This study evaluated the effects of injecting sows with vitamins A, D, and E prior to farrowing on nursery pig antioxidant status and growth performance. Offspring from sows given the vitamin injection tended to have greater superoxide dismutase activity and lower glutathione peroxidase activity. They also had increased average daily gain and average daily feed intake during the nursery period compared to the control group. However, the vitamin injection did not consistently impact antioxidant enzyme levels or plasma vitamin E concentrations in offspring. While growth performance was improved, the mechanism is unknown.

1. Effect of vitamin injection pre-farrowing on
antioxidant enzymes and performance of nursery
pigs
J.T. Gebhardt*1, G.M. Hill1, J.E. Link1,
R. Becerra1, and R.L Stuart2
1 Michigan State University, East Lansing
2Stuart Products, Bedford, TX
2015 Allen D. Leman Conference
St. Paul, MN

2. Background
• Cellular level antioxidants linked to Se, Mn, Cu, Zn
• Minimal placental transfer of vitamin E (Mahan, 1991)
• Colostrum source of vitamin E for newborn
• Dietary vitamin E supplementation extensively studied
• Impact of a vitamin injection of the sow on piglet performance
is unknown

3. Objective
• To evaluate the effect of a 5 ml i.m. injection of Vital
E Repro1 on d 107 of gestation on nursery pig
antioxidant status and growth performance
1 Stuart Products, Bedford, TX. Each ml of Vital E Repro contains: 300 IU
vitamin E (as d-α-tocopherol), 200,000 IU vitamin A (as retinyl-palmitate) and
100,000 IU vitamin D3 compounded with 18% ethyl alcohol and 1% benzyl
alcohol in an emulsifiable base.

4. Materials and Methods
• Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) outbreak in late
January, 2014
• All sows and gilts exposed to PEDV
• Trial was conducted late August-October 2014
• Larger study: live born piglets, piglet survivability, farrowing
time, and long term performance (2015 Midwest ASAS
Abstract #438)

5. Materials and Methods
• Two treatments:
• Vitamin Inj: Sows received 5 ml i.m. injection Vital E Repro
• Control: Sows received 5 ml i.m. saline injection
• 12 barrows (6 from sows receiving each treatment)
• 45 day study
• Weaning (d 25, BW = 7.19 ± 1.63 kg)
• Pigs allotted to nursery pens within treatment
• 3 pigs per pen, 2 pens per treatment
• Diets formulated to meet NRC requirements

6. Materials and Methods
• Blood sampling:
• d 5, 25, 45
• Blood sample analysis
• Plasma
• Ceruloplasmin (CP)
• Vitamin E (E)
• Red blood cell hemolysate
• Total superoxide dismutase (SOD)
• Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)
• Growth performance (d 25 – 45)
• ADG, ADFI, G:F

7. Materials and Methods
• Plasma vitamin E
• Analysis conducted at ISU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
• Ceruloplasmin
• Contains Cu and catalyzes Fe2+  Fe3+; acute phase reactant protein
• Change colorimetric absorbance (540 nm) between two time points
• Total superoxide dismutase (2 forms: Cu and Zn or Mn)
• Catalyzes 2 O2
-  H2O2 + O2
• Change in colorimetric absorbance (440-460 nm) over several time points
• Glutathione peroxidase
• Se containing enzyme which catalyzes H2O2  H2O
• Change in colorimetric absorbance (340 nm) over a minimum of five time
points

8. 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
5 25 45
Concentration,ppm
Day
Effect of sow vitamin injection on offspring
plasma vitamin E concentration
Control
Vitamin Inj.
Treatment × Time, P = 0.42
Time, P < 0.0001
Treatment, P = 0.10

9. 0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
0.4
5 25 45
Activity,U/ml
Day
Effect of sow vitamin injection on offspring
ceruloplasmin activity
Control
Vitamin Inj.
Treatment × Time, P = 0.41
Time, P < 0.0001
Treatment, P = 0.83

10. 150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
5 25 45
Activity,U/ml
Day
Effect of sow vitamin injection on offspring
SOD activity
Control
Vitamin Inj.
Treatment × Time, P = 0.44
Time, P < 0.0001
Treatment, P = 0.07

11. 500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
5 25 45
Activity,nmol/minml-1
Day
Effect of sow vitamin injection on offspring
GSH-Px activity
Control
Vitamin Inj.
Treatment × Time, P = 0.04
Treatment, P = 0.093
Time, P = 0.001

12. Effect of sow vitamin injection on offspring
growth performance (d 25 to 45)
0.00
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.40
0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
0.90
1.00
ADG, kg ADFI, kg G:F
Control
Vitamin Inj.
P = 0.05
P = 0.02
P = 0.16

13. Summary
• Offspring from vitamin injected sows tended to have:
• Greater total SOD activity
• Lower GSH-Px activity
• Plasma vitamin E concentrations decreased over time
regardless of treatment
• Ceruloplasmin and SOD activity increased over time
regardless of treatment
• No observed differences in feed efficiency, ceruloplasmin
activity, or plasma vitamin E concentrations among treatments
• ADG and ADFI were increased

14. Summary
• Inconsistent response from sow’s treatment on
antioxidant enzymes
• Improved growth performance post weaning

15. Conclusion
• Adequate nutrients for antioxidant response in pigs
from sows fed diets meeting NRC requirements
• Lack of consistent antioxidant activity response
suggests it was not the cause of the improved
performance
• Mode of action for enhanced growth unknown
• Further evaluation of other components of the
injection warranted

16. Thank you!