The purpose of rearing sows is to obtain more piglets, and there are two main indicators for determining whether the sows reproductive performance is good or not: the number of weaned piglets provided per sow per year and the number of years of sow reproductive life.
The factors that affect sow reproductive performance include genetics, nutrition, disease, environment, and management. In recent years, with the rapid development of nutritional science and technology, the research on improving the reproductive performance of sows through the regulation of nutrition has achieved initial success. Studies at home and abroad have found that almost all of the vitamins have a greater impact on the reproductive performance of breeding pigs. The main vitamins that affect sow reproductive performance are the following:
1 Vitamin E
Vitamin E is closely related to reproductive function, can promote the production of thyrotropin (TH) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and gonadotropins, enhance ovarian function, increase follicles to increase luteal cells, and supplement vitamin E in sow diets. Not only can improve the conception rate, reduce fetal death, increase litter size, but also can enhance the pig's anti-stress ability, reduce the death of piglets before weaning, shorten the interval from weaning to estrus, and improve the quality of boar semen. Studies have shown that sows fed high levels of vitamin E have higher litter size and live births, and have lower incidences of mastitis, metritis and amamulic syndrome (MMA). When sows lack vitamin E, ovarian function declines, sexual cycles are abnormal, fertilization is not possible, embryonic development is abnormal, or stillbirth occurs.
2 folic acid
It plays an important role in maintaining reproductive performance of sows and promoting early fetal development. Its main function is that the coenzymes in various enzyme systems participate in the synthesis of purines, so the synthesis of DNA and RNA is very important. In terms of maintaining the stable reproductive function of the breeding sows, the litter size can be increased, the lactation can be maintained well, and the lactation disorder can be prevented. Studies have shown (Lindemann et al., 1989) that the addition of folic acid to sow diets can increase embryo survival and stabilize litter size.
3 β-carotene
Supplementation of β-carotene in sow diets will improve litter size, correct sow oestrus and ovulation delays, and increase embryo survival. Beta-carotene is also associated with the synthesis of lutein, which lacks lutein and will lead to termination of pregnancy. Recent studies have also found that adding β-carotene to boars can promote testicular development and improve semen quality. Vitamin A and carotene are susceptible to oxidative damage, especially when exposed to hot heat and trace elements and rancid fat.
4 Vitamin A
Appropriate increase in the amount of dietary vitamin A can increase litter size and number of weaned piglets (Antipas, 2003). When the sow lacks vitamin A, the conception rate drops, showing abnormal estrus, dystocia, miscarriage, stillbirths, weak fetuses, deformed fetuses, and submandibular folds; piglets blinking and limb paralysis are prone to pneumonia, diarrhea, etc.; young sows have delayed estrus, affecting Ovarian development, high embryo mortality.
5 Biotin
The main function is to maintain the sow's hoof health and prevent hoof cracking, squeaking, and paralysis. At the same time can promote fetal growth and development and reduce fetal death and promote increased lactation, improve sows ovulation rate and conception rate, shorten the interval from weaning to estrus. If the content of biotin in the diet is lower than 330ug, it will cause the increase of stillbirth and the growth and development of suckling piglets due to insufficient breast milk. The study found that supplementing biotin can increase the length of the sow's uterine horn by 20%, thereby increasing the space occupied by the fetus in the uterus. This has important implications for the growth and survival of the fetus.
Studies have shown that adding 300 mg of biotin per ton of sow's full-rate feed results in a significantly higher average number of litters per weaned piglet at 21 days of age than in the control group without biotin. Adding biotin to the sow diet can prevent the sow from cracking hooves in winter and significantly reduce the occurrence of pig foot problems and lameness problems.
6 Vitamin C
It plays an important role in various redox reactions in living cells and participates in the synthesis of corticosteroids in the adrenal cortex, which helps relieve stress and eliminates adverse effects of high temperatures on semen quality. After boars were given vitamin C, sperm quality improved, while sow fertility increased. In particular, it is subjected to environmental or physiological stress during high temperatures in summer or before and after sow delivery, and vitamin C has a strong anti-stress effect, which can relieve stress and improve sow reproductive performance. Breast milk is the only source of vitamin C in 1 week old piglets. During pregnancy and lactation, supplementation of vitamin C to sows reduces the mortality of pre-weaned piglets.
7 Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
Studies have shown that sows fed with 100 mg/d riboflavin improve the number of live embryos, embryo survival, litter size, and litter size at 4-7 d after mating. The Tilton (1991) study confirmed that sows supplemented with 90-100 mg/d riboflavin during the first trimester can significantly increase litter size.
8 Vitamin K
Adding 100 mg/kg vitamin K3 to pregnant sow diets increased litter size by 5.66%. Adding 100 mg/kg vitamin K3 to sow diets increased piglet weight gain by 7.78% and increased piglet survival by 3.81%.
9 Vitamin B6
Pregnant sows fed a diet supplemented with 15 mg/kg of vitamin B6 (1 mg/kg in the control group) reduced the interval from weaning to estrous by 1.1 days.
10 Niacin
Adding 33 mg/kg niacin to the sow's gestation and lactation diets reduced the incidence of sow-mastitis-mastitis-arrhythmia syndrome by 30%.
Vitamins are the nutrients most vulnerable to destruction, and environmental factors such as high temperature, high humidity, light, trace elements, choline chloride, salt, and pH will reduce the activity of vitamins. Although full vitamins, concentrates, etc. have added vitamins, they are During feed processing and warehousing, transportation and storage, various trace elements in the feed will accelerate the oxidation of vitamins. Especially in the summer, the temperature is high and the humidity is high. The fat in the feed is most easily oxidized, and the generated peroxide can promote fats. The destruction of soluble vitamins, coupled with high temperatures and high humidity in summer, can cause stress in pigs. Under stress conditions, all pigs including sows need more vitamins, especially pigs with vitamin deficiency. prominent.
In addition, diseases, mycotoxins and other factors will increase the demand for vitamins in animals. Diseases and parasitic infections will affect the absorption of vitamins in pig intestine. Mycotoxins in feed will interfere with the absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K. . Therefore, pig feed must add vitamins.
Vitamin supplementation of sows only accounts for 2%-3% of the cost of mixed feed, but it can get very good economic benefits. In order to avoid vitamin deficiency affecting the performance of the sow, extra vitamins can be added to the feed during emptying, mating, and during pregnancy. Experts suggest that sows should be supplemented with high-quality multivitamin products of 250-500g/t, which can significantly improve the reproductive performance of sows.
Editor's summary: From the article, we learned that in addition to genetics, nutrition, disease, environment and management, there are indispensable vitamins that affect the reproductive performance of sows. Here are the main ten introduced: vitamin E, folic acid, beta -Carotene, vitamin A, biotin, vitamin C, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin K, vitamin B6, niacin, hope friends of pigs can remember, in order to avoid vitamin deficiency and affect sow production Performance, usually we should pay more attention to add some vitamins in the diet feed, so as to obtain better economic benefits.
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