Reduced vitamin supplementation with fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and E added at National Research Council requirements may not be adequate for optimal sow and progeny performance

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate performance and physiological vitamin status of sows and progeny fed 2 vitamin supplementation levels, industry vs reduced (all vitamins reduced with fat-soluble vitamins added at National Research Council recommendations). Materials and methods: Sows (n = 244) were allotted in a randomized complete block design to 1 of 2 vitamin supplementation levels. At weaning, 765 progeny from a subset of sows were allotted to treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of two sow and two nursery vitamin supplementation levels with 15 pens/treatment. Performance and vitamin status of sows and progeny were measured from farrowing to nursery exit. Results: Reduced vitamin supplementation reduced sow lactation feed intake (P = .01), hepatic vitamin A (P = .001), and serum vitamin D (P < .001), but did not affect sow body weight or litter performance. Regardless of vitamin levels fed to the sow, progeny fed reduced levels post weaning had decreased circulating (P < .001) and stored (P = .03) vitamin levels and a reduction in average daily gain (P < .001), average daily feed intake (P < .001), gain:feed ratio (P = .002), and body weight (P < .001) at the end of the nursery period compared to progeny fed industry levels. Implications: Reduced vitamin supplementation reduced sow feed intake without affecting sow or litter performance, but decreased circulating and stored vitamin levels in sows could impact long-term reproductive performance. Reduced vitamin inclusion levels in nursery diets reduced performance and serum vitamin concentrations compared to industry vitamin levels.