This study questioned whether the addition of K-diformate to sow diets also would improve performance of sows and suckling piglets. The objective of this study was therefore to establish whether there is a beneficial effect of
using K-diformate in sow diets on body condition of sows, growth performance of piglets, nutrient digestibility, sow milk composition, and microbiota in sow feces. It was found that supplementing sow diets with K-diformate increased
backfat thickness of sows during gestation, increased digestibility of fat, ash, and content of estimated energy of diets during lactation, and increased birth weight and weaning weight of piglets. K-diformate supplemented diets did not affect the microbial population in the gastro-intestinal tract of the sows. Tendencies towards increased milk fat content of sows fed K-diformate require further evaluation.

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