Feeding a nutrient enriched diet to late gestating sows across consecutive cycles improves micronutrient status, farrowing duration, and prolificacy

Lay Summary As litter sizes continue to increase through genetic selection, pregnant sows face greater metabolic and nutritional demands, particularly during late gestation when fetal growth, placental development, and maternal tissue development accelerate. Nutrient demands increase during the last trimester of gestation. However, commercial feeding programs typically provide static diets throughout pregnancy. This study evaluated the sow’s plane of nutrition through a nutrient-enriched diet containing increased levels of amino acids, available trace minerals, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins during late gestation on outcomes in sows and their piglets. Sows fed the diet with the late gestation higher plane of nutrition experienced shorter farrowing duration, had lower pre-weaning mortality and weaned more piglets. Blood-based biomarkers indicated improved iron and vitamin D status in both sows and offspring. Sow retention was improved in sows fed the higher plane of nutrition. These findings highlight the importance of aligning gestation feeding strategies with late pregnancy demands to support maternal resilience, enhance piglet viability, and promote long-term productivity in modern sows and into the future as genetic progress in sow productivity continues.