title: Macro- and micromineral composition of pigs from birth to 145 kilograms of body weight.
abstract: Body mineral composition was determined in 81 pigs killed at birth, weaning (28 d), and at approximately 15-kg intervals to 145 kg of BW. Total body components, including internal tissue, whole blood, and hair, were wet-ashed and analyzed for their mineral contents with the inductive coupled plasma method, except for Se, which was determined by fluorometric analysis. The results demonstrated that the body protein:ash ratio increased from birth to 20 kg BW, remained constant to 125 kg, but then declined to 145 kg BW (P < .01). The K:Na ratio increased from birth to 105 kg BW and then reached a plateau (P < .01). The Ca:P ratio decreased from birth to 20 kg then remained relatively constant to 90 kg BW, whereupon it increased (P < .01). These ratios reflected the rate of development of muscle and bone tissue and the higher soft tissue requirement for P and K during early growth. When expressed on a fat-free tissue basis, body Na was higher than K at birth, but thereafter body K increased linearly (P < .01) and Na content declined (P < .01). When Mg, Mn, Mo, and Cr were expressed on a fat-free empty body weight basis, each increased from birth but they maintained the same relative concentrations from 20 to 145 kg BW (P < .01). Body Fe increased from birth to 20 kg BW but then gradually declined to 145 kg BW (P < .01), whereas Zn increased to 145 kg BW (P < .01). Selenium increased from birth to weaning and again after 105 kg BW (P < .01). The amount of Co in the fat-free empty body increased linearly (P < .01) with increasing pig weight, and body Cu decreased to 75 kg BW and then reached a plateau (P < .01). The nonessential elements Al, Sr, and Sn increased dramatically from birth to weaning with a low rate of increase from 8.5 to 145 kg BW (P < .01), but Sn decreased after weaning (P < .01). The nonessential elements generally had a more variable concentration than the dietary essential trace minerals. There was a quantitative increase (P < .01) in all macro- and microelements from birth to 145 kg BW.
authors.affiliation: Animal Sciences Department, The Ohio State University and The Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Columbus 43210-1095, USA.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Mahan
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Shields
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D013552:Swine / Q000254:growth & development*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; D011506:Proteins; D014131:Trace Elements