The Effect of Late Gestation Injectable Vitamin A and D Supplementation on Sow and Piglet Performance

Lay Summary Over the past 30 years sows have been bred to be more productive by increasing the number of piglets born per litter. However, the current understanding of sow vitamin requirements has not changed much. Previous studies have demonstrated that when given a supplemental injection of vitamin A or vitamin A and D combined, offspring survival improves compared to control pigs. In this study, sows were given an injection of vitamin A and D or saline (control) in late pregnancy (day 85) to determine if there was a change in piglet performance. Blood samples were taken from the piglets weekly to determine the concentration of vitamin A and the number of immune cells. Piglets were weighed weekly until day 63 to determine if the treatment altered piglet growth. Supplementation with vitamin A and D during pregnancy did not alter piglet weights postnatally. There was a reduced number of stillborn piglets from the treatment sows compared to the control sows, leading to a higher number of pigs who were born alive. These results support previous studies which found that a supplemental injection of vitamin A or vitamin A and D reduced the number of stillborn offspring.