Untersuchungen zum Vitamin-A-Bedarf des wachsenden Schweines

Abstract

Diseases and losses were registered in dependence on vitamin A supply with 2,035 pigs (6.5-114 kg live weight). The histologic examinations comprised various organs of 72 animals. The content of the main protein fractions as well as antibody titre after supplementing antigenes were determined in the serum of 104 animals. The feeding of a vitamin-A- and carotinefree casein-starch-respectively a Vitamin-A-free cereal-soybeanmeal-diet led to deficiency symptoms after 7-8 respectively 16-19 weeks of experiment particularly in the shape of nervous disturbances and voice affectations. Histologically a hyperplasia and a metaplasia of the epithelium of the big ducts in the salivory gland could be proved. The repletion of a part of the avitaminotic animals by means of oral (500 I.U./kg feed) and parenteral (500,000 to 1,000,000 I.U. i.m.) vitamin A administration is proof of a lack of vitamin A. Vitamin A and provitamin dosage did not influence diseases and losses with the exception of the occurrence of deficiency symptoms. The protein content of the serum as well as that of the globulin fractions alpha, beta, gamma did not change, the albumin content was lower in the groups without vitamin A (p greater than 0.05). Antibody titre against the lipopolysaccharide of salmonella dublin and human gamma globulin were diminished in piglets and fattening pigs fed vitamin A free (p less than 0.05). Taking the criterion of animal health, a vitamin A requirement higher than for growth (250 I.U./kg feed) cannot be derived.

Haematology and blood‐chemistry for predicting abscesses and other abnormalities in slaughtered pigs

“…Inevitably, new, faster as well as accurate methods have to be devised to safeguard public health. Blood tests are commonly applied in animal science as it relates to the living animal (3,8,11,12,13,19,24,25 of the latter was a study on the possibilities of using blood as a medium for analysing the prevalence of toxic agents in slaughtered pigs (9). A study on the use of blood values for assessing performance and carcass composition was described by Doornenbal et al (6).…”