B-COMPLEX VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTATION OF PIG RATIONS BASED ON BARLEY GROWN ON GREY WOODED SOILS

Abstract

Ninety-two sows and two hundred and sixteen pigs were employed in four gestation-lactation and three growing-finishing experiments to determine the adequacy of barley grown on the Grey Wooded soils of the Peace River region in northwestern Canada, as a source of riboflavin, pantothenic and nicotinic acid in swine rations. Vitamin B12 was assessed as a dietary essential in the all-plant rations. In the gestation-lactation experiments sow gains during gestation were greater in the B-vitamin supplemented lot and a trend toward heavier weaning weights of pigs was evident. Vitamin supplementation increased the level of vitamin B12 in sow’s milk collected 1 week post-partum and of both riboflavin and pantothenic acid collected 1 week and 6 weeks post-partum. Nicotinic acid content of sows’ milk was unaffected by supplementation. There was a highly significant decrease in riboflavin level in both control and supplemented lots between 1 and 6 weeks following parturition. The decrease was greatest in the unsupplemented lot.B-vitamin supplementation did not affect growing period gains or pig carcass quality in the growing-finishing experiments. However, certain significant growth responses were noted in the finishing period.The data indicate that the basal rations employed contained adequate riboflavin, pantothenic and nicotinic acid to support normal gestation, lactation and growth in Yorkshire swine.