The effect of the addition of vitamin e and selenium to sow feed ration on the concentration of vitamin e in the blood serum of piglets
Vrzgula, L.; Kovác, G.; Prosbová, M.; Blazovský, J.; Paulíková, I.
Veterinarni Medicina 25(7): 397-403
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0375-8427 PMID: 6774468 Document Number: 156536
Under the experimental conditions of a clinic, the dynamics of vitamin E was studied in the blood serum of 57 piglets from birth to the age of 90 days. The piglets came from eight litters delivered by sows, four of which were given a ration with an addition of vitamin E (tocopherol acetate -- 100 i. u. per kg of feed) and selenium (0.1 ppm Se as Na2SeO3) during gravidity, and another four were given these supplements only during lactation. In the first group the piglets showed a high level of vitamin E immediately after birth, before the first sucking (4.048 mumol .1-1), which increased to the maximum average level at the age of 10 days (24.127 mumol .1-1). Then followed a marked decrease down to 1.679 mumol .1-1, recorded after weaning. In comparison with this, after the supplementation of the sow feed ration during lactation, the highest value of vitamin E concentration was found on the 5th day of age (21.482 mumol .1-1). The level of vitamin E gradually decreased, but still after weaning the average value was quite high (2.783 mumol .1-1). The results suggest the possibilities of eliminating the critical values of low vitamin E concentration in the blood serum of pigs at birth and after weaning.