Effect of Dietary Ascorbic Acid on Performance and Plasma Cholesterol Levels of Growing Swine

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Abstract
Braude, Kon and Porter (1950) demonstrated that the young pig synthesizes ascorbic acid. Gorb and Ros (1956) and Valdmanis (1951) reported that supplemental ascorbic acid improved livability and growth rate in baby pigs; however, neither Barber, Braude and Cooke (1962), Bowland (1966) nor Travnicek, Simek and Mandel (1961) was abie to produce a similar response. More recently, Mahan et al. (1966) reported an increased growth rate of pigs when ascorbic acid was administered orally or injected. Although the chick also synthesizes ascorbic acid (Chatterjee et al., 1961), supplementation of the diet with the vitamin during periods of high environmental temperatures has resulted in improved rates of egg production and improved egg shell quality (Thornton and Moreng, 1958, 1959; Perek and Kendler, 1962, 1963). The likelihood of a dietary requirement for ascorbic acid by the pig during periods of stress has not been investigated. The purpose of the studies reported herein was to investigate the effects of supplemental ascorbic acid on rate and efficiency of gain and on plasma chclesterol levels in growing swine. Copyright © 1970. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1970 by American Society of Animal Science