Vitamin B12 for Growing-Finishing Pigs

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Abstract
Four dry-lot and four pasture trials were conducted to determine the need for adding vitamin B12 to all plant growing-finishing rations containing corn-soybean meal and minerals or these ingredients plus 5% alfalfa meal. Eight-week-old pigs, farrowed by sows which received rations containing animal protein and supplemental vitamin B12, were used. Basal rations were shown to contain 0.36 to 1.27 mg. per ton of vitamin Big activity and were supplemented with 10, 20, or 50 mg. per ton of crystalline vitamin B12 in dry lot or 10 or 20 mg. per ton on pasture. Vitamin B12 did not increase rate of gain, feed consumption, or improve feed efficiency in either dry lot or on pasture. In pasture studies the response to supplemental B12 was not different between similar trials conducted at two locations. In dry-lot trials the addition of chlortetracycline, independent of B12 and ration, significantly improved rate and efficiency of gain during the first portion of the feeding period. The addition of 5% alfalfa meal to the corn-soybean meal basal ration decreased both rate and efficiency of gain.