New research led by NC State Extension Swine Specialist Mark Knauer found that targeted vitamin D3 supplementation during late gestation was associated with substantially lower mortality among older-parity sows, adding to ongoing research into nutritional strategies for improving sow livability.
Sow mortality remains an important production and animal well-being challenge for the U.S. pork industry. New research involving North Carolina State University is examining whether additional vitamin D3 during late gestation could provide producers with another nutritional tool to support sow health and longevity.
The study involved 937 females with PIC maternal genetics at a 3,600-sow commercial farm in eastern North Carolina. Sows from parities one through eight were randomly assigned either to a control group or to receive supplemental vitamin D3 beginning at day 80 of gestation…