258 A Survey of Added Vitamin Levels in Diets Utilized in the U.S. Swine Industry

Abstract

Abstract From November, 2021 to February, 2022, swine nutritionists representing 29 production systems and 8 nutrition supplier companies in the United States were surveyed about added vitamin concentration in swine diets. Respondents were asked to provide vitamin premix concentrations, inclusion rates, and weight ranges associated with feeding phases. Survey participants represented 4.38 million sows or 69% of the U.S. industry. Data were compiled into 3 nursery phases (Phase 1, weaning to 7 kg; Phase 2, 7 to 11 kg; and Phase 3, 11 to 23 kg), 3 finishing phases (23 to 55 kg; 55 to 100 kg; 100 to market), gestation, and lactation (Table 1). Vitamin concentrations were, on average, 3.9 times above NRC (2012) recommendations across all nursery diets. Vitamins D and K were the upper extremes, and choline and pyridoxine were the lower. In finishing diets, vitamin concentrations averaged 2.8 times the 2012 NRC recommendations. Vitamins D and K were the upper extremes, and niacin and riboflavin were the lower. Regarding breeding herd diets, vitamin concentrations were 2.9 times the 2012 NRC recommendations on average. In gestation diets, vitamins K and niacin were the upper extreme, and choline and biotin were the lower. Vitamins K and A were the upper extremes for lactation, and choline and biotin were the lower. The use of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 as a source of vitamin D has become more common compared with previous surveys. Its use was reported by 31% of the nutritionists in the nursery, 11% in the finishing, and 40% in gestation and lactation diets. Understanding current supplementation practices may help develop experimental designs to test different vitamin inclusions and provide an industry benchmark of vitamin usage.