Effects of Vitamins on Porcine Reproduction

Vitamins are one of the important factors affecting the reproductive performance of pigs, and they need to contain a certain amount of vitamins in the pig diet. This article describes the mechanisms of action of vitamins A, B, D, and E and describes the deficiencies and excess hazards of swine vitamins.

Vitamins are a class of trace low-molecular organic compounds that are essential for the maintenance of normal physiological functions in animals. Although it is not a major component of tissues and is not a source of energy for the body, it plays a very important role in animals. Most of them are composed of coenzymes. ingredient. These enzymes are indispensable for the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. They promote the synthesis and degradation of major nutrients and thus control body metabolism. Lack of vitamins can affect the synthesis of coenzymes, lead to metabolic disorders, various animal diseases, and affect the reproductive function of animals to varying degrees.

Vitamins A, D, E, and K are called fat-soluble vitamins because they are insoluble in water and soluble in fats and fat solvents. In addition to vitamin K in lipophilic vitamins that can be synthesized by the animal digestive tract in sufficient quantities, other vitamins must be provided by the diet. Lipid-soluble vitamins often coexist with lipids in feed, and are also closely related to lipid absorption when absorbed in the intestine. They can pass through the lipid phase of the muscle cell membrane in a passive manner, and can be excreted from the feces through the gallbladder. When lipids are poorly absorbed, the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins is reduced, causing a corresponding deficiency and affecting the fertility of the animals. On the contrary, if the animal consumes too much fat-soluble vitamins, it will also have a toxic effect on the body.

1 Effect of vitamin A imbalance on reproductive function

Vitamin A is a cycloalkenol compound involved in the synthesis of mucopolysaccharides in tissues, regulates the proliferation and development of epithelial cells, affects reproductive function and embryonic development, and has functions of maintaining the retinal photoreceptor function and promoting the growth of bones and teeth.

In pig production, as a feed drug additive, the stability of vitamin A acetate and vitamin A palmitic acid ester is good. At present, vitamin A acetate is commonly used in China. Pigs need vitamin A at any stage of growth or physiological conditions. Vitamin A protects the integrity and integrity of reproductive organ epithelial tissues, promotes the development and regeneration of skin, promotes the synthesis of milk polysaccharides in connective tissue, maintains the integrity of cell membranes and organelles, promotes the synthesis of hormones, and improves the reproductive performance of animals.

Vitamin A deficiency, can cause mucosal atrophy, degeneration, resulting in a variety of epithelial cells of the pig's body squamous keratinization, and can cause diarrhea, bladder and kidney inflammation, defensive function is reduced. Endocrine glands atrophy, structural damage, disorders of endocrine function, insufficient secretion of hormones, reduced secretion of sex hormones or complete cessation. The epithelium of the reproductive system is most severely affected, with disturbances in the sexual cycle, no rhythm, and disorder. Postpartum estrus delay and loss of libido or sympathy. Vitamin A participates in steroid synthesis. When vitamin A is deficient, the activity of 3β-hydroxydehydrogenase (3β-hydroxydehydrogenase), which is the conversion of 3β-hydroxysteroids into 3-ketosteroids, is decreased, adrenal and gonadal functions are weakened, and synthesis of placental steroids is reduced, resulting in pregnant sows. Abortions, stillbirths, weak piglets, or deformed piglets, such as blinks, monoculars, rabbit lips, and vice ears, occur. Boars exhibit reduced testis, degenerative function, reduced semen quality, and reproductive problems.

Like other fat-soluble vitamins that are accumulated in animals, vitamin A is not easily excreted from animals. Intakes exceeding 50 to 500 times the normal amount produce toxicity. Pigs often exhibit coarse coat, scaly skin, hemorrhage around the skin around the tendon sheath, hematuria, blood feces, excessive excitement, sensitivity to touch, and loss of control of the legs. With no standing, periodic tremors and even death.

Addition of vitamin A 2 200 IU/kg to the basal diet can meet the need for better growth performance of piglets. Addition of vitamin A 1 100 IU/kg piglets has various immune functions, and sows can be supplemented with vitamin A 2 500 IU/kg. Maintain normal reproductive performance. The requirement for vitamin A in pigs generally ranges from 1 000 to 2 000 IU/kg feed.

2 Effect of vitamin B deficiency on reproductive performance of pigs

The vitamin B family mainly acts as a coenzyme and catalyzes various reactions in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, thereby affecting the reproductive function of animals.

Vitamin B2 is also known as riboflavin. Many oxidoreductase-like prosthetic groups are known to contain riboflavin, which is collectively referred to as the yellow enzyme. Yellow enzyme plays a role in hydrogen transfer during animal biooxidation. When the lack of yellow enzyme vitamins will affect the synthesis of prosthetic groups, so that the body's biological oxidation caused by metabolic disorders. Can cause sows in the reproductive or lactation period, loss of appetite or indefinite, so that weight loss, premature birth, stillbirth, neonatal piglets die of death. Some piglets are deformed or glabrous and generally die within 48 hours of birth. In general, adding 7.2 mg/kg of riboflavin to the diet can maintain the pig's good growth performance and immunity, and maintain normal fertility. Based on erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity and litter size, Frank et al. (1988) suggested that the requirement for riboflavin in nursing sows is approximately 16 mg/d.

Vitamin B3, also known as pantothenic acid, is a component of Coenzyme A. Coenzyme A is a prosthetic group of acylases and plays an important role in the metabolism of sugars, lipids, and amino acids. When pigs lack pantothenic acid, reproductive and lactating functions can be lost. Ullrey et al. (1955), Davey and Stevenson (1963) estimated that the optimal reproductive performance of sows for pantothenic acid requirements was 12.0 to 12.5 mg/kg.

Vitamin B12 can promote the biosynthesis of methionine and glutamic acid. Because it has the function of activating amino acids and promoting nucleic acid biosynthesis, and is involved in the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, it has important significance for the synthesis of various proteins. The main feature of lack of vitamin B12 in animals is the effect on the tissue, which can accelerate the cell's decomposition, resulting in nerve damage. The growth of pigs can cause loss of appetite, hematopoietic function is blocked and growth is slow. The deficiency of sow vitamin B12 is mainly to reduce the conception rate, reproductive rate and postpartum lactation. For weaned pigs and breeding sows, vitamin B1214-15 mg is required for every kilogram of diet. If the diet contains 10% of fish meal, it can meet the needs.

3 Effect of Vitamin D Imbalance on Porcine Reproduction

Vitamin D is a steroid derivative. Nature exists in many forms, of which vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) have practical significance for animals. Vitamin D3 hydroxylation product 1,25-dihydroxy D3, can induce the synthesis of CaBP (calcium binding protein) and promote Ca-ATB enzyme activity, is conducive to the absorption of calcium and phosphorus. The main physiological function of vitamin D is to regulate the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus, especially increase the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the small intestine, maintain the balance of calcium and phosphorus in blood, regulate the excretion of calcium and phosphorus in the kidney, and control the storage of calcium and phosphorus in bone marrow. , To improve the activity of calcium and phosphorus in bones.

Insufficient vitamin D can cause metabolic disorders, accumulation of incompletely metabolized intermediate metabolites in blood and tissues, and acidosis. The total calcium and calcium ions and inorganic phosphorus content decreased, alkaline phosphatase activity increased, and bone chemical composition and physical properties changed. Hematopoietic disorders, hypochromic anemia, reduced skeletal muscle and smooth muscle tone, disturbances in the respiratory, digestive, and circulatory systems, resulting in decreased reproductive capacity, ovarian atrophy, uterine retardation, and arrhythmic cycles (anovulatory cycles), Multiple unproductive empty assignments. Fertility rates decline, even if fertilized, zygotes can die early in development. Insufficient vitamin D during pregnancy can prolong pregnancy.

Excessive amounts of vitamin D in feed can also cause poisoning in animals. Its specific manifestations are high urinary calcium, anorexia, nausea and vomiting, thirst, polyuria, fatigue, joint pain and general disorientation. When weanling pigs consumed 150 IU of vitamin D3 per day, the animal's immune response was strong and the body's concentration rapidly increased; and daily intake of 150,000 IU of vitamin D3, symptoms of poisoning occurred after 12 to 18 days, and serum calcium concentration increased. , Inorganic phosphorus content and alkaline phosphatase activity decreased, growth performance decreased, reproductive capacity decreased. The dietary requirements of vitamin D3 in pigs ranged from 150 to 220 IU/kg, which varied significantly under different physiological conditions.

4 Effect of vitamin E imbalance on reproductive performance of pigs

Vitamin E is a group of biologically active, phenolic compounds of similar chemical structure that are found primarily in vegetable feeds. It is needed at different stages of growth in various animals. Among them, α-tocopherol has the strongest anti-sterility activity. Promotes the development and maturation of the gonads, promotes conception and prevents abortion.

The lack of vitamin E in the feed and the exhaustion of the vitamin E reserve in the body are the main causes of infertility. Vitamin E is a lively antioxidant that normalizes proteins, nucleic acids, and metabolism. The animal itself cannot synthesize vitamin E, but it can store it. Vitamin E is absorbed from the small intestine when it contains fat and bile acids. Vitamin E has a variety of physiological functions, so when it is insufficient, the symptoms that occur are different. It is related to the respiratory process; it prevents metabolic toxic products from forming excess enzymes in the body; regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids in the body and tissues; normalizes many enzyme systems; regulates endocrine gland function and participates in embryonic development. Prevent reproductive dysfunction.

When vitamin E is insufficient, metabolism is severely impaired and severe morphological changes occur in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and spinal cord. Each organ and tissue structure changes, and muscle atrophy and uterine physiological dysfunction occur simultaneously with the reduction of protein involved in muscle contraction. The secretion of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone from the anterior pituitary gland is stopped, and the regulation of absorption of vitamin A and fat occurs, resulting in the formation of toxic products that poison embryonic epithelial cells and play an adverse role in the normal development of fertilization and embryos and fetuses.

After sow pregnancy, due to vitamin E deficiency, embryos can die and be absorbed. Mild deficiency of vitamin E, no effect on pregnancy and childbirth, but may produce stillbirth, weak or non-viable fetus; severely inadequate, the interruption of pregnancy, embryo death after implantation, was absorbed and recessive abortion. Long-term vitamin E deficiency, degeneration of ovarian and uterine mucous membranes, can no longer pregnancy, become permanent infertility.

Vitamin E is non-toxic with respect to vitamin A and vitamin D. Most animals consume more than 100 times their daily supply without harmful reactions. However, excessive intake of vitamin E may inhibit the absorption of vitamin A and vitamin K, and intake of more than 1200 mg/d of tocopherol may interfere with vitamin K metabolism. When 35 mg/kg of vitamin E was added to the basal diet of boars, the sperm viability was significantly increased, and the activity of sperm glutathione peroxidase (CSH-Px) was also increased.

Juicy green feed contains many vitamins. If it is well-preserved, properly prepared, and properly matched, it can be easily balanced under normal production conditions. However, with the development of the pig industry towards intensification, the addition of vitamins deserves more and more attention.

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