Vitamins Required by Swine for Growth, with Some Observations on Reproduction

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Seventeen pigs were reared on a synthetic diet from the time they were two days old until they were 56 days, or more, of age. There were no mortalities, though all of the pigs were subject to intermittent attacks of diarrhea. The rate of growth was variable but the average weight at 56 days was as high as would be expected according to current growth standards. With one exception, all of the pigs were normal in appearance. One female pig was retained on the synthetic diet through the reproductive stage. She bore a normal litter but her flow of milk was scanty. She became severely anemic while lactating, and died. On autopsy an extreme pathological condition was discovered in the bone marrow, liver, kidneys and spleen. These findings indicate that the artificial, so-called “synthetic” diet used in this study is slightly inadequate for growth and seriously inadequate for lactation.