Effects of neonatal supplementation of copper, vitamins A and D on micronutrient status of piglets during lactation and after weaning

• Published in: Journal of animal science 2018-12, Vol.96, p.339-339
• Main Authors: Galiot, L, Matte, J, Audet, I, Ouattara, B, Bissonnette, N, Talbot, G, Lapointe, J, Guay, F, Lessard, M, Verso, L Lo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetic acid; Aluminum base alloys; Animal lactation; Carotene; Colostrum; Copper; Diet; Dietary supplements; Gestation; Hogs; Lactation; Liver; Micronutrients; Neonates; Placenta; Residual effects; Tables; Ultraviolet radiation; Vitamin A; Vitamin D; Vitamins; Weaning; Weight; Yeast
• ISSN: 0021-8812; 1525-3163

Placental and colostral transfers of copper, vitamins A and D are limited in pig. This study aimed to determine the impact of supplementations of these micronutrients and bovine colostrum (BC) on piglets' micronutrient status. Twenty-three sows were fed conventional gestation and lactation diets (CONT) whereas another group of 24 sows was fed CONT diets with daily supplements of 25-OH-D3 (4 KIU), ß-carotene (30 KIU) and Cu-yeast (45 mg) (SUPPL) from day 90 (d90) of gestation to farrowing. The supplementation was doubled until weaning. For each group, all piglets within litters received one of these treatments: (T1) control; (T2) oral retinol-acetate at d2 (8 mg) and d8 (16 mg) of age, 25-OH-D3 (100 and 200 pg, respectively) and Cu-yeast (4 and 8 mg, respectively) with exposure to UVB lights (15 min every other day from d5 to weaning); (T3) oral BC (4 g daily) from d5 to d10; (T4) T2 + T3. Determinations of 25-OH-D3, copper and retinol in piglets' blood serum were done at d2, d8, d21 and d42. Measurements of liver retinol and copper were made at d16, d23 and d42 from one low (LW) and one high weight (HW) piglet per litter. Serum 25-OH-D3 was greater in (T2-T4) than (T1-T3) piglets except on d42 (Table 01). Liver retinol and copper were greater in (T2-T4) than (T1-T3) piglets at d16 and d23 but this response was more pronounced in LW than HW piglets for retinol. At d42, liver retinol decreased but concentrations remained higher (P < 0.01) in (T2T4) than (T1-T3) piglets (Table 02). For liver copper, values collapsed after weaning despite supranutritional basal levels of copper in diets (Table 03). In conclusion, supplementation to piglets is efficient to increase the postnatal micronutrient status during lactation but residual effects either disappeared or were attenuated after weaning.