Effects of Marginal Vitamin A Intake during Gestation in Swine2

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Abstract
Fifteen gilts, making three experimental groups of five gilts each, were used in the experimentwhich began when the gilts were 4 months of age and continued through two gestation periods. A low vitamin A ration was individually fed. Supplemental vitamin A was added to each gilt's daily feed as follows: group I (control), 16 mcg.; group II, 5 mcg.; and group III, 2.5 mcg., of vitamin A per kg. live weight daily. For groups II and III there was a 6 months depletion period prior to receiving supplemental vitamin A. The low level of vitamin A intake was adequate for the health and well being of the mothers themselves. The data did not provide a definite indication of the vitamin A requirementfor normal reproduction, although the low level of dietary vitamin A appeared borderline for reproduction despite no apparent acute deficiency. The levels of dietary vitamin A intake during gestation were reflected in the liver reservesand blood plasma vitamin A levels of the newborn pigs. Liver storage was the more sensitive with appreciable and highly significant differences among the three groups. The vitamin A content of the milk, and particularly colostrum, was significantly higher from the control gilts than from the gilts of the other two groups. The differences in milk vitamin A between gilts of groups II and III were of smaller magnitude and less consistent. Liver stores at birth were of less importance to the newborn pigs than the vitamin A present in the colostrum and milk, for even those pigs which were born devoid of liver stores and low in plasma vitamin A performed satisfactorily after the ingestion of colostrum. The three levels of vitamin A fed the dams during gestation had no apparent effects on litter size, birth weights, survival rates, or gains after birth.

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