Table 1: The effect of treatment on blood content of 25(OH)D3 during lactation
Table 2: The effect of the treatment period on blood plasma content of 25(OH)D3
the group fed the bioactive vitamin – researchers recorded a weight of 19.8kg in sows who were fed Hy-D, compared to 18.8kg in the control group. As litter gain was used as an indication of milk production in sows, this suggested that the Hy-D group had increased milk efficiency. In addition to litter weight, Hy-D also had a positive effect on weight at weaning. Data showed that piglets were 3.6kg heavier at weaning where sows were supplemented with the bioactive form of the vitamin (Graph 1). As weaning weight was higher, the results indicate that Hy-D had a positive effect on reproductive efficiency by helping sows to farrow quicker, have healthier, better performing and longer living piglets. This was confirmed with the higher number of piglets weaned by the Hy-D group.
Optimizing vitamin D3 status The SEGES study clearly demonstrates that optimized vitamin D nutrition can be achieved via Hy-D supplementation, and when vitamin levels are maximized, swine reproductivity and performance improves, contributing to increased farm profitability. It showed that Hy-D was much more efficient at increasing vitamin
levels than vitamin D3. For instance, in sows fed the Hy-D form of the vitamin throughout their reproductive lifecycle 25(OH)D3 levels in blood plasma were double, despite the equivalent dose of vitamin D3 (2,000 IU per unit feed) being used in the control group (Table 1). Table 2 further illustrates that 25(OH)D3 concentration in the blood at the time of farrowing was 2.3 times higher in sows fed bioactive Hy-D for two weeks compared with sows supplemented with regular vitamin D3. In sows fed Hy-D for seven weeks, the concentration of 25(OH)D3 in sows’ blood was 46.7ng/ml i.e. 3.2 times higher than the control group. A second study showed similar results in 90-day old foetuses,
demonstrating an increase in vitamin D3 status when Hy-D was added to gilt gestation feed compared to using commercial vitamin D3. The researchers also observed an increase in the foetuses’ total number
of muscle fibres (9.3% increase) which is a strong indicator of healthy, strong piglets. Finally, the SEGES paper confirmed that litters were larger and
litter weight was higher when gilts were given Hy-D. Further trials have highlighted the positive effects of Hy-D on a number of other essential functions in swine including reproduction, muscle development and immune response modulation – all important factors contributing to improved performance and overall profitability.
Conclusion It is clear that vitamin D3 plays a key role in sow performance, sustainability and profitability, as well as piglet health and growth. However, the latest research strongly supports the idea that significant economic value is created when feeding sows Hy-D (the most bioavailable form of vitamin D), rather than using vitamin D3 directly because it improves vitamin D status. That is because Hy-D ensures more efficient and faster uptake of the required metabolite 25(OH)D3, resulting in a stronger skeleton and healthier, more productive animals and healthier piglets as a result – the key to increased herd profitability.
FEED COMPOUNDER NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 PAGE 29
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