115 Sow Supplementation with Vitamin C Enhances Pig Throughput

The objective was to evaluate the impact of vitamin C supplementation, during the transition phase, on sow reproduction and subsequent offspring performance. Landrace × Large White composite sows (n = 58), mated to Smithfield Premium Genetics Duroc boars, were housed at the NCDA Tidewater Research Station. Parity 1 and parity 2 sows were randomly assigned to one of three vitamin C (STAY-C35) levels (0, 250, or 500 mg/kg of diet). Diets were fed from day 107 of gestation through day 7 of lactation. A common lactation diet was then fed from day 8 of lactation until weaning. Sows were fed 2.27 kg per day pre-farrow and ad libitum after farrowing. Cross-fostering was minimized and performed within dietary treatment. Sow body condition was assessed on day 107 of gestation and at weaning (day 23 of lactation) using the Knauer sow body condition caliper. After weaning and 5 weeks in a nursery, offspring were transferred to a naturally ventilated, totally slatted grow-finish facility and housed at 0.62 m2 per pig. Offspring were individually reweighed at 124 days of age (88 ± 5.0 kg). All statistical models contained fixed effects of dietary vitamin C level and sow parity. Total number born was included as a covariate for average piglet birth weight (BWT), stillborn percentage, BWT CV, piglet survival [number weaned ÷ (number born alive + stillborns)], number of littermates at 124 days of age, average daily gain (ADG) from birth to 124 days and pig survival from birth to 124 days [number weighed ÷ (number born alive + stillborns)]. Weaning age and number weaned were included as covariates for average piglet weaning weight (WWT) and WWT CV. Sow and litter was the experimental unit. Results (LSMEANS) are shown in Table 1. Percentage of stillborn piglets did not differ (P > 0.05) between dietary treatments. Sows fed 500 mg/kg of vitamin C had lighter (P < 0.05) piglet BWT CV compared with Control sows. Supplementing 500 mg/kg of vitamin C increased (P < 0.05) both average piglet birth weight ...