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When Should We Be Concerned About Vitamin a Supplementation?

By  Lawton Stewart

Vitamins are a unique dietary component for beef cattle and are categorized into two groups: water-soluble and fat-soluble. Bacteria in the rumen synthesize water-soluble vitamins (e.g. B12, thiamin, niacin). Therefore, supplementation is generally not needed as long as the rumen if functioning properly. This leaves the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K). Of these, Vitamin A is considered the most important when feeding cattle.

What is Vitamin A and why is it important?
Vitamin A, also known as retinol, is a compound that is essential for growth, reproduction, maintenance of body tissue, and bone development. Technically, Vitamin A is not . 

Source : osu.edu

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World Pork Expo: Tackling oxidative stress at critical stages in swine production

Video: World Pork Expo: Tackling oxidative stress at critical stages in swine production

Dr. Marlin Hoogland, veterinarian and Director of Innovation and Research at Feedworks, speaks to The Pig Site's Sarah Mikesell just after World Pork Expo about how metabolic imbalance – especially during weaning, late gestation and disease outbreaks – can quietly undermine animal health and farm profitability.

In swine production, oxidative stress may be an invisible challenge, but its effects are far from subtle. From decreased feed efficiency to suppressed growth rates, it quietly chips away at productivity.

Dr. Hoogland says producers and veterinarians alike should be on alert for this metabolic imbalance, especially during the most physiologically demanding times in a pig’s life.