Not all threats are visible
In the farrowing crate, some of the greatest risks can’t be seen. Subtle factors such as poor nutrition, hidden mycotoxins, or an unbalanced gut microbiome can quietly disrupt the sow’s health and with it, the foundation for her piglets’ vitality.
In this second part, we explore how Metabolic Stress Syndrome develops within the sow, how it can silently tip the balance, and why it matters for the offspring.
Feeding and body condition: the first line of defense
A sow’s body condition in late gestation determines much of her success during lactation.
When feed quality or timing is off, whether because of an imbalanced nutrient profile, low fiber levels, or poor feeding schedules, both the quantity and quality of colostrum and milk can decline.
As a result, piglets receive less energy, fewer antibodies, and a weaker start in life. Proper feeding and maintaining a healthy body condition are more than production goals; they are the first layer of protection against metabolic stress.
The gut: where balance can tip
Around farrowing, the sow’s gut experiences a major transition. The microbiome shifts rapidly, and when this balance is disturbed, it can lead to increased gut permeability, elevated endotoxin levels in the blood, and a state of chronic, low-grade inflammation.
Together, these physiological changes can form the foundation of Metabolic Stress Syndrome. It is a silent condition that may not show clear clinical signs but can reduce milk quality and transfer its effects to piglets through colostrum.
Mycotoxins: invisible disruptors
Even feed that looks perfect can contain hidden threats. Mycotoxins are one of the most underestimated risk factors for sow health and piglet performance.
Zearalenone can affect piglets even before birth and continue to exert its influence through milk. Deoxynivalenol damages the intestinal lining, allowing bacteria and toxins to cross into the bloodstream and trigger inflammation both in the gut and throughout the body.
Even at low levels, these toxins can contribute to metabolic stress, especially when combined with other nutritional or environmental challenges.
Dysbiosis and endotoxemia: a toxic chain reaction
When the balance of bacteria in the gut shifts toward more harmful species, intestinal permeability increases further. This allows lipopolysaccharides — fragments from bacterial cell walls — to pass into the bloodstream.
In the sow, this leads to metabolic endotoxemia and amplifies systemic stress. In the piglet, lipopolysaccharides transferred through colostrum can interfere with early immune development, making the start of life more difficult.
A silent imbalance with lasting effects
Metabolic Stress Syndrome develops quietly in the sow. It often goes unnoticed, yet its effects can ripple across her offspring. When the sow’s internal balance is disturbed, the impact reaches her litter, influencing vitality, growth, and resilience from the very beginning
