HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Heaney, D. P. Articles by Miller, E. R. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Heaney, D. P. Articles by Miller, E. R.

Effects of Marginal Vitamin A Intake during Gestation in Swine^1,2,

Mickigan State University, ^,5 East Lansing

Abstract

Fifteen gilts, making three experimental groups of five gilts each, were used in the experimentwhich began when the gilts were 4 months of age and continued through two gestation periods. A low vitamin A ration was individually fed. Supplemental vitamin A was added to each gilt's daily feed as follows: group I (control), 16 mcg.; group II, 5 mcg.; and group III, 2.5 mcg., of vitamin A per kg. live weight daily. For groups II and III there was a 6 months depletion period prior to receiving supplemental vitamin A.

The low level of vitamin A intake was adequate for the health and well being of the mothers themselves. The data did not provide a definite indication of the vitamin A requirementfor normal reproduction, although the low level of dietary vitamin A appeared borderline for reproduction despite no apparent acute deficiency.

The levels of dietary vitamin A intake during gestation were reflected in the liver reservesand blood plasma vitamin A levels of the newborn pigs. Liver storage was the more sensitive with appreciable and highly significant differences among the three groups.

The vitamin A content of the milk, and particularly colostrum, was significantly higher from the control gilts than from the gilts of the other two groups. The differences in milk vitamin A between gilts of groups II and III were of smaller magnitude and less consistent.

Liver stores at birth were of less importance to the newborn pigs than the vitamin A present in the colostrum and milk, for even those pigs which were born devoid of liver stores and low in plasma vitamin A performed satisfactorily after the ingestion of colostrum.

The three levels of vitamin A fed the dams during gestation had no apparent effects on litter size, birth weights, survival rates, or gains after birth.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director of the MichiganAgricultural Experiment Station as Journal Article No. 3137.

² Data from thesis submitted by the senior author to the School for Advanced Graduate Studies, Michigan State University, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree.

³ Present address: Animal Research Institute, Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Canada.

⁴ The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of J. E, Nellor, Michigan State University in the post-mortem examination of reproductive tracts.

⁵ Department of Animal Husbandry.