Compensation for deficiency of vitamin D3, calcium and magnesium in sows during the periods of gestation and lactation

Purpose. Study of the effectiveness of using feed additive "Ostoferol-calcium" on Landrace sows during the periods of gestation and lactation. Materials and Methods. Two groups of pregnant sows aged 22-24 months (10 heads in each) were formed 14 days before expected farrowing (first experiment). The animals of control group received water without studied feed additive, the sows of experimental group received feed additive "Ostoferol-calcium" orally with drinking water at the rate of 4 l per 1000 l of drinking water for 7 days, starting 7 days before farrowing. Two groups of sows aged 20-22 months during lactation (10 heads in each) were formed (second experiment). The sows of control group received water without studied feed additive, the animals of experimental group received feed additive "Ostoferol-calcium" orally with drinking water at the rate of 2 l per 1000 l of drinking water daily during the entire suckling period (28 days). The biochemical parameters of the sows' blood were studied to assess the effect of the studied preparation on the physiological state of the experimental animals. Blood was taken from all sows of each group from the vessels of the auricle or from the jugular vein in the morning after 12 hours of fasting for biochemical analysis. All the material presented in the article is calculated using mathematical and statistical methods. Results. Pregnant sows that received the feed additive with drinking water exceeded their control peers in live weight by 2.8%, had lower live weight losses by weaning of piglets by 18.88% (P≥0.95). The weight of piglets obtained in the experimental group after farrowing of sows exceeded that of the control group by 7.21%. The number of live piglets in the nest in experimental group was 5.3% higher. Sows of experimental group exceeded their control peers in serum Ca content by 14.01% (P≥0.99), magnesium by 26.15%, vitamin D by 28.26% (P≥0.95). The live weight of suckling sows that received the test feed additive by the age of weaning of piglets (28 days) was 2.2 kg higher, live weight loss was 15.21% lower, live weight of the nest was 8.8% higher, survival was 5.34% higher, calcium content in the blood was 11.8% higher (P≥0.95), magnesium was 15.3% higher, and vitamin D was 14.8% higher compared to the control group. Conclusion. The inclusion of the feed additive in the diet resulted in a reduction in live weight loss in sows during pregnancy, an increase nest weight at weaning and survival of piglets, and an increase in the level of calcium, magnesium and vitamin D3 in the blood of sows during lactation.