PSVII-14 The effects of maternal dietary supplementation of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) and 25(OH)D3 on progeny muscle fiber measures

Abstract

Abstract A total of 36 sows (DNA Line 200 × 400) and their progeny were used to determine if feeding a combination of vitamin D3 and 25(OH)D3 influences progeny muscle fiber morphometrics. Within 3 d of breeding, sows were allotted to 1 of 3 dietary treatments fortified with 1,500 IU/kg vitamin D3 (CON), 500 IU/kg vitamin D3 + 25 μg/kg 25(OH)D3 (DL), or 1,500 IU/kg vitamin D3 + 50 μg/kg 25(OH)D3 (DH). One average body weight male per litter was euthanized within 24 h of birth (n = 36) and at weaning on d 21 of lactation (n = 35). Data were analyzed as a completely randomized design with maternal dietary treatment as the fixed effect. When pigs were sacrificed at birth, there were no treatment effects for fiber morphometric measures (P > 0.170), except for primary fiber number and secondary to primary muscle fiber ratio (P < 0.016). Pigs from CON fed sows had fewer primary fibers than pigs from sows fed the DH treatment (P = 0.014), with the DL treatment not differing from either (P > 0.104). Pigs from CON and DL fed sows had greater secondary to primary fiber ratios compared to pigs from DH sows (P < 0.022), but did not differ from each other (P = 0.994). When pigs were sacrificed at weaning, there were no treatment effects on all fiber morphometric measures (P > 0.129). In conclusion, combining vitamin D3 and 25(OH)D3 in the maternal diet increased primary muscle fibers at birth, but this effect was not seen at weaning.