Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplemental magnesium (Mg) on the performance of gilts and parity 3 sows and their piglets. Fifty-six gilts (Trial 1) and 56 sows (Trial 2) were assigned to one of 4 treatments according to their mating weight, respectively. The treatments comprised corn-soybean meal based gestation and lactation diets (0.21% magnesium) supplemented with 0, 0.015, 0.03, or 0.045% Mg from mating until weaning. The results showed that magnesium supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the weaning to estrus interval in both gilts and sows. There were significant effects (P < 0.05) of supplemental magnesium on the total number of piglets born, born alive and weaned in sows. In late gestation and lactation, the digestibility of crude fiber (quadratic effects, P < 0.05), and crude protein (P < 0.05), were significantly influenced by magnesium in gilts and sows, respectively. There were differences among the 4 groups in terms of the apparent digestibility of dry matter and crude fiber in sows (P < 0.05) during both early and late gestation. The apparent digestibility of gross energy was increased for sows in late gestation (P < 0.05), and lactation (quadratic effects, P < 0.05). At farrowing and weaning, serum prolactin levels and alkaline phosphate activities linearly increased in sows as the Mg supplementation increased (P < 0.05). Serum Mg of sows at farrowing and serum urea nitrogen of sows at weaning was significantly influenced by Mg supplementation (P < 0.05). The Mg concentration in sow colostrum and the serum of their piglets were increased by supplemental magnesium (P < 0.05). In addition, growth hormone levels were linearly elevated (P < 0.05) in the serum of piglets suckling sows. Our data demonstrated that supplemental magnesium has the potential to improve the reproduction performance of sows, and the suitable supplemental dose ranged from 0.015% to 0.03%.
Highlights
The reproductive performance of high producing sows has increased dramatically over the past decades [1] which may contribute to the changes in nutritional requirement of high producing sows [2]
The total number of piglets born and born alive, the number of piglets weaned, birth weight, and weaning weight were unaffected by magnesium supplementation for gilts (P > 0.05)
These results agreed with a previous report which revealed that supplemental magnesium did not influence the number or weight of pigs at birth or weaning in gilts [6]
Summary
The reproductive performance of high producing sows has increased dramatically over the past decades [1] which may contribute to the changes in nutritional requirement of high producing sows [2]. Confinement feeding of swine has resulted in the removal of nutrients and minerals from the soil to animals [3] It is an important cofactor of several enzymes involved in protein and energy metabolism which is a constituent of bone (NRC, 1998) [4]. Magnesium supplementation improved the conception rate of sows by 11-15% and reduced the wean to service interval by 9 days. The improved conception rate may have been influenced by Mg supplementation of boars used to service the sows [9]. The accurate effects of supplemental magnesium in sow diets on the performance are still unknown, especially the dose-effect relationship. This study was conducted to reveal the effects of magnesium supplementation in gestation and lactation diets on the performance of sows and gilts as well as their piglets
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