MODERN SOWS PRODUCE SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER LITTERS THAN IN THE PAST, BUT THIS INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY IS ACCOMPANIED BY CRITICAL CHALLENGES SUCH AS HIGHER MORTALITY AND CULLING RATES. THESE ISSUES COST THE U.S. PORK INDUSTRY OVER $1 BILLION ANNUALLY IN ACTUAL AND OPPORTUNITY COST, AND ARE AMONG THE MOST PRESSING WELFARE, ECONOMIC, SUSTAINABILITY, AND SOCIETAL CHALLENGES FACING PORK PRODUCERS GLOBALLY. THIS PROJECT HYPOTHESIZES THAT TARGETED DIETARY FIBER SUPPLEMENTATION CAN AID IN ADDRESSING THESE CHALLENGES BY IMPROVING SOW HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH ENHANCED SATIETY, REDUCED CONSTIPATION, AND BETTER ENERGY METABOLISM DURING CRITICAL PRODUCTION STAGES. THE OBJECTIVES ARE TO DEVELOP FUNCTIONAL FIBER INDEXES TAILORED TO GESTATION, FARROWING, AND LACTATION DIETS; EVALUATE DIETARY FIBER'S IMPACT ON REDUCING MORTALITY RATES, STILLBIRTHS, AND CULLING DUE TO STRUCTURAL AND BODY CONDITION ISSUES; AND CREATE PRACTICAL TOOLS TO HELP PRODUCERS STRATEGICALLY USE FIBER TO OPTIMIZE SOW DIETS. EXPECTED RESULTS INCLUDE IMPROVED SOW LONGEVITY AND PRODUCTIVITY AND INCREASE IN NUMBER OF PIGS PRODUCED. CONSERVATIVELY, IF THIS RESEARCH CAN REDUCE SOW MORTALITY BY UP TO 5%, ECONOMIC GAINS OF $22,000 PER 1,000-SOW OPERATION CAN BE ACHIEVED ANNUALLY. NATIONALLY, THIS COULD PREVENT THE LOSS OF NEARLY 1 MILLION WEANED PIGLETS ANNUALLY, TRANSLATING TO MORE THAN $40 MILLION IN ECONOMIC BENEFITS. THIS RESEARCH WILL DELIVER SOCIETAL BENEFITS AS WELL BY IMPROVING ANIMAL WELFARE, ENHANCING SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH EFFICIENT RESOURCE USE, AND STRENGTHENING THE ECONOMIC STABILITY OF RURAL PORK PRODUCERS. BY PINPOINTING THE SPECIFIC TYPES OF DIETARY FIBER THAT PROMOTE OPTIMAL HEALTH IN SOWS, THIS PROJECT OFFERS INNOVATIVE, SCIENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS TO ONE OF THE PORK INDUSTRY'S MOST SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES, THEREBY PROMOTING A MORE SUSTAINABLE AND ETHICAL FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN.