Sow Programme: Lactation and Litter Performance

Background

Sow mineral metabolism during late gestation and lactation influences both litter performance and the sow's own skeletal condition over successive parities. Vitamin D activity is a core part of that mineral balance.

Practical Recommendation

• Use phase-specific premixes for gestation and lactation rather than a single blended specification.
• Check premix moisture and storage conditions, since high mineral load accelerates vitamin loss.
• Record sow body condition and lameness incidence across parities.
• Where metabolite is used, verify the concentration of the delivered raw material by assay.

Observed Benefits

• Supports sow skeletal condition across successive parities
• Improved litter uniformity reported in sow nutrition studies
• Reduced lameness incidence observed under controlled herd conditions

Herd-level results vary with genetics, housing and health status. Use the guidance as a starting point for your own validation.