Estratégias nutricionais em leitões em fase maternidade e creche

Abstract

Brazilian swine production is highly technological and economically relevant; however, the farrowing and nursery phases still concentrate some of the main health, nutritional, and productive challenges of the production system. During these periods, piglets have low energy reserves, limited thermoregulatory capacity, dependence on early colostrum intake, and digestive and immunological immaturity. In addition, weaning causes abrupt changes related to sow separation, litter mixing, environmental change, and the transition from a liquid diet to a solid, predominantly plant-based diet. These factors may reduce voluntary feed intake, impair intestinal integrity, favor post-weaning diarrhea, and compromise growth performance. Thus, this study aimed to synthesize and critically analyze the scientific literature on good nutritional practices applied to piglets in the farrowing and nursery phases, emphasizing intestinal health, growth, disease resistance, and reduction in the use of antimicrobial growth promoters. The methodology consisted of a narrative literature review with a qualitative approach, based on scientific articles, reviews, dissertations, theses, and technical documents published between 2010 and 2025. The literature shows that productive success depends on the integration of colostrum management, strategic supplementation, creep-feeding, highly digestible pre-starter diets, and the appropriate use of functional amino acids, organic acids, enzymes, probiotics, prebiotics, and phytogenic additives, in addition to adequate environmental, hygiene, and biosecurity practices. It is concluded that precision nutrition, combined with proper management, is essential to reduce losses during farrowing and nursery, improve piglet intestinal health, and support more efficient, sustainable swine production systems aligned with current food safety demands.