Vitamin E deficiency and perinatal mortality in pigs

Authors: Gibbs AL
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 40, Issue 4, pp 173, Dec 1992
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Pig, Production animal
Subject Terms: Diet/rations/food, Neonatal, Disease/defect, Nutrition/metabolism, Mortality/morbidity, Reproduction, Reproduction - female, Selenium, Trace elements, Vitamins
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: In a recent letter to the New Zealand Veterinary Journal on perinatal mortality in piglets, the reported sow Vitamin E supplementation of 50 IU/sow/day was slightly lower than that typically used on most commercial farms in New Zealand. Normal sow dietary supplementation is in the range of 30-60 IU per kg dry matter (DM). Pregnant sows consume about 2 kg DM/day, giving Vitamin E intakes in the range of 60-120 IU/day. A supplemented grain diet may be substituted in part with bulk feed such as whey, garbage or bread. In such cases, it is recommended that the vitamin supplement in the grain diet be increased to compensate for deficiencies in the substituted ration. Unfortunately this does not always occur. Diets with a low Vitamin E content and which are high in polyunsaturated fat result in much higher sow serum polyunsaturated fat levels than similar diets with a high level of vitamin E. Levels in excess of…

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