Veterinary Science & Technology

Evaluation of Different Calcium Sources on the Performance of Highly Prolific Lactating Sows

Abstract

Barrilli LNE, Silva BAN, Maiorka A, Falleiros FT, Silva CC, Raidan FSS and Araújo WAG

Improvements in sow productivity have raised questions regarding dietary mineral recommendations. Current calcium (Ca) levels and/or Ca sources might not support milk requirements of the larger litter in the modern sow. Therefore, four hundred and eighty mixed parity sows of a high prolificacy genetic line were used to evaluate the impact of the calcium source on the performance of highly prolific lactating sows. Sows were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design among six treatments containing different levels of inorganic Ca (INO) and organic calcium carbon-amino-phospho-chelate (CQT) inclusion. The sows were allocated to one of the six treatments represented by increased replacement ratios between sources of calcium: 100% INO; 100% CQT; 80% INO and 20% CQT; 60% INO and 40% CQT; 40% INO and 60% CQT; 20% INO and 80% CQT. Farrowing duration was not influenced (P>0.10) by the treatments, and averaged 185 minutes. Average daily voluntary feed intake did not differ (P>0.10) between treatments (5.54 kg d-1 on average). The lactation BW, backfat losses and chemical composition of body weight loss was not influenced (P>0.10) by the treatments. Litter size and average piglet weight at birth were not influenced (P>0.10) by the treatments (13.7 and 1.26 kg, on average). Litter weight gain, litter size and average piglet weight at weaning were also not influenced (P>0.10) by the treatments. The Treatments did not influence (P>0.10) estimated daily milk yield; which averaged 11.41 kg d-1. The treatments tended to influence (P<0.10) urinary pH levels at day 7 of lactation, were 100% CQT sows had a lower pH value than other treatments (6.72 vs. 7.27). 100% CQT sows also showed a significantly lower pH level at d 14 and 21 when compared to the other treatments (6.44 vs. 7.09; P<0.05; and 6.48 vs. 7.14; P<0.01; respectively for d 14 and 21 of lactation). Free Ca and parathyroid hormone (PTH) serum levels were not affected (P>0.10) by treatments during lactation and averaged 1.38 mmol/L and 14.62 pg/ml, respectively. In conclusion, this experiment demonstrated that in diets for lactating sows an inorganic Ca source can be fully replaced by a more available Ca source (i.e., calcium carbon-amino-phospho-chelate), without negatively impacting the productive and reproductive performance of these animals or the performance of their litters.