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Effects of Intramuscular Injections of Folic Acid during Lactation on Folates in Serum and Milk and Performance of Sows and Piglets¹

Research Station, Agriculture Canada, Lennoxville, Quebéc, Canada J1M 1Z3

Abstract

In order to determine the effect of folic acid on serum and milk folates in lactating sows as well as on serum folates and growth rate of the piglets, sows (n = 25) received either saline or 15 mg folic acid i.m. each week from d 2 after parturition to weaning, 26 d later. Blood samples were drawn from all sows at 110 d of gestation and every week during lactation. Milk samples were taken at d 7 and 21 of lactation. Piglets were weighed and blood samples were collected weekly during lactation. Serum folates of sows increased during lactation. The rate of increase was more pronounced (P < .0002) after folic acid injections. Milk folates concentrations decreased (P < .0007) from d 7 to 21 of lactation but were higher (P < .0001) in treated sows (11.8 ± .7 ng/ml) than in control sows (7.9 ± .4 ng/ml). Serum folates of piglets in control litters increased from 55.0 ± 2.2 ng/ml at 2 d of age to a peak value of 86.3 ± 3.1 ng/ml 2 wk later, and then gradually decreased. In piglets from treated dams, the time response curve was similar to that of the controls, but values were about 15% higher (P < .01). The growth rate of piglets until 8 wk of age was not changed (P > .47) by folic acid injection of sows. More studies are needed to evaluate the practical importance of changes in folates status in establishing the folic acid requirements of lactating sows.

¹ The authors acknowledge the assistance of Michelle Guillette, Chrystiane Plante, Marjolaine St-Louis, Richard Bilodeau, Marcel Morissette, Mariette Vanier, Marie Daoust and Richard Lanctôt for technical support, Maryse Dumas for statistical analysis and Louise Boisvert for manuscript preparation. This research was subsidized in part by Hoffman-La Roche, Ltd., Basle, Switzerland. Contribution no. 228, Agriculture Canada.