Evaluating the Effects of Maternal Vitamin D Supplementation on the Subsequent Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of a Subsample Population of Growing Pigs

Authors

J. R. Flohr, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
J. C. Woodworth, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
M. D. Tokach, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
S. S. Dritz, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
R. D. Goodband, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
J. M. DeRouchey, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
J. R. Bergstrom, DSM Nutritional Products Inc., Parsippany, NJ

Keywords

25(OH)D3, growth, finishing pig, nursery pig, vitamin D

Abstract

A subsample of 448 growing pigs (PIC 327 × 1050), or approximately 50% of pigs weaned from sows fed varying dietary vitamin D regimens, were used in a split-plot design to determine the influence of maternal and nursery vitamin D regimens on growth performance. Sows were previously administered diets containing vitamin D as either: 1) low vitamin D₃ (363 IU/lb); 2) medium vitamin D₃ (907 IU/lb); 3) high vitamin D₃ (4,354 IU/lb); or 4) 23 μg 25(OH)D₃/lb (Hy-D, DSM Nutritional Products Inc, Parsippany, NJ) as described by Flohr et al. (20153) throughout gestation and lactation. A total of 52 total litters from 2 consecutive weaning groups were represented in the subsample population for growth performance. Once weaned, pigs were allotted to pens in the nursery based on previously administered maternal vitamin D regimens, then pens were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 nursery vitamin D regimens (907 IU of vitamin D₃/lb, or 23 μg 25(OH)D₃/lb). Pigs remained on nursery vitamin D regimens for 35 d, then they were provided common growing and finishing diets until market. One pig per pen was bled at weaning and on d 17, 35, and 70 post-weaning to determine growing pig serum vitamin metabolites. At weaning, pig BW was increased (quadratic, P = 0.001) with increased maternal vitamin D₃ supplementation. This was because pigs from sows fed the medium concentration of vitamin D₃ were heavier at weaning compared to pigs from sows fed the low or high concentration of vitamin D₃. Overall from d 0 to 35 in the nursery, pigs from sows fed increasing vitamin D₃ had increased (quadratic, P < 0.003) ADG and ADFI, but F/G was similar regardless of maternal Vitamin D regimen. Pigs from sows fed the low concentration of vitamin D₃ had poorer (P < 0.002) ADG and final nursery BW compared to those from sows fed 25(OH)D₃. Throughout finishing (d 35 post-weaning until market), ADG was increased (quadratic, P = 0.005) and ADFI tended to increase (quadratic, P = 0.055) with increasing maternal vitamin D₃ supplementation because pigs from sows fed the medium concentration of vitamin D₃ had greater ADG and numerically greater ADFI compared to pigs from sows fed the low or high concentration of vitamin D₃. Average daily gain of pigs from sows fed the low concentration of vitamin D₃ was lower (P < 0.004) compared to those from sows fed 25(OH)D₃. Carcass data were also collected from 734 pigs (approximately 65% of pigs weaned from sows administered vitamin D regimens) from 3 out of the 4 weaning groups used for the experiment. At marketing, live BW and HCW were heavier (P < 0.030) for pigs from sows fed 25(OH)D₃ compared to pigs from sows fed the high concentration of vitamin D₃. Also, percentage carcass yield increased (quadratic, P = 0.003) with increasing maternal vitamin D₃ supplementation. Loin depth (linear P = 0.047) and BF (quadratic, P = 0.031) were both decreased with increasing vitamin D₃ supplementation. Overall, it appears that vitamin D3 and 25(OH)D₃, whether through maternal supplementation or through the diet, are useful sources of vitamin D to increase serum 25(OH)D₃ concentrations in growing pigs. Additionally, 25(OH)D₃ (in the nursery diet) can increase serum 25(OH)D₃ of nursery pigs more than feeding the same international unit equivalency of vitamin D₃. Pigs from sows fed the medium concentration of vitamin D₃ performed better after weaning compared to pigs from sows fed the low or high concentrations of vitamin D₃; however, this difference may have been confounded with the variance in weaning weight associated with the subsample population used for the growth portion of the study. Also, it is perceived that pigs from sows fed 25(OH)D₃ had increased live weight and HCW compared to pigs from sows fed the high concentration of vitamin D₃.

Recommended Citation

Flohr, J. R.; Woodworth, J. C.; Tokach, M. D.; Dritz, S. S.; Goodband, R. D.; DeRouchey, J. M.; and Bergstrom, J. R. (2015) "Evaluating the Effects of Maternal Vitamin D Supplementation on the Subsequent Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of a Subsample Population of Growing Pigs," Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 1: Iss. 7. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.1129