| Summary: | Six types of vitamin K<sub>3</sub> (VK<sub>3</sub>); two sources (menadione sodium bisulfite, MSB; menadione nicotinamide bisulfite, MNB), and three different forms (crystal, micro-capsule, and micro-sphere) were used to determine the retention of VK<sub>3</sub> in vitamin premixes (Experiment 1) or vitamin trace mineral (VTM) premixes (Experiment 2) after 1, 2, 3, and 6 months of storage. The retention of VK<sub>3</sub> in vitamin premixes was evaluated at 25 °C/60% relative humidity or 40 °C/75% relative humidity in an incubator in Experiment 1 and in VTM premixes (choline chloride: 0 vs. 16,000 mg/kg) stored at room temperature in Experiment 2. The VK<sub>3</sub> retention in vitamin premix or VTM premix decreased significantly with the extension of storage time (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In Experiment 1, the VK<sub>3</sub> retention was higher in the 25 °C/60% incubator (56%) than in the 40 °C/75% incubator (28%). The MNB retention (52%) was higher than MSB retention (32%). The retention of VK<sub>3</sub> in micro-capsules (43%) or micro-spheres (48%) was higher than the crystal form (35%) after six months of storage. In Experiment 2, there was no difference between the retention of MSB (49%) or MNB (47%). The retention of VK<sub>3</sub> of micro-capsule (51%) or micro-sphere (54%) was higher than that of crystal form (40%). The VK<sub>3</sub> retention was higher in the choline-free group (51%) than in the choline group (47%) after six months of storage. Finally, the predicted equations of VK<sub>3</sub> retention with storage time in vitamin premixes or VTM premixes were established. The <i>R</i><sup>2</sup> of the prediction equations was ≥0.9005, indicating that time is an important factor in predicting VK<sub>3</sub> retention. In conclusion, the higher temperature-relative humidity, choline had negative effects on VK<sub>3</sub> retention during premix storage. MNB retention was higher than MSB during storage of vitamin premix. The encapsulated forms of VK<sub>3</sub>, micro-capsules and micro-spheres, could improve VK<sub>3</sub> storage stability in vitamin premix and VTM premix.
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