EARLY LIFE NUTRITION – THE KEY TO IMPROVING PIG FARMING EFFICIENCY IN THE HIGH-PRODUCTIVITY ERA

As reproductive productivity increases, early-life nutrition becomes a new challenge

DINH DƯỠNG ĐẦU ĐỜI – CHÌA KHÓA NÂNG CAO HIỆU QUẢ CHĂN NUÔI HEO TRONG KỶ NGUYÊN NĂNG SUẤT CAO

In recent years, Vietnam’s pig farming industry has entered a phase of development towards greater professionalism and efficiency. Advances in breeding, management, and nutrition have continuously improved the reproductive performance of sows, with many farms now achieving more than 14 piglets per litter with popular breeds.

This is a positive sign regarding productivity. However, along with this comes a new challenge: the sow’s milk production does not increase proportionally with the number of newborn piglets.

In the same litter, underweight or later-born piglets are often at a disadvantage in competing for suckling. When not provided with adequate nutrition in the early stages of life, piglets experience uneven growth, have poor resistance, a higher risk of diarrhea, and this directly affects weaning weight and the overall efficiency of the rearing cycle.

Therefore, early-life nutrition is becoming one of the top concerns for modern pig farms.

Early childhood nutrition – A new trend in modern animal husbandry

Previously, many nutrition programs focused primarily on the post-weaning period. However, in recent years, research and production practices have shown that the period from birth to weaning is one of the foundational stages that greatly influences the growth and long-term health of piglets.

This is the time when the digestive system, immune system, and nutrient metabolism of piglets develop most strongly. A suitable nutritional foundation during this period not only helps piglets develop well in the present stage but also contributes significantly to improving feed utilization, reducing disease treatment pressure, and improving economic efficiency throughout the entire breeding life cycle.

This trend has also driven the development of specialized nutritional solutions, where supplemental milk is no longer just a solution for herds lacking milk, but is becoming a nutritional management tool to ensure all piglets have the opportunity to develop equally from their first days.

From nutritional supplementation to optimizing absorption

A notable trend in piglet nutrition development today is the combination of “supplementary nutrition” and “optimized nutrient absorption.”

Scientific principles such as Nutrigenomics, Microbiome combining prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics, organic trace minerals, and acidification technology are increasingly being applied to support the establishment of beneficial microorganisms and regulate the gastrointestinal microbiome, improve nutrient absorption, and enhance the natural health of livestock.

This approach is also applied by GREENFEED in the development of G.NUTRI PREMIUM – a milk supplement for piglets. The product is designed to mimic the composition and characteristics of sow’s milk, combining high-quality protein, easily absorbed energy, and modern nutritional foundations to support the digestive system, enhance gastrointestinal health, and create conditions for piglets to develop evenly from the early stages of life.

Effectiveness proven by research and practice.

In the field of animal nutrition, the value of a solution lies not only in its formula but also in its proven results under real-world farming conditions.

According to GREENFEED’s research on suckling piglets, the group of piglets using G.NUTRI PREMIUM (recommended dose) achieved an average weaning weight of 6.62 kg/piglet, approximately 12% higher than the group not using milk. The average weight gain (from 3 days old to weaning) reached 234.6 g/piglet/day, an increase of approximately 17% compared to the control group not using milk. In addition to improving growth, the product also showed positive effects on digestive health. The rate of diarrhea in piglets in the group using G.NUTRI PREMIUM improved by 20.1% compared to the group not using it (4.4%), and was significantly lower than some other control products under the same research conditions.

The results of the extended product trial at customer farms also showed positive trends. Piglets using G.NUTRI PREMIUM achieved an average weaning weight of 6.9 kg/piglet, 8% higher than the group not using milk; weight gain from 3 days old to weaning increased by 11% compared to the control group. At the same time, the mortality rate of piglets still nursing decreased to <2.3% (lower than the group not using milk).

Aiming for a healthy start for every piglet

In the context of the livestock industry increasingly focusing on high productivity and sustainable development, investing in early-life nutrition is no longer just an option, but is becoming a crucial part of strategies to improve production efficiency.

A healthy start not only helps piglets grow better in the first few weeks after birth but also lays the foundation for a more uniform herd, reduces risks during weaning, and optimizes future farming efficiency.

With the motto “Green Nutrition – Stronger Every Day” GREENFEED continuously invests in research and development of nutritional solutions based on scientific principles and practical production experience. G.NUTRI PREMIUM is one of the steps taken to support livestock farmers in building a healthy foundation for piglets’ development from their very first days of life.