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Selenium and Vitamin E Supplementation of High Moisture Corn Diets for Swine Reproduction

University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario

Abstract

Ninety pigs approximately 5 weeks of age were used in an investigation of the influence of three levels of supplemental selenium (0, .60 and 1.20 ppm), and three levels of supplemental vitamin E (0, 60, 120 ppm) in a factorial arrangement, on reproduction. The pigs were confined to 18 pens with three gilts and two boars per pen. The basal diet was formulated using high moisture ensiled corn, which was later changed to high moisture propionic acid treated corn, and soybean meal supplemented with minerals and vitamins excluding selenium and vitamin E. The basal diet contained .03 µg/g selenium and .35 µg/g -tocopherol on a dry matter basis. The assigned diets were fed throughout the experiment.

Nine of the 10 pigs fed the basal diet died by day 57 of the experiment with lesions observed in seven of these pigs suggesting mulberry heart disease, and/or hepatosis dietetica and/or gastric ulcers. The reason for the death of two of the piglets was not determined. One pig fed the highest level of selenium and no supplemental vitamin E died on day 23 of the experiment. No other pigs died during the experiment and no lesions of vitamin E-selenium deficiency were observed in pigs which were killed. There was no obvious influence of supplemented selenium or vitamin E on reproductive performance of surviving gilts, however, the number of gilts per treatment was small.

Supplementation of gilt diets with selenium or vitamin E resulted in increased levels of the nutrients in their serum and colostrum as well as in their baby pigs' serum. There was a greater difference in the serum vitamin E levels of piglets following nursing than prior to nursing indicating that vitamin E supplementation of the sow had a greater effect via the colostrum than via placental transfer. Regression equations indicate a relatively small increase in tissue selenium concentration when inorganic selenium is supplemented in the diet.

² Department of Animal and Poultry Science.

³ Department of Pathology.