Influence of Supplemental Vitamin D on Gain, Nutrient Digestibility and Tissue Composition of Young Pigs

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Abstract
To evaluate vitamin D requirements and study possible metabolic roles, various levels of vitamin D2 were added to the ration of US pigs weaned at 2 weeks of age. All animals were housed in the absence of sunlight from birth until termination of two experiments. In experiment 1 the daily gains of all treatment groups were similar. Gain data in experiment 2 showed that pigs given 0, 220 or 880 I.U. vitamin D2 gained at a comparable rate and that these three groups gained significantly (P<.05) faster than pigs given 110 or 440 I.U. vitamin D2 per kilogram of ration. Feed consumed and feed required per kilogram of gain were similar for all treat ments in both experiments. Apparent digestion coefficients in experiment 1 showed that crude protein and phosphorus were not influenced significantly by level of supplementary vitamin D2. For ether extract all treatment groups were significantly different; the highest coefficient occurred with pigs given 220 I.U., followed by the 0, 440 and 880 levels, respectively. A negative calcium digestion coefficient was obtained with unsupplemented pigs, and the coefficient was significantly (P<.01) lower than those of the remaining treatments. In experiment 2 the digestibility of dry matter, ether extract, calcium and phosphorus was similar for all vitamin D levels. Digestibility of crude protein was highest in the unsupplemented groups and was significantly higher than that of pigs given either 110 or 880 I.U. of vitamin D. No significant differences in bone ash percent were found among treatments in either experiment; nor were physical symptoms associated with the rachitic syndrome observed. The quantity of calcium and phosphorus in the bone ash was not significantly different among treatments. Serum calcium of the unsupplemented pigs was significantly (P<.05) higher than for those given 110 I.U. of vitamin D, but all treatment groups exhibited satisfactory serum calcium levels. No significant differences in either serum phosphorus or magnesium were found among treatment groups. Copyright © 1966. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1966 by American Society of Animal Science

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