ABSTRACT
Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of additional iron injection to suckling piglets on hematocrit level during the suckling period. In Experiment 1, a total of 24 piglets were allotted into 3 treatments within litter based on body weight and sex at d 1 of age. Treatments were: (1) Control: a 200 mg iron-dextran intramuscular injection only at d 0 of experiment (d 1 of age), (2) Iron100: intramuscular iron-dextran injections at d 0 (200 mg iron) and 15 (11 d before weaning) of experiment (100 mg iron), and (3) Iron200: intramuscular iron-dextran injections at d 0 (200 mg iron) and 15 of experiment (200 mg iron). In Experiment 2, a total of 20 piglets were allotted into 2 treatments within litter based on body weight and sex at d 1 to 2 of age. Treatments were: (1) Iron100b: 100 mg iron-dextran intramuscular injection at d 0 of experiment (d 1 to 2 of age), and (2) Iron200b: 200 mg iron-dextran intramuscular injection at d 0 of experiment. An additional 200 mg iron-dextran was injected to all piglets intramuscularly at d 14 of experiment (11 d before weaning). In Experiment 1, there was no difference in hematocrit levels among treatments at d 15 of experiment. Both iron treatments had greater hematocrit levels than the Control treatment at d 22 and 26 of experiment (p < 0.05). The Iron200 treatment had greater hematocrit level at d 26 of experiment (p < 0.05) and tended to have a greater increase of hematocrit levels in d 22 to 26 of experiment (p = 0.09) than the Iron100 treatment. In Experiment 2, the Iron200b treatment had greater hematocrit levels than the Iron100b treatment in d 14 and 25 (p < 0.05) of experiment. Hematocrit level changes tended to be greater in the Iron200b treatment in d 0 to 14 (p = 0.08) of experiment but lower in d 14 to 25 (p < 0.05) of experiment than the Iron100b treatment. The additional iron injection to suckling piglets increased hematocrit levels with greater values at weaning in the higher injection level whereas the increase was greater when the hematocrit level was low at the time of additional injection.
ABSTRACT
Abstract Background: Creep feed is offered to suckling piglets to introduce solid feed and provide extra nutrients in late lactation. However, the effect of creep feed is inconsistent; there is little information about the effect of creep diet complexity on piglet performance. Objective: Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of creep feed and its complexity on growth performance of suckling and weaned pigs. Methods: In Exp. 1, eight litters (average 19.9 ± 1.1 d of age; initial piglet weight: 6.74 ± 1.2 kg) were allotted to two dietary treatments considering breed, litter size and weight, as follows: no creep feed (n=3) and creep feed (n=5; offered for 8 days before weaning). At weaning (d 28 of age), the pigs were divided into three treatments (6 pigs/pen, 3 replicates; initial body weight: 9.66 ± 0.34 kg) balanced by gender, body weight, and breed, as follows: creep feed eaters, creep feed non-eaters, and no creep feed. In Exp. 2, two different types of creep feed were offered to suckling piglets (initial piglet weight: 3.79 ± 0.55 kg) in seven litters from d 12 of age (average 12.0 ± 1.3 d of age) to weaning (d 25 of age). Treatments were: HCF (n=4): highly-complex creep diet containing 3% fish meal, 2.4% blood meal, and 15% whey; and 2) LCF (n=3): lowly-complex creep diet without the mentioned ingredients. At weaning, only eater pigs were divided into 2 treatments (6 pigs/pen, 3 replicates; initial body weight: 7.53 ± 0.97 kg) balanced by gender, breed and body weight as follows: HCF eaters and LCF eaters. In both experiments, creep feed was mixed with 1% Cr2O3 to measure fecal color for eater/non-eater categorization and the pigs were fed a common nursery diet for 21 days. Results: In both experiments, there were no differences on piglet weaning weight and overall nursery growth performance among the treatments. In Exp. 2, the creep feed intake and percentage of eaters per litter were not different between the HCF and LCF treatments, whereas the HCF eaters tended to have a greater average daily gain (p=0.08) and gain to feed ratio (p=0.09) than the LCF eaters during d 7-14 postweaning. Conclusion: Creep feed did not affect overall piglet growth in suckling and nursery phases, but its complexity might affect pig growth in the early nursery phase.
Resumen Antecedentes: El alimento de pre-iniciación se ofrece a los lechones lactantes para introducir la alimentación sólida y proporcionar nutrientes adicionales durante la lactancia tardía. Sin embargo, sus efectos son inconsistentes y hay poca información sobre el efecto de la complejidad de la dieta de pre-iniciación sobre el rendimiento de los cerdos. Objetivo: Se realizaron dos experimentos para evaluar el efecto del suministro de pre-iniciador y la complejidad del mismo sobre el crecimiento de lechones y cerdos destetados. Métodos: En el Exp. 1, ocho camadas (promedio 19,9 ± 1.1 d de edad; peso inicial: 6,74 ± 1,2 kg) se asignaron a dos tratamientos con base en raza, tamaño de camada, y peso, de la siguiente manera: sin suministro (n=3) y con suministro de pre-iniciador (n = 5; ofrecido durante 8 días antes del destete). Al destete (d 28 de edad) los cerdos se dividieron en 3 tratamientos (6 cerdos/corral y 3 réplicas; peso inicial: 9,66 ± 0,34 kg) balanceados por género, peso y raza, de la siguiente manera: consumidores de pre-iniciador, no consumidores de pre-iniciación, y sin suministro de pre-iniciación. En el Exp. 2 se ofrecieron dos tipos diferentes de pre-iniciador a los cerditos lactantes (peso inicial del lechón: 3,79 ± 0,55 kg) en siete camadas desde el día 12 de edad (promedio 12,0 ± 1,3 días de edad) hasta el destete (día 25 de edad). Los tratamientos fueron: HCF (n=4): dieta de pre-iniciación de alta complejidad conteniendo 3% de harina de pescado, 2,4% de harina de sangre y 15% de suero de leche; y 2) LCF (n=3): dieta de pre-iniciación de baja complejidad, sin esos ingredientes. Al destete, solo los cerdos que consumieron pre-iniciador se dividieron en 2 tratamientos (6 cerdos/corral, 3 repeticiones; peso corporal inicial: 7,53 ± 0,97 kg) balanceados por género, raza y peso, de la siguiente manera: consumidores de HCF o de LCF. En ambos experimentos el pre-iniciador se mezcló con Cr2O3 al 1% para medir el color fecal y categorizar los consumidores/ no consumidores, y los cerdos se alimentaron con una dieta común de iniciación durante 21 días. Resultados: En ambos experimentos no hubo diferencias en el peso al destete de los lechones y el rendimiento general de crecimiento en re-cría entre tratamientos. En el Exp. 2, la ingesta de pre-iniciador y el porcentaje de cerdos consumidores por camada no fueron diferentes entre los HCF y LCF, mientras que los consumidores de HCF tendieron a tener mayor ganancia diaria (p=0,08) y mayor relación ganancia/alimento (p=0,09) que los consumidores de LCF durante los días 7-14 pos-destete. Conclusión: el pre-iniciador no afecta el crecimiento general de los lechones en las fases de lactancia y re-cría, pero la complejidad de la dieta podría afectar el crecimiento de los cerditos al inicio de la re-cría.
Resumo Antecedentes: A alimentação por fluência é oferecida aos leitões para introduzir alimentos sólidos e fornecer nutrientes extras no final da lactação. No entanto, o efeito ainda é inconsistente e há poucas informações sobre o efeito da complexidade da dieta de fluência no desempenho dos leitões. Objetivo: Dois experimentos foram conduzidos para avaliar o efeito da alimentação por fluência e a complexidade da dieta no desempenho do crescimento de porcos em aleitamento e desmame. Métodos: Em Exp. 1, oito ninhadas (média de 19,9 ± 1,1 d de idade; peso inicial do leitão: 6,74 ± 1,2 kg) foram distribuídos em 2 tratamentos com base na raça, tamanho e peso da ninhada, da seguinte forma: ausência de ração (n=3) e ração por creep (n=5; oferecido por 8 dias antes do desmame). No desmame (d 28 anos de idade), os porcos foram divididos em 3 tratamentos (6 porcos/caneta, 3 repetições; peso corporal inicial: 9,66 ± 0,34 kg) balanceados com gênero, peso corporal e raça, como a seguir: comedores de ração, creep feed não comedores, e creep feed. Em Exp. 2, foram oferecidos dois tipos diferentes de ração para leitões (peso inicial dos leitões: 3,79 ± 0,55 kg) em sete ninhadas de 12 anos de idade (média 12,0 ± 1,3 dias) até o desmame (25 anos). Os tratamentos foram: HCF (n=4): dieta de fluência de alta complexidade contendo 3% de farinha de peixe, 2,4% de farinha de sangue e 15% de soro de leite; e 2) LCF (n=3): dieta de fluência de baixa complexidade sem esses ingredientes. No desmame, apenas os porcos comedores foram divididos em 2 tratamentos (6 porcos/caneta, 3 repetições; peso corporal inicial: 7,53 ± 0,97 kg) balanceados com gênero, raça e peso corporal da seguinte forma: comedores de HCF e comedores de LCF. Em ambos os experimentos, a alimentação fluida foi misturada com 1% de Cr2O3 para medir a cor fecal para categorização de comedor/ não comedor e os porcos foram alimentados com uma dieta comum durante 21 dias. Resultados: Nos dois experimentos, não houve diferenças no peso ao desmame dos leitões e no desempenho geral do crescimento do viveiro entre os tratamentos. Em Exp. 2, o consumo de ração por creep e a porcentagem de comedores por ninhada não foram diferentes entre os tratamentos de HCF e LCF, enquanto os comedores de HCF tenderam a ter um maior ganho médio diário (p=0,08) e uma taxa de ganho para alimentação (p=0,09) do que os comedores de LCF durante d 7-14 pós-desmame. Conclusão: A alimentação por fluência não afetou o crescimento geral de leitões nas fases de amamentação e viveiro, mas a complexidade da dieta pode afetar o crescimento de leitões na fase inicial do viveiro.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of fat-soluble vitamin injection on plasma and tissue vitamin status in nursery pigs. METHODS: A total of 16 pigs (initial body weight: 7.15±1.1 kg) were allotted to 2 treatments at d 7 post-weaning. Pigs were fed a corn-soybean meal-based basal diet with no supplemental vitamin A and i.m. injected with 300,000 IU of retinyl palmitate, 900 IU of d-α-tocopherol and 30,000 IU of vitamin D3 with control pigs having no vitamin injection. Blood (d 0, 3, 7, and 14 post-injection) and tissue samples (liver, brain, heart, lung, and muscle; d 7 and 14 post-injection) were collected from pigs. Retinyl palmitate, retinol, and α-tocopherol concentrations were analyzed in plasma and tissues, while plasma was assayed for 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OHD3). RESULTS: Plasma retinol and 25-OHD3 concentrations increased by the vitamin injection from d 3 to 14 post-injection (p<0.05) whereas plasma retinyl palmitate was detected only in the vitamin treatment at d 3 and 7 post-injection (115.51 and 4.97 µg/mL, respectively). Liver retinol, retinyl palmitate, and retinol+retinyl palmitate concentrations increased by retinyl palmitate injection at d 7 and 14 post-injection (p<0.05) whereas those were not detected in the other tissues. The d-α-tocopherol injection increased α-tocopherol concentrations in plasma at d 3 and 7 post-injection (p<0.05) and in liver, heart (p<0.10), and muscle (p<0.05) at d 7 post-injection. CONCLUSION: Fat-soluble vitamin injection increased plasma status of α-tocopherol, retinol, retinyl palmitate and 25-OHD3. As plasma levels decreased post-injection, vitamin A level in liver and vitamin E level in muscle, heart and liver increased. The α-tocopherol found in plasma after injection was distributed to various tissues but retinyl palmitate only to the liver.
