title: Serum zinc, iron and copper status during early gestation in sows fed a folic acid-supplemented diet.
abstract: The purpose of this trial was to determine whether an addition of folic acid to a commercial diet would affect serum Zn, Fe and Cu status in sows between weaning and 30 d of gestation. At weaning, 162 sows were assigned randomly to six groups and housed in individual cages fitted on a slatted floor. There were six treatments according to a 2 X 3 factorial arrangement: two levels of supplementary folic acid (0 and 5 mg/kg of diet) and three treatments to stimulate ovulation (none, flushing and pregnant mare serum gonadotropin [PMSG] i.m. injection). Control groups were fed a commercial-type diet, and folic acid-treated groups were fed the same diet supplemented with 5 mg/kg of pteroylglutamic acid. All sows were mated twice within 7 d after weaning. Of the 162 animals originally selected, 123 sows were pregnant and used in this trial. Serum folates, Zn, Cu and Fe were measured at weaning, mating and 30 d of gestation. Serum Cu, Zn and folates increased between weaning and mating, and then decreased to 30 d of gestation. Supplementing the commercial diet with folic acid elevated serum folates between weaning and d 30 of gestation (P less than .001). Folic acid supplementation also was associated with a higher level of serum Zn at 30 d of gestation. Supplemental folic acid had no effect on the pattern of serum Cu and Fe throughout the experiment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Tremblay
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Matte
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Girard
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Brisson
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine / Q000494:pharmacology; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008903:Minerals / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D011897:Random Allocation; D013552:Swine / Q000097:blood*; D014886:Weaning; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine; D008903:Minerals; D003300:Copper; D005492:Folic Acid; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc