Refine
Document Type
- Article (2) (remove)
Language
- English (2)
Is part of the Bibliography
- yes (2)
Keywords
- 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (2) (remove)
Institute
- Fakultät AuL (2)
The present study aims to compare the effects of maternal and offspring treatment with 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OHD3) and vitamin D3 on vitamin D status, mineral homoeostasis, bone metabolism and locomotion in the offspring. Either vitamin D3 (50 μg/kg diet) or 25-OHD3 (50 μg/kg diet) was supplemented to the gestation and lactation diets of 49 multiparous sows and/or to the diets of their growing offspring. Treatment of the sows did not affect plasma concentrations of 25-OHD3 of the offspring. Pigs fed 25-OHD3 had higher plasma concentrations of 25-OHD3 than pigs that received vitamin D3 during rearing and fattening. However, neither plasma concentrations of calcium, phosphate and bone markers during the observation period nor bone ash and bone mineral density at slaughter were clearly affected by the treatment. Maternal and offspring treatment with 25-OHD3 instead of vitamin D3 resulted in a slight reduction in the prevalence of leg swelling. In addition, more pigs walked with even steps and normal stride length. Further studies are needed to test whether the slight effects observed in the present experiment are reproducible and of relevance for animal health and welfare. In that case, the underlying mechanisms should be revealed in order to take advantage of potentially beneficial influences especially under certain feeding regimes.
To investigate the influence of two dietary sources of vitamin D on the vitamin D status, bone metabolism, welfare and birth progress of gestating and lactating sows, forty-nine multiparous sows were randomly assigned to one of two diets: “CON” (n = 25; 50 μg vitamin D3/kg feed) and “HYD” (n = 24; 50 μg 25-hydroxycholecalciferol/kg feed). The basal diets were protein- and phosphorus-reduced. The trial started on day 3 ante insemination of the sows and ended with weaning of the piglets on day 28 postpartum. Dietary supplementation of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol resulted in improved maternal vitamin D status (p < 0.001), fewer gait changes (p < 0.01) and longer standing time after feeding (day 5 ante partum; p < 0.05) compared to vitamin D3. However, the bone markers CrossLaps and osteocalcin were not affected. Overall, the present results suggest that sows fed 25-hydroxycholecalciferol instead of vitamin D3 showed improved locomotion and stance strength. However, this outcome is probably not related to altered bone metabolism. The underlying mechanisms must be investigated in further studies.