Browsing by Subject "D3-vitamiini"

Leg weakness is one of the most common production diseases in pigs. Osteochondrosis is a joint disorder in which the endochondral ossification is disturbed. Leg weakness is mainly caused by osteochondrosis in pigs. Many factors like heredity and vitamin D status can affect the prevalence of osteochondrosis. This experiment was part of the international ProHealth project. The aim of this study was to investigate how two different vitamin D3 sources and feeding levels affect the prevalence of leg weakness in boars. Experiment design was 2 x 2 factorial. Commonly used vitamin D3 product (cholecalciferol) and Hy•D® product (25-hydroxycholecalciferol) were compared as vitamin D3 sources. Vitamin D3 feeding level 1 was in accordance of Finnish vitamin D3 recommendations and feeding level 2 was threefold with respect to the recommendations. Practical trial was carried out at Figen Oy’s research center in Längelmäki in 24.3. – 22.8.2016. Trial was conducted with 120 finishing boars. Average live weight of the boars at the end of the trial was 113 kg. Feed intake, daily weight gain, slaughter weight and bone strength were improved by greater feeding level of vitamin D3. Greater feeding level increased feed intake 6,13 kg of dry matter, slaughter weight 2,32 kg and bone strength 124,4 N during the trial. Daily weight gain increased 90,83 g/ d during the finishing period and 30,25 g/ d during the overall trial. Over 80 % of the pigs had excellent or good leg structure with only minor faults and their locomotion was fluent. There were no significant differences in leg structure or locomotion results between treatments. Pigs fed Hy•D® product with greater feeding level got double plasma 25-hydroxycholecalsiferol concentration when compared to pigs fed commonly used vitamin D3 product with greater feeding level. There were no significant treatment differences for 25-hydroxycholecalsiferol concentration in feeding level in accordance of the nutritional recommendations. There were no significant differences in plasma Ca, Pi or ALP concentrations between treatments either. Serious faults were observed more in distal humerus (elbow joint) compared to proximal humerus (shoulder joint) but there were no significant differences between treatments. In total of 11 pigs were removed from the treatments because of medical or tail biting reasons and in total of 50 pigs were medicated during the trial. Number of removed and medicated pigs divided evenly between treatments. According to this study the greater feeding level of vitamin D3 improved production. Feeding level of the vitamin D3 did not affect prevalence of the leg weakness or osteochondrosis. Source of the vitamin D3 did not affect production or prevalence of the leg weakness or osteochondrosis. Nutritional recommendations cover mainly the minimum need for nutrients and take no stand on optimizing production or health records. There is also some variation between research results. More research about the effects of vitamin D3 to prevalence of the leg weakness and the possibility to optimize production and health records with supplemental vitamin D3 is needed.