Effects of dietary vitamin levels on physiological responses, blood profiles, and reproductive performance in gestating sows

Abstract

This study was performed to evaluate the effects of dietary vitamin levels on physiological responses, blood profiles, and reproductive performance in gestating sows. A total of 52 F1 multiparous sows (Yorkshire × Landrace) with an average body weight of 223.5 ± 31.7 kg, an average parity of 6.4 ± 2.7, and an average backfat thickness of 18.5 ± 4.9 mm were divided into four treatment groups considering body weight, backfat thickness, and parity in a completely randomized design with 13 replicates. The treatments were 100% (V1), 300% (V3), 600% (V6) and 900% (V9) of the National Research Council (NRC) Nutrient Requirements of Swine. The gestation diet was formulated based on corn-soybean meal (SBM) and contained 3,265 kcal of metabolizable energy (ME)/kg and 12.00% crude protein. During the lactation period, all sows were fed the same commercial lactation diet. There was no significant difference in body weight of gestating sows. However backfat thickness tended to increase when higher levels of vitamins were provided to gestating sows (p < 0.10). When high levels of dietary vitamins were provided, the body weight change of lactating sows increased (p < 0.01). When sows were fed higher levels of vitamins, the feed intake of lactating sows tended to decrease (p = 0.06). There were no treatment differences in the number of total born, born alive, stillbirth piglets, or the body weight of piglets according to different dietary vitamin level. As dietary vitamin level increased, the serum concentration of 25(OH)D3 in sows at 90 days of gestation linearly increased (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the serum vitamin E level of gestating sows was linearly increased with increasing dietary vitamin level (p < 0.05). The current NRC vitamin requirements are sufficient for gestating sows and higher levels of vitamins in the gestation diet did not show any beneficial effects for gestating and lactating sows.

Dietary 25 Hydroxyvitamin D3 Improved Serum Concentration Level and Alkaline Phosphatase Activity during Lactation but Had Meager Impact on Post-Farrowing Reproductive Performance in Sows

“…Hence, several biological factors could jointly affect serum concentration. As seen in previous reports, evidence has also shown that blood concentration is not only influenced by dietary levels but metabolic Ca demand as well [40,41]. Studies have shown that during lactation, available Ca and P are often elevated.…”

Capsaicin and 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Glycoside: Effects on the Reproductive Performance of Hyper-Prolific Sows

“…These results are attributed to the mechanism of the direct action of vitamin 1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 on the homeostasis of calcium and phosphorus, minerals that are associated with uterine contraction [19]. Blim et al [5] found an increased calcium level at the onset of the fetal expulsion stage.…”

“…Concomitantly, vitamin 1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 has a potential physiological role in the regulation of immune responses, along with the vitamin D receptor, which is induced after the activation of pathogen recognition receptors and can induce the synthesis of antibacterial proteins [38], which promotes improvements in the general health of animals through various nongenomic mechanisms, such as protein expression, inflammation, oxidative stress, and cellular metabolism [19].…”

The strategies for the supplementation of vitamins and trace minerals in pig production: surveying major producers in China

“…Most producers provide these vitamins close to the requirements, and they observed optimum growth under commercial feeding conditions. Previous studies reported that high levels of dietary supplementation of B vitamins could not improve performance, and NRC levels for pigs are sufficient to meet their needs [ 19 , 20 ]. A similar situation was described in a survey carried out in the United States [ 15 ], where some producers do not include thiamine, vitamin B 6 , folic acid, and choline (mainly for growing–finishing pigs).…”