Table 1 – Mineral requirements in sows compared to NRC (mg/kg) (1998 & 2012).


Mineral


Iron Zinc


Copper


Manganese Selenium Iodine


NRC


1998 80 50 5


20


0.15 0.14


NRC


2012 80


100 10 25


0.15 0.14


Close & Cole Whittemore BSAS 2000 80 80 6


2002


80-100 100 10


20


0.2-0.25 0.2


20-40 0.3


0.4-0.5 2003


80-150 80-125 6-20


40-60


0.2-0.4 0.5-1.0


The levels and types of minerals used in sow diets are also important to secure their reproductive performance.


Organic minerals Minerals can be supplied in the inorganic form (as oxides or sulphates), or as chelated ‘organic’ minerals, which are bound to small proteins more akin to how minerals appear naturally in feedstuffs. Organic minerals have been shown to be selectively taken up from the gut in animals and have better tissue storage. Feeding organic forms of selenium (Sel-Plex) to sows increased liver selenium levels by 21% compared to feeding inorganic sodium selenite. In sows, feeding organic forms of iron have been shown to increase the transfer of iron across the placenta into the developing piglet foetuses. This results in stronger piglets at birth with better milk intakes. In addition, sows with higher iron status that produce more viable piglets have higher colostrum and milk yields in re- sponse to the stronger suckling behaviour. A feeding trial using a chelated iron product in sow diets conducted in 1998 showed that 10% more piglets weighed 6.5 kg or more at weaning, with 8% fewer classified as ‘light’ (<5.5 kg) at this age. In a review of the effects of this iron supplement on pig- let weight from six different countries, research from 2004 showed consistently higher weaning weights in piglets from sows receiving organic minerals versus an inorganic mineral control diet. Feeding the ‘Bioplex Sow Pak’ combined miner- als product gave consistently higher weaning weights over ten parities studied, with mean weaning weight increased, on average, from 6.9 kg for the control to 7.4 kg.


Providing sows with inorganic versus organic minerals to levels recommended by either NRC (1998) or industry standard levels increased litter sizes by 0.4 and 1.5 animals, respectively. Five Canadian farm trials with 10,000 sows per dietary treatment showed that feeding this combined minerals product increased farrowing rate by 1.8%, with 0.3 more litters per sow over her lifetime and over three more piglets weaned per litter. Non- productive periods were reduced by nearly nine days and sow culls were down by 2%. Supplementation with zinc, copper and manganese in this context is important for hoof strength. The levels and types of minerals used in sow diets are impor- tant not only for the healthiness and longevity of the sows, but also to secure their reproductive performance and ensure the delivery of robust piglets. Modern breeds have higher re- quirements compared to the standard NRC (1998) levels, and both controlled and commercial trials have shown the bene- fits of using organic forms of minerals over traditional inor- ganic sources. The organic forms are better absorbed from the gut and stored in tissues, making them more bioavailable to the sow. Re-evaluating mineral requirements in sows and replacing inorganic forms with chelated organic versions can increase number of successful parities, reduce culls and in- crease the number of piglets per litter and their weaning weight, all contributing to animal health and welfare as well as farm profitability.


Sources available upon request. ▶ PIG PROGRESS | Volume 34, No. 6, 2018 23


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