Effect of supplementing lactation and nursery pig diets with capsaicin on growth performance and gene expression of nursery pigs

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the effects of supplementing capsaicin in diets for lactating sows and their offspring on the growth performance and gene expression of pigs post-weaning. Twenty-eight multiparous sows were fed corn-soybean meal-based diets without (n = 14) and with (n = 14) capsaicin (2.5 mg/kg) during a 19-d lactation period. Litters from these sows (n = 288 pigs) were weaned and assigned to 36 blocks (pens) based on maternal dietary treatment and initial body weight (BW) to provide 8 pigs/pen. Blocks were assigned randomly to one of two nursery dietary treatments (control or capsaicin supplemented diets) in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to provide 9 replications per treatment combination. A 3-phase nursery feeding program was used and consisted of feeding phase 1 (weaning to d 7), phase 2 (d 8 to 21), and phase 3 (d 22 to 38) diets post-weaning, without and with 1.0, 1.3, and 1.6 mg capsaicin per kg of diet, respectively. Data were analyzed using a mixed model with the effect of nursery dietary treatment nested within sow lactation treatment, the effect of time with repeated measures, and interactions between treatments and wk post-weaning. On d 38 post-weaning, blood samples were collected from one pig in each pen (n = 36) with BW closest to the pen average for RNA sequencing and gene expression analysis. There were no effects of feeding capsaicin diets to lactating sows and/or their weaned offspring on BW, average daily gain, or average daily feed intake of pigs during the 35-d nursery period. However, pigs weaned from sows fed capsaicin during lactation and continuing to be fed capsaicin diets during the nursery period tended (P = 0.09) to have greater gain:feed (G:F) than pigs fed the other dietary treatments. Furthermore, there was an interaction (P < 0.01) for G:F for dietary treatment and wk post-weaning, where the magnitude of improvement was greater during the first wk post-weaning than subsequent wks. There were a limited number of differentially expressed genes among dietary treatment combinations but the greatest number occurred in offspring from sows that were fed capsaicin during lactation. In conclusion, the combination of feeding capsaicin to sows during lactation and to their offspring after weaning appears to improve gain efficiency for the first wk post-weaning and may alter gene expression to a greater extent than when capsaicin is supplemented only in the nursery diets.

Download Full-text

78 Evaluation of the growth performance of finishing pigs (Genesus genetics) to titrated levels of dietary lysine

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa054.105 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 58-59

Author(s):

Russell W Fent ◽

Jim D Hedges ◽

Kelly M Peper ◽

Dennis O Liptrap

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Phase 1 ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Dietary Treatment ◽

Feed Ratio ◽

Finishing Pigs ◽

Phase 2 ◽

Phase 3 ◽

Randomized Design ◽

Dietary Treatments

Abstract A total of 1,000 Genesus (Oakville, Manitoba, Canada) genetics pigs (51.8 kg body weight) were used to estimate the standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine requirement by dietary phase. Pigs were penned by sex at 25 pigs per pen. Pens were allotted to one of five dietary treatments in a completely randomized design with eight replicate pens (four barrow, four gilt) per treatment. Growth performance was evaluated in four independent phases in which pens were re-allotted to dietary treatment between phases. Dietary SID Lys concentrations evaluated were 0.78, 0.88, 0.98, 1.08, and 1.18% for phase 1, 0.68, 0.77, 0.86, 0.95, and 1.04% for phase 2, 0.60, 0.67, 0.75, 0.83 and 0.90% for phase 3, and 0.53, 0.60, 0.67, 0.74, and 0.81% for phase 4. Diets were formulated to be isoenergetic within each phase. During phase 1 (52-64 kg), average daily gain (ADG) and gain to feed ratio (G:F) increased (P < 0.01) quadratically with increasing SID Lys. Breakpoint analysis estimated the SID Lys requirement for ADG and G:F for phase 1 at 0.99 and 1.02%, respectively. During phase 2 (64-82 kg), ADG increased (P < 0.10) quadratically as dietary SID Lys increased with a plateau observed above 0.86% SID Lys. Gain:feed increased linearly (P < 0.01) with increasing SID Lys. During phase 3 (82-97 kg) cost of gain was a quadratic response (P < 0.10) with the breakpoint being at 0.76% SID Lys. During phase 4 (97-131 kg), a linear response (P < 0.02) in G:F was observed with increasing SID Lys but with no improvement above 0.67% SID Lys. These data indicate the SID lysine requirement for Genesus finishing pigs to be approximately 0.99% (23.0 g/d) for 52-64 kg, 0.86% (21.9 g/d) for 64-82 kg, 0.76% (20.2 g/d) for 82-97 kg, and 0.67% (21.6 g/d) 97-131 kg.

Download Full-text

Supplementing volatile-flavour herbal-extract mixture to the diet of sows and their weaned offspring improves the growth performance of weaned piglets

Journal of Applied Animal Nutrition ◽

10.3920/jaan2021.0009 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

D.X. Dang ◽

K.D. Han ◽

I.H. Kim

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Control Diet ◽

Phase 1 ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Herbal Extract ◽

Lactation Period ◽

Feeding Period ◽

Weaned Piglets ◽

Dietary Treatments

A volatile herbal extract (VHE), consisting of 150 g/kg anethole, 15 g/kg bebaudioside A, 2.1 g/kg thymol, 2.0 g/kg eugenol and 2.3 g/kg cinnamic aldehyde, was fed to sows and their weaned offspring to evaluate its effect on the reproductive performance of sows and the growth performance of weaned piglets. A total of 18 sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) were randomly assigned to dietary treatments based on average parity (1.78) with nine replicates per treatment. The feeding period was 35 days, from d 7 before farrowing to d 7 after weaning. The lactation period was 21 d. A total of 96 piglets were randomly selected from each sow treatment group and allocated to 24 replicate pens with four pigs (mixed sex) per pen. The feeding period of weaned piglets was 35 days (phase 1, days 1-7; phase 2, days 8-21; phase 3, days 22-35). Dietary treatments in sows and weaned piglets consisted of a basal control diet with or without 500 mg/kg VHE. The data showed that VHE supplementation had no effect on the reproductive performance of sows, but improved the growth performance of weaned piglets, in which the increase of average daily gain during days 1-7 (P=0.006) and 1-35 (P=0.032) and feed efficiency during days 22-35 (P=0.026) and 1-35 (P=0.020) in weaned piglets were observed. Therefore, supplementing VHE to the diet of sows and their weaned offspring was beneficial to the growth performance of weaned piglets.

Download Full-text

PSV-14 The Efficacy of Feeding a Bioactive Peptide in Comparison to Narasin in Growing Pigs in a Commercial System on Growth Performance and Efficiency

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab054.321 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 197-197

Author(s):

Casey L Bradley ◽

Thomas S Shieh ◽

Michael J Azain ◽

Tsung Cheng Cheng Tsai ◽

Shelby Nosbisch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Feed Efficiency ◽

Mixed Model ◽

Bioactive Peptides ◽

Animal Health ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Dietary Treatment ◽

Research Unit ◽

Growing Pigs ◽

Dietary Treatments

Abstract At 8-wk post-weaning, pens of split-sexed pigs (26.0 ± 0.25 pigs/pen; 31.3 ± 0.11 kg; DNA genetics) being housed in a commercial research unit were randomly assigned to one of two dietary treatments to compare the growth performance and efficiency of the system’s commercial nutritional program that included narasin (Skycis™, Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN) at 13.6 g/tonne to a product (2 kg/tonne) containing a combination of bioactive peptides and enzymes (PEP; Peptiva® Optimo, Vitech Bio-Chem Corporation, Orange, CA). Dietary treatments were fed through 4 phases based on feed budgets. Pens were weighed bi-weekly through 59-d on test. There were 12 replications or pens per treatment. Feed was delivered and measured using a Feed Logic system and weigh backs were conducted utilizing a calibrated ruler. Average daily gain and feed intake were calculated on a pen basis. Data were analyzed as a mixed model with dietary treatment, gender, and treatment x gender interaction included. There were no interactions reported (P ≥ 0.0965). During the study pigs performed at or above their commercial counterparts. Overall, body weight, ADG, and ADFI were not impacted by treatment, but pigs fed PEP had an 2.1% improvement in feed efficiency compared to the narasin fed pigs. These results indicate that feeding bioactive peptides plus enzymes may improve feed efficiency without the need of an ionophore in the grower period in a commercial swine facility.

Download Full-text

PSVI-1 Dietary protease supplementation on growth performance and post-weaning diarrhea of nursery pigs

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa054.337 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 191-192

Author(s):

Jorge Y Perez-Palencia ◽

David A Clizer ◽

Christian Ramirez-Camba ◽

Ryan S Samuel ◽

Crystal L Levesque

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Phase 1 ◽

Dietary Treatment ◽

Experimental Period ◽

Phase 2 ◽

Deficient Diet ◽

Nursery Pigs ◽

Feeding Program ◽

Dietary Treatments ◽

Fecal Score

Abstract This experiment evaluated the effect of dietary protease supplementation on pig’s growth performance and post-weaning diarrhea in a 43-d trial. A total of 936 weaned pigs [21 d of age, initial BW 5.87 ± 0.31 kg] were used in a 2 × 2 factorial design (2 nutritional levels × 2 protease levels). The nutritional levels corresponded to a standard feeding program and a reduced feeding program (15% lower SID Lys) and without or with protease supplementation (0.0125% inclusion). Piglets were distributed in 36 pens with 26 pigs per pen and 9 replicates per dietary treatment. Pigs received a common Phase 1 diet and experimental diets in Phase 2, 3, and 4, (0.91, 3.4, 4.5, and 24.0 kg/pig, respectively). Phytase was included at 2,500 U in Phase 2 – 4, all diets met energy and AA:Lys requirements for nursery pigs. Feed intake and body weight were determined every 2 weeks. A pen fecal score assessment was performed at d7, 10, and 14. Performance data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED procedure and fecal score data using the PROC FREQ procedure (SAS Inst., Inc., Cary, NC). No significant interactions (P > 0.05) were observed between dietary treatments. From d15 to 43 and during overall experimental period, pigs fed standard diets had greater BW, ADG, and G:F (P < 0.05) than pigs fed deficient diets (Table 1). On d7, pigs fed deficient diet had more (X2 < 0.05) soft and watery feces, and consequently less normal feces compared to pigs fed standard diets (Figure 1). On d7, 10, and 14, pigs fed diets with protease supplementation had more (X2 < 0.05) normal feces compared to control pigs. Overall, effects of dietary protease supplementation on growth performance were not expressive under the conditions of this study but protease addition benefited intestinal health of nursery pigs.

Download Full-text

Effect of dietary fermented oats in different nutrient-density diets on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and ileal microorganisms of weanling pigs

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an16410 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 59 (12) ◽

pp. 2230

Author(s):

J. W. Park ◽

H. L. Li ◽

J. K. Kim ◽

D. H. Nguyen ◽

I. H. Kim

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Phase 1 ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Experimental Period ◽

Nutrient Digestibility ◽

Phase 2 ◽

Weanling Pigs ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Nutrient Density ◽

Dietary Treatments

A total of 160 crossbred weanling pigs [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc, 28 days old] with an initial bodyweight of 8.01 ± 0.74 kg were used in a 42-day trial (Phase 1: Days 1–14, Phase 2: Days 14–42). The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of fermented oats (FO) to a corn and soybean meal-based diet on the performance of weanling pigs fed with high nutrient-density (HD) and low nutrient-density (LD) diets. Pigs were randomly distributed into one of four dietary treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Two levels of nutrient density [LD = 3323 (Phase 1: 1–14 days) and 3269 kcal/kg (Phase 2: 14–42 days); HD = 3446 (Phase 1: 1–14 days) and 3325 kcal/kg (Phase 2: 14–42 days), the differences in dietary energy were based on differences in the content of fish meal, animal fat, corn and FO [0%, 5% (Phase 1) or 2.5% (Phase 2)] were used according to the bodyweight and sex of pigs [8 replicate pens per treatment with 5 pigs in a pen (3 gilts and 2 barrows)]. During the overall trial period (Days 1–42), the average daily gain and gain:feed ratio of pigs fed HD and FO diets were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) than those of pigs fed with LD and non-fermented oats diets respectively. On Day 14, the apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter and nitrogen of the HD groups were significantly greater (P ≤ 0.05) than those of the LD groups. The apparent total tract digestibility of energy of the FO groups was significantly greater (P ≤ 0.05) than that of the non-fermented oats diet groups during the whole experimental period. Pigs fed with FO showed higher (P ≤ 0.05) ileal Lactobacillus and lower (P ≤ 0.05) Escherichia coli counts compared with those fed with the non-fermented oats diet. In conclusion, administration of FO to a LD diet demonstrated beneficial effects on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and ileal microorganisms balance of weanling pigs.

Download Full-text

Effects of Zinc Oxide and Arginine on the Intestinal Microbiota and Immune Status of Weaned Pigs Subjected to High Ambient Temperature

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10091537 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 1537

Author(s):

Se Young Yoon ◽

Soo Jin Sa ◽

Eun Seok Cho ◽

Han Seo Ko ◽

Jung Woo Choi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Mrna Expression ◽

Intestinal Microbiota ◽

Immune Status ◽

Phase 1 ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Weaned Pigs ◽

Tnf Α ◽

Clostridium Spp

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the l-arginine (Arg) inclusion and different doses of ZnO on the growth performance, intestinal microbiota and integrity, and immune status of weaned pigs. A total of 180 pigs (28-day-old) were randomly allotted to six treatments with six replicate pens in each treatment and five pigs per pen. The dietary treatments were Con (1.1% Arg); P-Zn (1.1% Arg + 2500 mg Zn as ZnO/kg diet); ARG (1.6% Arg); ZnArg1 (500 mg of Zn as ZnO/kg diet + 1.6% Arg); ZnArg2 (1000 mg of Zn as ZnO/kg diet + 1.6% Arg); ZnArg3 (2500 mg of Zn as ZnO/kg diet + 1.6% Arg). The overall result showed that the inclusion of ZnArg3 significantly improved the average daily gain of pigs compared with the Con treatment. There was a reduction in feed intake in pigs fed the Con diet compared with pigs fed the ZnArg3 diet at phase 1 and overall. At phase 1, pigs fed the ZnArg3 diet and P-Zn diet showed a decreased population of Clostridium spp. in the ileum compared with those of the Con treatment. In addition, a lower ileal Clostridium spp. population was detected in pigs fed the ZnArg2 diet compared with pigs fed the Con diet. The pigs fed ZnArg1 and ZnArg3 diets showed a greater villus height of duodenum compared with the Con and P-Zn treatments. The pigs in the Con treatment showed increased mRNA expression of heat shock protein-27 in the liver compared with the P-Zn, ZnArg1, ZnArg2, and ZnArg3 treatments. When fed the basal diet, mRNA expressions of interleukin-6 were increased in the muscle compared with the ZnArg3 treatment. Dietary supplementation with ZnArg2 decreased the mRNA expressions of interferon-γ in the muscle compared with the Con treatment. Supplementation with P-Zn, ZnArg1, ZnArg2, and ZnArg3 decreased mRNA expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) compared with the Con treatment. The mRNA gene expressions of interleukin-4 were decreased in the jejunum of pigs fed P-Zn, ARG, ZnArg1, ZnArg2, and ZnArg3 diets compared with pigs fed the Con diet. The jejunum gene expression of toll-like receptor-4 was upregulated in the Con and ARG treatments compared with the ZnArg1 and ZnArg3. The ZnArg1, ZnArg2, and ZnArg3 treatments showed lower mRNA expression of TNF-α compared with the Con treatment. In conclusion, there was no difference in growth performance, intestinal microbiota, gene expression of interleukins between ZnArg1 and ZnArg3 treatments. Therefore, the low level of ZnO (500 mg/kg) plus 1.6% dietary Arg may be recommended for pigs during the weaning stress.

Download Full-text

PSVIII-4 Live growth performance of Jersey steers using an aggressive implant strategy

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skz258.614 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 304-304

Author(s):

Tylo J Kirkpatrick ◽

Sierra L Pillmore ◽

Kimberly Cooper ◽

Travis Tennant ◽

Ty Lawrence

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Fixed Effects ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Mixed Model ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Dry Matter Intake ◽

Repeated Measure ◽

Feed Ratio ◽

Daily Gain

Abstract This experiment was designed to study the effect of days on feed and an aggressive implant strategy on Jersey steer growth performance. Steers (n = 30; start of trial body weight (BW) 183 ± 43 kg) were randomly assigned to one of two treatments; negative control (CON) or implanted with Revalor 200 every 70 d (REV; d 0, d 70, d 140, d 210, d 280, d 350) for a total of 6 implants. Steers were weighed every 35 d and daily feed delivery was recorded daily. Data for dry matter intake (DMI) and gain to feed ratio (G:F) were analyzed via a mixed model; the fixed effects were day and treatment. Live growth BW and average daily gain (ADG) used day as the repeated measure and animal as the subject in a repeated measures analysis. Change in BW increased linearly (P < 0.01); treatments differed in BW from d 280 through d 350 (P < 0.01). Average daily gain decreased (P < 0.01) linearly and differed (P < 0.01) at d 70, d 140, d 280, and d 350, but not (P ≥ 0.10) at d 210 or d 420. Dry matter intake was greater (P < 0.05) for REV steers (7.6 kg/d) than CON (6.8 kg/d). Gain to feed ratio did not differ (P ≥ 0.78) between CON steers (0.13 kg/kg dry matter (DM)) and REV (0.14 kg/kg DM) steers, yet G:F differed (P < 0.01) amongst periods (d 70 = 0.21 kg/kg, d 140 = 0.16 kg/kg, d 210 = 0.15 kg/kg, d 280 = 0.13 kg/kg, d 350 = 0.08 kg/kg, d 420 = 0.08 kg/kg). Aggressively implanting Jersey steers improved growth performance by 9.6%, 13.2%, 11.3%, and 7.7% for BW, ADG, DMI, and G:F, respectively.

Download Full-text

Effects of increasing dietary inclusion of camelina cake on growth performance of growing-finishing pigs

Translational Animal Science ◽

10.1093/tas/txab140 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

Author(s):

A M Hilbrands ◽

L J Johnston ◽

R B Cox ◽

F Forcella ◽

R Gesch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Soybean Meal ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Control Diet ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Carcass Traits ◽

Dietary Treatment ◽

Feed Ratio ◽

Experimental Unit ◽

Finishing Pigs

Abstract The objective of this experiment was to determine the dietary inclusion rate of camelina cake (CC) that would support the growth performance of growing-finishing pigs similar to that of a corn-soybean meal-based diet. Pigs (n = 192; BW = 35.2 kg; Duroc x (Yorkshire x Landrace)), balanced for sex and initial weight, were assigned to pens (8 pigs/pen) and pens were assigned randomly to one of four dietary treatments (6 pens/treatment). Treatments consisted of a non GMO corn-soybean meal control diet (CON), or CON containing 5% (5CC), 10% (10CC), or 15% (15CC) camelina cake. Feed disappearance on a pen basis and individual body weights of pigs were recorded every other week to calculate average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain to feed ratio (G:F) on a pen basis. Prior to harvest, real-time ultrasonic measurements of back fat depth and loin eye area were collected on all live pigs. Pigs were harvested as a single group at about 23 weeks of age at a commercial abattoir. Data were analyzed using Proc Glimmix with dietary treatment as a fixed effect and pen serving as the experimental unit. Growth performance data collected over time were analyzed using repeated measures within the Proc Glimmix procedure. Overall, pigs fed CON exhibited similar ADG to those consuming 5CC and higher ADG than pigs consuming 10CC and 15CC diets (1.10 kg vs. 1.05 kg for 10CC and 1.02 kg for 15CC; P < 0.05 for both mean comparisons). Pigs fed CON consumed more feed than pigs fed any of the CC diets (ADFI = 2.66 kg for CON vs. 2.46 kg for 5CC, 2.46 kg for 10CC and 2.47 kg for 15CC; P < 0.05 for all). These differences resulted in heavier (P < 0.05) CON-fed pigs at marketing than 10CC or 15CC-fed pigs. There were no differences in any carcass traits analyzed. From these data, we conclude that feeding up to 5% CC in corn-soybean meal-based diets did not negatively influence growth performance, or carcass traits of growing-finishing pigs.

Download Full-text

Effect of dietary supplementation of fermented garlic by Leuconostoc mesenteroides KCCM35046, on growth performance, blood constituents, nutrient digestibility, fecal microflora, and fecal scores in sows and their piglets

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1139/cjas-2017-0203 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 99 (2) ◽

pp. 349-356 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

H.M. Yun ◽

C.M. Nyachoti ◽

I.H. Kim

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Leuconostoc Mesenteroides ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Dietary Supplementation ◽

Nutrient Digestibility ◽

Free Access ◽

Lactation Period ◽

Blood Constituents ◽

Fecal Microflora ◽

Lactating Sows

Eighteen lactating sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) were used in an experiment to determine the effects of fermented garlic by Leuconostoc mesenteroides KCCM35046 on growth performance, blood constituents, nutrient digestibility, fecal microflora, and fecal scores in sows and their piglets. The experiment was started before farrowing 30 d to weaning, and sows were randomly assigned to the following dietary treatments: control basal diet (CON) and the CON + 0.1% or 0.2% fermented garlic (FG). During the lactation period, sows had free access to feed and water. At farrowing day and weaning (day 28), body weight (BW) loss of sows reduced linearly (P = 0.042; P = 0.006, respectively) in FG diets. There was a linear improvement in piglets’ BW with increasing dietary FG levels at weaning (P = 0.033). Piglets fed the diets with the FG linearly increased the average daily gain (ADG) at the 3rd and 4th weeks (P = 0.041; P = 0.002, respectively). Overall, the ADG of piglets linearly increased when lactating sows fed the diets with FG supplementation (P = 0.004). Red blood cell concentrations linearly decreased (P = 0.004) in sows fed dietary FG supplementation at the weaning day. Dietary inclusion of the FG tended to increase the fecal Lactobacillus population and decrease Escherichia coli population of piglets at weanling day (P = 0.075; P = 0.051, respectively). In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that dietary supplementation of FG (0.1% and 0.2%) improved growth performance in sows and their piglets.

Download Full-text

39 Effects of increasing iron dextran dosage at birth on the hematological profile and growth performance of piglets during the lactation period

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa054.073 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 41-41

Author(s):

Tyler B Chevalier ◽

Harold J Monegue ◽

Merlin D Lindemann

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Complete Blood Count ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Hemoglobin Concentration ◽

Experimental Unit ◽

Lactation Period ◽

Iron Dextran ◽

Blood Profile ◽

The Individual

Abstract The objective of the experiment was to critically monitor the blood profile and growth performance of piglets during the lactation period after receiving various amounts of injectable iron at birth. A total of 70, newborn pigs (initial BW 1.51 ± 0.26 kg) from 7 litters were assigned to 1 of 5 iron dosage treatments on d 0. Injectable iron dosage treatments were 0, 50, 100, 200, and 300 mg iron from iron dextran. BW and blood samples were collected on d 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 14, 17, and 22 (weaning) and blood was analyzed for a complete blood count (CBC). Blood was only sampled from 50 of the 70 pigs as the pigs not sampled were used for tissue collection at weaning and postweaning. Data were analyzed as repeated measures using the individual pig as the experimental unit. As early as d 1 after the injection, hemoglobin concentration (Hb) improved (linear: P < 0.05). The Hb response was both linear (P < 0.001) and quadratic (P ≤ 0.01) from d 3 through weaning at d 22. For the 50 and 100 mg iron treatments, Hb peaked at d 6, whereas Hb for the 200 and 300 mg iron treatments peaked on d 17. Other CBC measures followed a similar pattern of improvement from d 2-3 through weaning as the iron dosage increased. Average daily gain was greater (linear: P = 0.04 and quadratic: P = 0.05) from d 0 to 22 which, in turn, led to a linear improvement (P ≤ 0.05) in weaning BW. Increasing iron injection dosage at birth leads to an improved blood profile and greater ADG during the nursing period (d 0-22). The dosage provided also affects the timing and magnitude of the peak Hb response.

Download Full-text