Effects of Sulfate in Water on Swine Reproduction and Young Pig Performance

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Thirty-one sows and 27 gilts were each allotted to three treatments to study the effect of water quality during gestation and lactation. Sodium sulfate was added to the water to give sulfate and total dissolved solids in ppm as follows: (1) 320, 620, (2) 1,820, 2,840 and (3) 3,320, 5,060. Water was offered ad libitum from about 30 days postbreeding through 28 days lactation. There were no significant differences in gestation or lactation gains and number or weight of pigs at birth or at weaning. Fecal consistency was normal in all treatments. Water consumption did not differ during gestation but increased during lactation as salt level increased. These results suggest that sulfates up to and including 3,320 ppm in water have no significant effect on reproduction in the gilt or sow. Fifty-four weaned pigs representing the above three sow treatments equally were given water with 0, 3,000 ppm added sulfate from sodium sulfate or 3,000 ppm added sulfate from magnesium and sodium sulfate in a 1:1 ratio for a 28-day period. No significant treatment differences (P<.05) occurred in average daily gain or feed to gain ratio. Scouring was more common with fecal condition less firm (P<.01) and water consumption greater (P<.05) among pigs that received water with added sulfates. No differences were observed in pigs that received water containing sodium sulfate or equal parts of sulfate from sodium and magnesium sulfate. Copyright © 1979. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1979 by American Society of Animal Science.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: