The health of the sow plays a crucial role in the development and performance of piglets, influencing various aspects from gestation to the postnatal period. Factors such as reproductive health, nutrition at all stages of sow production, welfare management, cleanliness and sanitation of facilities bring with them gaps that unfold into negative impacts on productivity and, especially, economics.<\/p>\n
It is well known that Brazilian pig farming plays a crucial role in the market, being an international benchmark for productivity and quality. Therefore, the demands for biosecurity, health, and productivity are high and must meet the excellence required by the export market. Constant herd monitoring not only helps identify problems but also assists in preventing them in sows and, subsequently, piglets. Below are some crucial factors that should be carefully observed.<\/p>\n
Low-performing piglet production can be associated with several factors. The first is linked to the reproductive health of the sow, including the reproductive tract and conception capacity, which has a direct impact on the production of healthy piglets. Reproductive performance, including the farrowing interval and the number of piglets per farrowing, are indicators of the sow's physical condition and reflect prolificacy and reproductive capacity. Problems such as hormonal disorders, uterine infections, and conception failures can negatively affect the number of piglets born alive and their vitality.<\/p>\n
Another extremely important factor is colostrum, which has a rich and diverse content of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, cellular entities of an immunological nature, and bioactive molecules. It not only meets the nutritional demands for the accelerated growth of neonates but also encompasses anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial functions. It is responsible for providing neonates with the energy necessary for thermoregulation and body growth, passive immunity for protection against pathogens, and intestinal maturation. Studies show that milk plays a substantial role in contributing up to 30% of the intestinal microbial composition to newborns, exercising a crucial function in the colonization and development of the neonatal intestinal microbiota.<\/p>\n
Access our LinkedIn<\/a> And stay tuned for updates!<\/p>\n After briefly discussing aspects related to health, nutrition, and environment, a link that intimately connects these factors is the establishment and harmonization of the gut microbiota. Although its importance is already clear, there is still discussion about the timing of its colonization in piglets' intestines. The traditional view is that microbial colonization begins gradually in the birth canal, through contact with the external environment, feces, and food. However, it is known that early colonizing bacteria in the intestinal tract of mammals have strong maternal characteristics, being present in the placenta, birth canal, breast milk, and maternal excretions. Consequently, it becomes pertinent to recognize that the composition of the sow's microbiota can confer multiple modulations on the intestinal flora of piglets and the maturation of the immune system, extending over different time intervals.<\/p>\n As an example, we can cite the influence of the presence of fermenting bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The SCFAs produced by the fermentation of maternal intestinal microorganisms are transmitted vertically to the offspring, as an inheritance promoting the maturation of their immune system. Initially, the neonatal intestinal colonizing bacteria are facultative anaerobes, such as Streptococcus and Staphylococcus. However, they are quickly replaced by Bifidobacterium, Corynebacterium, Lactobacillus, and Ruminococcus, being established through interactions with the mother, the surrounding environment, and dietary composition, both during gestation and after birth.<\/p>\n Thus, consideration is given to developing nutritional strategies aimed at modulating the configuration of the enteric microbiota in sows, and consequently, orchestrating impacts on the microbial composition of suckling piglets. Non-conventional health promoters, such as probiotics and prebiotics, are defenders of health, shaping developing immune systems, challenging harmful invaders, and competing for territory and nutrients with harmful bacteria. This beneficial bacterial population ultimately triggers ingenious fermentations of... fibers<\/a> <\/strong>...and orchestrating symphonies of vitamins that are used to nourish their hosts. However, under conditions of stress and a weakened immune system, this beneficial population becomes vulnerable, especially during phases of major changes in piglets.<\/p>\n Proper nutrition of the sow during gestation and lactation is essential for fetal development, milk production, and colostrum quality. Nutritional deficiencies in the sow can result in low quality and quantity of colostrum production, leading to poorly nourished piglets with poor growth and reduced disease resistance.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, in the stages preceding piglet weaning, nutritional strategies should also be adopted. Studies show that feeding piglets in the period close to weaning with diets low in crude protein (<18%), formulated under the concept of ideal protein and high digestibility, helped maintain good stool consistency due to the reduction of dysbiosis caused by the presence of undigested proteins in the intestine, which in turn serve as a substrate for the growth of bacteria with dysbiotic potential. By providing a diet with highly digestible ingredients, such as... Soy Protein Concentrate<\/a><\/em>,<\/strong> The gut microbiota is shaped by favoring beneficial bacterial species, promoting balance and reducing inflammatory responses caused by the increase of undesirable populations.<\/p>\n It is proven that nutrition is a crucial element for the proper development of piglets during their early lifespan. However, simply using highly digestible ingredients and reducing crude protein in the diet does not guarantee bacterial balance in the gut. Viewing nutrition in isolation as the sole cause of poor zootechnical performance is a common mistake, as several other factors can interfere with animals not expressing their full genetic potential. Health and environment, for example, can be the main culprits behind low yields.<\/p>\n Herd health is one of the only real threats nowadays, where enteric problems typically affect a very high percentage of animals. The most prevalent microorganisms when diarrhea is detected are salmonella, which is quite frequent within production systems, and E. coli, undoubtedly the two most concerning within the system. Salmonella usually appears after the second and third week of housing in the nursery, and E. coli closer to weaning time.<\/p>\n Therefore, cleaning and disinfecting the facilities become allies against future problems. Given the exploratory nature of piglets, licking and digging at surfaces, any organic residue from past batches can be found and ingested. Therefore, the importance of using high-pressure pumps to wash the pens with hot water, using detergent with a foam-forming gun, and flushing water systems is understood.<\/p>\n Another impactful factor is weaning age. A weaning age of 28 days, with an average of 26 and a half, accompanied by nutrition adapted to this stage, helps prepare them for the challenges of the nursery. The feeding format is also another important factor to consider, given the impact of preparing the piglet to ingest certain raw materials in varying quantities. When feeding a piglet unprepared to receive a complex feed, even if it is of better quality and more digestible, it is possible that the piglet will not be able to take full advantage of the potential of this raw material provided.<\/p>\n The environment is another factor that interferes with the manifestation of diseases and agonistic behaviors. Factors such as housing density, temperature, humidity, and air quality all have some degree of impact on the health of sows and piglets. It is therefore important to consider strategies that minimize negative impacts, such as the use of alternative health-promoting products to antimicrobials, such as probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids, or other microbiome-modulating additives, as is the case with...\u00a0tannins<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and of\u00a0fibers<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n In research, supplementation in practice of hydrolyzable tannins<\/a><\/strong> Supplementation via water or feed in swine has demonstrated antimicrobial, antiviral, and anthelmintic properties, positively impacting intestinal health. There were also effects on reducing skatole concentration in adipose tissue and on fresh meat quality, where supplementation at higher levels in the feed increased the pro-oxidative potential.<\/p>\n Another impact on supplementation of tannins<\/strong> The main benefit lies in its antibacterial and antifungal effect by precipitating proteins, especially in genera that include potentially pathogenic species, such as Brachyspira, which infect the cecum and colon, mainly during weaning. The most well-known diarrheal diseases are Swine Dysentery (SD), whose etiological agent is B. hyodysenteriae, and B. pilosicoli, which causes Spirochetal Colitis (SC). Symptoms include dehydration, weight loss, liquid or pasty diarrhea (which may contain blood), and growth retardation, resulting in economic losses. However, its use should be properly monitored by specialized technicians to mitigate potential effects on reduced feed intake, food digestion, and nutrient conversion efficiency, which can be mitigated through positive influences on intestinal health and antidiarrheal effects.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the\u00a0fibers<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0They play an important role in the final third of gestation in sows, where feed restriction is adopted to avoid excessive weight gain. Under these conditions of feed restriction and insatiability, gestation in group pens can favor competition for food, triggering behavioral problems that compromise the well-being and productivity of the sows. Consequently, in addition to providing a feeling of satiety through slow gastric emptying, salivary stimulation, and swelling of the stomach capacity, they promote a more prolonged glycemic curve, which can be an advantageous strategy to ensure adequate blood glucose levels at the time of farrowing.<\/p>\n Furthermore, the strategic use of eubiotic fibers, composed of a balanced combination of soluble and insoluble portions, can promote improved gastrointestinal health and function. In piglets, for example, it promotes improved performance and immunity through a modulation and promotion of beneficial gut bacteria and SCFA concentrations. Each fiber portion will act differently in the gastrointestinal tract, and understanding their biochemical interactions in the gastrointestinal tract is another tool for technical management of swine herds. Learn more about our solutions at [website address]. pig gut health<\/strong> e Talk to our experts.<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n Read also\u00a0\u201c"Dietary fiber: nutrition and gut health in focus"\u201d<\/a>\u00a0and check out our\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>\u00a0To stay up-to-date. Also check out our insoluble fiber solution for intestinal health in poultry and swine:\u00a0JELUVET\u2122<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A sa\u00fade da matriz su\u00edna desempenha um papel crucial no desenvolvimento e desempenho dos leit\u00f5es, influenciando diversos aspectos desde a gesta\u00e7\u00e3o at\u00e9 o per\u00edodo p\u00f3s-natal. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4008,"featured_media":800,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-818","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-artigos"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBalance of the intestinal microbiota in piglets<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Factors involved in nutrition, health and environment: sow x piglets<\/strong><\/h3>\n