title: L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate as a vitamin C source for segregated and conventionally weaned pigs.
abstract: We conducted two experiments to evaluate the efficacy of a stable source of vitamin C for improving performance and iron status in early-weaned pigs. A preparation of L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (Rovimix Stay-C 25, Roche Vitamins, Ames, IA and Bramus, NJ), which supplies 25% ascorbic acid activity in a stable form, served as the vitamin C source and was incorporated at dietary vitamin C levels of 0, 75, or 150 ppm. In Exp. 1, 72 pigs (14 +/- 2 d of age and 4.98 kg BW) were blocked based on initial BW and penned in groups of three (eight pens per treatment) in an off-site nursery for 42 d. Phase 1 lasted from d 0 to 14, Phase 2 from d 14 to 28, and Phase 3 from d 28 to 42 after weaning. Daily gain and gain:feed ratio (G/F) increased during Phase 1 (quadratic, P < .1 and P < .05, respectively), Phase 3 (linear, P < .1 and P < .01, respectively), and for the overall 42-d experiment (linear, P < .05 and P < .1, respectively) in response to increasing dietary vitamin C. At 14 d after weaning, plasma vitamin C increased (linear, P < .05) with increasing dietary vitamin C, but plasma iron, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were not influenced by dietary vitamin C. In Exp. 2, 120 pigs (20 +/- 3 d of age and 7.2 kg BW) were blocked based on initial BW and penned in groups of five (eight pens per treatment) in a conventional nursery system for 31 d. Phase 1 consisted of d 0 to 7, Phase 2 from d 7 to 17, and Phase 3 from d 17 to 31 after weaning. During the period from d 0 to 17 after weaning, ADG and G/F were improved (linear, P < .1) with increasing dietary vitamin C. At d 17 after weaning, plasma vitamin C and serum iron increased (linear, P < .05), but unbound iron-binding capacity and total iron-binding capacity decreased (linear, P < .05 and P < .1, respectively) with increasing dietary vitamin C. These results suggest that dietary vitamin C is needed during the first 42 d after weaning when pigs are weaned as early as 12 d of age and reared in an off-site nursery and during the first 17 d after weaning when pigs are weaned as early as 17 d of age and reared in a conventional nursery system. L-Ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate at a supplemental level of 75 ppm was adequate to meet the dietary vitamin C requirement of early-weaned pigs. Vitamin C supplementation with a stable product will improve performance in young pigs during the high-stress postweaning period and may be particularly beneficial to pigs weaned at a very early age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74078, USA.
authors.forename: B Z
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: de Rodas
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Maxwell
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mandali
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Broekman
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Stoecker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004355:Drug Stability; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D013552:Swine / Q000097:blood / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D014886:Weaning; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: C011669:ascorbate-2-phosphate; D007501:Iron; D001205:Ascorbic Acid