The effects of low dietary copper intake during pregnancy on physiological fluids and reproductive performance of first-litter gilts.
Seven pairs of first littermate gilts were used to study the influence of low copper supply and pregnancy on physiological fluids and reproductive performance of first-litter gilts. They were fed semi-purified diets containing either 2.13 or 12.25 micrograms/kg of Cu from 30 days of gestation through two weeks of lactation. Low-Cu gilts had lower plasma Cu in early- and mid- gestation and farrowed piglets with lower plasma Cu and higher plasma Zn concentrations (p < 0.05). Plasma Fe and Mn concentrations were not affected by Cu supply (p > 0.05). Plasma Cu and Fe levels of newborn piglets were lower than those of their dams (p < 0.05) but this was not true for plasma Zn and Mn (p > 0.05). Low-Cu gilts had lower Cu and higher Zn content in colostrum and also lower Cu in milk than control gilts (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found in Fe and Mn levels in colostrum and milk between the two treatments (p > 0.05). Colostrum was richer in Cu and Zn than milk (p < 0.05) but not in Fe and Mn (p > 0.05). The low-Cu diet did not affect (p > 0.05) weight changes during pregnancy. The duration of parturition was shorter for low-Cu than for control gilts (3.19h vs. 5.71h, p < 0.05). Control gilts farrowed larger litters than low-Cu gilts (9.71 vs. 7.57 piglets, p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in live litter weights at birth, one wk. or two wks. of age (p > 0.05). The results indicated that a low-Cu diet and pregnancy had some effect on plasma, colostrum and milk mineral concentrations, as well as on litter size of gilts. An interaction between Cu and Zn was found.
Cao
J
J
Department of Animal Science, McGill University, Quebec, Canada.
Chavez
E R
ER
D000818:Animals; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000378:metabolism*; D001835:Body Weight; D003126:Colostrum / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology; D008098:Litter Size; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc