What is vitamin E?
Vitamin E is a family of compounds, the tocopherols and tocotrienols, of which alpha-tocopherol has the highest biological activity. It sits in cell membranes and stops the chain reaction of lipid peroxidation by neutralising free radicals, protecting polyunsaturated fatty acids in the membranes.
Free tocopherol is easily oxidised, so feed uses the acetate ester, which is stable in premixes and feed and is hydrolysed to active tocopherol in the gut. The synthetic form, all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (also written dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate), is the reference: 1 mg equals 1 IU of vitamin E. Natural RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate has higher activity per milligram.
What does vitamin E do in animal feed?
- Antioxidant defence: protects cell membranes, working together with selenium-containing enzymes (glutathione peroxidase).
- Immunity: supports normal immune function, especially during stress, weaning, transport or heat.
- Poultry: deficiency is associated with encephalomalacia, exudative diathesis and muscular dystrophy in chicks; it is also important for breeder fertility and hatchability.
- Pigs and ruminants: deficiency together with low selenium can cause nutritional muscular dystrophy (white muscle disease) in young animals; in dairy cows vitamin E is considered important around calving for udder and reproductive health.
- Meat quality: higher tissue vitamin E helps slow lipid oxidation in meat, supporting colour and shelf life.
- Feed fat: diets high in polyunsaturated fats or oxidised oils increase the need for vitamin E.
Forms of vitamin E
- Vitamin E 50% adsorbate: tocopheryl acetate oil adsorbed on silica; the most common form for premixes because it is free-flowing and stable.
- Vitamin E 50% spray-dried powder: the oil encapsulated in a matrix, often used where water dispersibility matters, for example milk replacers.
- Vitamin E oil: concentrated tocopheryl acetate, used in liquid applications or by producers who make their own dilutions.
- Natural vitamin E: RRR-alpha-tocopherol forms with higher activity per mg, used in some specialised applications.
- Feed ingredients: green forage, vegetable oils and whole grains contain tocopherols, but the content falls during storage, drying and processing.
How is the vitamin E supply assessed?
Vitamin E is set in IU or mg per kilogram of feed according to species, age and production stage. The selenium level of the diet, the amount and type of fat, the presence of oxidised oils and periods of stress or disease challenge all influence the target. Nutritionists also decide whether to aim only at preventing deficiency or at additional goals such as meat shelf life. The product label and local regulations apply.
Quality criteria
- Declared content: for example at least 50% all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate in an adsorbate, confirmed by analysis.
- Carrier type and flowability: silica adsorbates should be free-flowing without oil separation.
- Particle size and dust: affect uniform mixing in the premix.
- Stability: the acetate form is relatively stable, but premixes should still be stored cool and dry.
- Heavy metals, certificate of analysis (CoA) and lot traceability.
CTF Premix and vitamin E
Vitamin E, as all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, can be included in CTF Premix's vitamin, vitamin-mineral and custom premixes according to the customer's formulation, and can be designed together with the selenium source in mineral or combined premixes. All premixes are produced at our Ankara facility under ISO 9001:2015 and GMP; every lot has a certificate of analysis and can be traced via the batch verification page on our website.
This page is for general information. Inclusion rates and product choice should be decided with a nutritionist, taking into account the species, the feed formulation and the applicable regulations.