How Vitamins Contribute to Profitable and Sustainable Farming

Vitamins are key to animals’ health and performance, but knowing how to supplement is key. Understanding which vitamins to offer, and at which doses, can support productivity and profitability in animal operations.

In addition to supporting health and performance, the right vitamin levels can contribute to more sustainable agriculture. We at DSM believe that the feed industry has a critical role in shaping a better world, and are guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Vitamins are essential for optimizing animal health and welfare, animal performance and food quality

• Vitamins are irreplaceable micro-ingredients in the diet of both humans and animals, and are required for the metabolism of other nutrients such as carbohydrates, protein and fat. They are key elements in the organism's vital functions: maintenance, growth, health and reproduction.
• The daily requirement for each vitamin is very small (grams or micrograms per ton of feed), which differs from macronutrients.
• Today, the right use of vitamins is even more important due to current trends that put more pressure on meeting nutritional needs:
  • Genetic improvements of animal breeds to achieve better productivity with a more efficient use of feed.
  • Reducing or replacing the use of antibiotics in feed with the need to optimize immune response, gut health, stress prevention, liver protection, etc.
  • Producing quality food for consumers with the right nutrient levels as well as reducing food waste while improving animal welfare standards.