improve conditions for farrowing.

2. Reducing constipation, farrowing time, and stillbirths

Providing the right nutrients to the sow and her fetuses directly influences placental development, fetal growth, uterine blood flow, and farrowing duration. Perinatal nutritional strategies aimed at reducing stillbirths and improving piglet vitality target uterine contractions (frequency or intensity), increase the supply of nutrients and/or oxygen from placenta to fetus, and provide energy to the sow to prevent fatigue and avoid constipation.

Given the large litter sizes in modern sows, their energy availability during farrowing can be limited. Van Kempen et al. (2007) suggested that energy depletion during farrowing can lead to sow exhaustion, weakening uterine contractions, prolonging farrowing, and increasing stillbirth rates.

Therefore, energy supplementation during the peripartum period should meet requirements for maintenance, contractions, fetal and mammary growth, and colostrum and milk production. One study found that the ideal daily energy intake on farrowing day depends on litter size and farrowing duration. The authors estimated the sow’s energy expenditure at 583 kcal of metabolizable energy per piglet born, and 2,068 kcal per hour of farrowing. Practically, a farrowing with 14 piglets requires about 8,159 kcal, and a 4.5-hour farrowing requires approximately 9,308 kcal.

In addition to energy, dietary fiber also plays an important role in sow nutrition around farrowing. Fiber provides a prolonged energy source for intestinal bacteria and helps prevent constipation. According to Dumniem (2024), supplementing fiber during the transition period reduced constipation prevalence from 46.3% to 17.6%.

Oliviero et al. (2010) found that constipated sows had significantly prolonged farrowing durations, exceeding 300 minutes. These findings highlight the importance of addressing constipation during the peripartum period, as it is a key contributor to post-partum dysgalactia syndrome in sows, which can lead to high pre-weaning mortality rates in piglets.

Finally, when discussing transition-phase nutrition, it is important not to overlook the roles of calcium and vitamin D in this process.

Calcium is essential for muscle contractions, including uterine (myometrial) contractions during farrowing. Vitamin D is critical for intestinal calcium absorption and plays a central role in calcium homeostasis, directly influencing contractile function. Therefore, adequate supplementation of calcium and vitamin D, along with appropriate electrolyte balance, is crucial for favorable farrowing conditions.

Conclusion

Special attention to nutrition during the transition or peripartum period is essential due to the critical nature of this stage, which plays a decisive role in farrowing and lactation outcomes. Proper diet formulation and nutritional management during this period are key factors for the productivity and success of highly prolific sows.

References

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10. Van Kempen, T. Supplements to facilitate parturition and reduce perinatal mortality in pigs; Nottingham University Press: Nottinghan, UK, 2007.