NUTRITION
PIH-2
non
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE • PURDUE UNIVERSITY • WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
Vitamins for Swine
Authors
Richard C. Wahlstrom and
LaVerne J. Kortan
South Dakota State University
Reviewers
D. E. Becker, University of Illinois
Donald E. Orr, Jr., Texas Technological University
Vitamins are one of the classes of nutrients required for normal metabolism functions in the animal body. They are required in much smaller amounts than most of the other nutrients as they are not used as an energy source or a structural component. Some of the vitamins can be produced within the pig’s body in sufficient quantities to meet the pig's need. Others are present in adequate amounts in feedstuffs commonly used in swine diets. However, several vitamins need to be added to swine diets to obtain optimal performance. Vitamin needs are more critical today than previously because of the use of simpler type diets containing fewer ingredients and the trend toward confinement rearing which has reduced the use of pasture. Young, lush green grass or legumes are good sources of vitamins.

Vitamins Needed
Those vitamins that should be added to swine diets can be divided into two groups.
■ Fat soluble vitamins
Vitamin A
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Vitamin K

■ Water soluble vitamins (known as B complex vitamins)
Riboflavin or B2
Pantothenic acid
Niacin
Vitamin B12
Choline

Each of these vitamins will be briefly discussed. Recommended levels of these vitamins in swine diets are shown in Tables 1 and 2. Table 1 lists requirements for the pig from weaning to market weight, and Table 2 gives the requirements for reproducing animals as an amount per pound of diet based on a daily feed intake of 4-5 lb. during gestation and 9-12 lb. during lactation. These vitamin levels
should also be satisfactory for boars fed 6 lb. of feed daily. At feeding levels other than those indicated here, the diets should be fortified to meet the daily needs. Higher levels of vitamins have not further improved performance of swine. However, in periods of stress, such as diseases that might affect absorption of nutrients, vitamin levels could be increased.

Diets may occasionally become deficient, under unusual or stress conditions, in other vitamins—biotin, pyridoxine (Be), folic acid and vitamin C. All of these vitamins should be present in adequate amounts when diets are composed of natural feedstuffs, and it is not recommended that they be added in routine vitamin supplementation.

Vitamin A. The vitamin A needs of swine can be met by either vitamin A or carotene. Vitamin A does not occur in plant products, but the pigment carotene can be converted to vitamin A in the intestinal wall of the pig. Good natural sources of carotene are green pastures and green leafy alfalfa hay or meal. Corn-contains carotene but is not a dependable source because much may be destroyed in storage. Therefore, in formulating swine diets the carotene content of corn is disregarded. Other cereal grains are low or devoid of carotene.

Deficiency symptoms in growing pigs are incoordination of movement, weakness of the back, paralysis, night blindness and total blindness. Sows may fail to come into estrus, have a poor conception rate, resorb their fetuses and have weak pigs at birth or pigs born dead with various deformities. Sterility may occur in boars.

Vitamin D. Swine that have daily access to sunlight produce vitamin D by irradiation. However, fortification of diets with vitamin D is necessary when pigs are fed in confinement. Also, most feedstuffs are practically devoid of vitamin D except for sun-cured hays. Both vitamin D2, the
Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, State of Indiana, Purdue University and U S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating. H. G. Diesslin, Director, West Lafayette, Ind. Issued in furtherance of the Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914. It is the policy of the Cooperative Extension Service of Purdue University that all persons shall have equal opportunity and access to its programs and facilities without regard to race, religion, color, sex or national origin.