Effect of increasing levels of fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins on improving performance and plasma vitamin concentration in modern hybrids pig’s growth and finishing phase

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the supplementation of fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins on the performance and plasma concentrations of vitamins in modern hybrids pigs. A total of 144 commercial hybrid castrated male, 43.531 ± 1.099kg, were used in a randomized block design with six treatments, eight replicates and three animals per pen. The experimental treatments were different vitamin supplementation levels - 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, and 125% of the recommended by Rostagno et al. (2011) for male pigs in growth I (40 to 50kg), growth II (50 to 70kg), and finishing I (70 to 90kg) phases. For growth phases I and II, a linear effect (P<0.05) due to increase in vitamin supplementation was observed on performance. For finishing phase I and total phase, a linear effect (P<0.05) was observed with increased final average weight (FAW) and improved feed conversion ratio (FCR). For average daily weight gain (ADWG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) a quadratic effect was observed (P<0.05). A linear (P<0.05) increase in plasmatic α-tocopherol and B12 was observed with the 125%. Thus, it is concluded that the 125% vitamin supplementation improved performance of modern hybrids pigs (40 to 90kg).