Partial substitution of organic trace minerals in sow diets over multiple parities and the impact on claw health, productivity, and longevity.

The objective of this study was to examine the impact of partial substitution of inorganic zinc, copper and manganese with their organic form in diets fed to gestating and lactating sows across multiple parities. Breed eligible gilts (n = 116) and sows entering farrowing (n = 228) were randomized to receive a diet where organic chelated forms of zinc, copper, and manganese were partially substituted for their inorganic forms (gilts, n = 58; sows = 111), or their diet only contained the inorganic forms of these minerals (gilts, n = 58; sows = 117). Sows were housed in large dynamic groups and fed by electronic sow feeding stations. The animals were maintained on these diets until they were removed from the herd or the end of the study period. Claw health, motion scores, weight loss during lactation, feed intake, and productivity were recorded for each parity. Longevity was assessed from the start of the study period to six months after the study diets were discontinued. Lactation weight loss (P = 0.02) and the odds of a dew claw lesion (P = 0.03) were decreased in treated sows. Longevity (P = 0.41) and lameness (P = 0.97) were not affected by treatment. There was a trend for total lesion to be decreased in treated sows (P = 0.06) whereas the odds of individual claw lesion scores were not different for supplemented sows (P > 0.05). Supplementation with organic sources of trace minerals, particularly zinc, manganese and copper, may improve lactation feed efficiency and play a role in improving claw health.