Supporting sows during transition to optimize milk yield

Sows face great metabolic challenges around farrowing. High energy demands for fetal growth during the last weeks of gestation and high energy output through milk production during lactation often result in a negative energy balance. Daily milk production amounts to 10-12 liters during peak production, i.e. around 3 weeks post-farrowing. In fact, sows are high-performance  milk producers in relation to their body weight!

 

Milk yield is challenged by the increased litter size of modern genetics. Sufficient colostrum and milk intake by the piglets are crucial for the development of the immune system and subsequent growth. However, as milk yield did not increase linearly with litter size, there is less colostrum and milk available per piglet. Nutritional strategies are necessary to optimize milk production.

 

Optimizing nutrient supply: High availability of nutrients, especially amino acids, is crucial to meet increasing requirements for fetal and mammary tissue gain in late gestation and onset of lactation. Poor feed intake in the transition phase limits this nutrient supply. When nutrients become extremely limiting this can result in PPDS (postpartum dysgalactia syndrome). About 20% of modern sows suffer from this condition.A special transition diet is recommended to optimize nutrient supply.

Stabilizing the intestinal microbiota: Reduced passage rate through the digestive tract facilitates constipation and the accumulation of pathogens and their toxins around farrowing. This is an ideal condition for the overgrowth of undesired microbes, hence the accumulation of their toxins. Endotoxins from E. coli, for instance, are known to inhibit prolactin secretion, which is necessary for milk production.A stable microbiota helps to prevent overgrowth of pathogens.

Reducing stress: The influence of stress, e.g. due to relocation or heat increases the secretion of hormones such as glucocorticoids (cortisol), resulting in reduced feed intake. Moreover, stress increases the susceptibility to disease. Any measures that minimize stress in sows are therefore supportive to lactational performance.

 

Supplementation of the transition diet with Sangrovit® has proven to increase feed intake during lactation, resulting in healthier piglets and higher weaning weights. Furthermore, the use of Sangrovit® in sows can reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol and acute phase proteins around farrowing and during lactation, indicating relief from stress (Suwannathada et al., 2015; GIS: SA 130268).