This experiment investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of vitamin E and vitamin C on sow reproductive
performance and transfer of vitamin E to piglets via the placenta, colostrum and milk. The results provide evidence for only limited placental transfer of vitamin E but in utero concentration of vitamin C on the foetal side of the placenta. For both vitamins the efficiency of placental transfer decreased as maternal serum vitamin concentrations increased. The main supply of these vitamins to the newborn piglet was via the mammary gland rather than the placenta.