Department of Livestock Production and Management, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai , India

Transcription

1 Indian J. Anim. Res., 40 (2): , 2006 EFFECT OF VITAMIN E AND SELENIUM SUPPLEMENTATION ON REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE AND BLOOD SGOT AND SGPT LEVELS IN GILTS UNDER DIFFERENT SYSTEMS OF HOUSING* V. Ramesh 1, T. Sivakumar 2 and S. Arunachalam Department of Livestock Production and Management, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai , India ABSTRACT Thirty six Large White Yorkshire gilts in the age group of 5 months were selected and randomly divided into 6 groups consisting of 6 animals each. Among these, 3 groups were reared under intensive and 3 groups under semi-intensive system of management. In each system group 1 devoid of antioxidants and treated as control, group 2 supplemented with Vitamin E 22IU and group 3 both Vitamin E 22IU and selenium 0.3ppm. The average litter size at birth was significantly higher in gilts fed with both vitamin selenium (10.83±0.40 and 12.50±0.22) and Vitamin E alone (10.17±0.40) and 11.50±0.34) than the devoid of antioxidants ( and 8.33±0.21) under intensive and semi-intensive system respectively. Similarly the litter weight at birth and at weaning were significantly (P<0.01) higher in antioxidant supplemented groups. The mortality rate remained significantly (P<0.05) lower in treatment groups. There were highly significant (P<0.01) reduction both in SGOT and SGPT activity at gestation and Lactation systems by antioxidant supplementation irrespective of the systems. INTRODUCTION Dietary supplementation of selenium and vitamin E are shown to be highly effective in increasing reproductive performance by improving litter size and total number of piglets born (Kim and Mahan, 2001). Serum Glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) have been interpreted to indicate a release of the enzymes from damaged tissue into the blood stream (Orstadius et al., 1999). The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the efficacy of supplementing sow reproductive diets with inorganic selenium and vitamin E and to evaluate their effects on SGOT and SGPT level and reproductive performance of gilts under two systems of housing. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study was conducted with thirtysix Large White Yorkshire gilts, selected at breeding age at the Swine Breeding Unit, Livestock Research Station, Kattupakkam, Tamil Nadu. The gilts were randomly divided into 6 groups consisting of 6 animals each. Among these, 3 groups were reared under intensive and 3 groups under semi-intensive system of management. The gilts under intensive system were housed in covered concrete floored pens in groups and the pen had a covered area of 3.0 m 2 per animal. The gilts under semi-intensive system were housed in partially covered housing system in groups, wherein the pen had a covered area of 3.0 m 2 per animal and an open exercise paddock of 3.0 m 2 per animal. In each system the first group devoid of antioxidants was treated as control, the second group was fed with 22IU of vitamin E and the third group was fed with both Vitamin E 22IU and selenium (Sodium selenite) 0.3 ppm per kg of feed. The antioxidants were fed from five months of age until the time of weaning of their young ones. The gilts were bred during the first oestrus itself. The reproductive performance * This forms part of Ph.D. Thesis submitted by the first author to Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai Department of Livestock Production and Management, Veterinary College and Research Institute Namakkal Livestock Research Station, Kattupakkam

2 102 INDIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL RESEARCH recorded were, litter size, weight at birth and weaning, and pre weaning mortality (0-56 days). The blood samples were collected from the anterior vena cava at breeding at 30, 60 and 90 days post coitus and 14, 28 and 42 days of postpartum. Blood SGOT and SGPT as an index of antioxidant status were estimated by using spectrophotometer at centralized clinical laboratory, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai. The data collected during the course of the study were classified and analyzed as per the completely randomized design described by Snedecor and Cochran (1996). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The litter size at birth in control group was significantly (P<0.01) lower (Table 1) compared to the gilts fed with vitamin E alone and both vitamin E and selenium in both intensive and semi-intensive system. Almost all the authors who had worked on finding the effect of selenium and vitamin E in the diet of sows had uniformly stated that antioxidants supplementation significantly improved the litter size at birth (Mavromatis et al., 1999; Rafai and Jakab, 2000 and Tensingh Gnanaraj, 2001). The litter weight and average piglet weight at birth was significantly (P<0.01) higher in gilts fed with both vitamin E and selenium and Vitamin E alone compared to the control group under both the systems (Table 1). The results revealed that gilts fed with Vitamin E alone gained 3.66 and 4.87kg more litter weight and gilts fed with both Vitamin E and selenium gained still higher litter weight of 5.69 and 5.56kg over the control groups under intensive and semi-intensive system respectively. This might be due to higher gestational weight gain in treated groups. It was in agreement with findings of Mutetika and Mahan (1993). Antioxidant supplemented groups maintained a significantly higher (P<0.01) litter size at weaning. It was inferred that addition of vitamin E and selenium in the feed of breeding gilts both during gestation and lactation not only increased the litter size at birth, but also improved the survival rate of suckling piglets. Pre-weaning mortality of piglets in pig husbandry causes economic loss to the farmers. Supplementation of vitamin E and selenium to sow diets was a potential mechanism for enhancing the ability of the sow to provide antibodies for her progeny (Chavez and Patton, 1986). The greater defense against environmental pathogens, particularly enteric organisms, may reduce pre-weaning losses due to enteric diseases. Supplementing vitamin E at 22IU level, pre-weaning mortality rate could be considerably brought down to 6.56 and 4.35 percent and by supplementing with Vitamin E 22IU and selenium at 0.3 ppm, preweaning mortality rate was reduced to 6.15 and 5.33 per cent both under intensive and semi-intensive system respectively. Blood SGOT and SGPT were used as indices of the vitamin E and selenium deficiency syndrome in the sow. The serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) levels in the blood indicates metabolic and functional health of various organs and tissues, such as nutritional muscular dystrophy (NMD) and hepatic disfunction. At the start of the experiment at fifth month of age, the SGOT levels in all the groups were similar. But at 0, 30, 60 and 90 days of gestation, the SGOT dropped to a very low activity level in gilts that were supplied with Vitamin E alone, both vitamin E and selenium irrespective of the system (Table 2). This drop was highly significant (P<0.01) compared to the control group. Similarly, throughout the lactation period, the control group maintained significantly (P<0.01) high SGOT activity

3 Vol. 40, No. 2, Table 1. Mean+S.E. and analysis of variance of litter performance of gilts fed with vitamin E and Selenium Reproductive performance Treatments Systems Overall Source of variation F value Intensive Semi-intensive Litter size at birth (live) (Nos.) Control 7.83± ± ±0.21 Treatments 75.20** Vitamin E 10.17± ± ±0.37 Systems 21.83** Vitamin E + Selenium 10.83± ± ±0.31 Treatment x systems 1.93 Litter weight at birth (kg) Control 9.20± ± ±0.27 Treatments ** Vitamin E 12.86± ± ±0.23 Systems 40.32** Vitamin E + Selenium 14.89± ± ±0.24 Treatment x systems 4.24* Average piglet weight at birth (kg) Control 1.14± ± ±0.02 Treatments 42.83** Vitamin E 1.26± ± ±0.01 Systems 0.23 Vitamin E + Selenium 1.31± ± ±0.01 Treatment x systems 3.92* Litter size at weaning (Nos.) Control 7.00± ± ±0.29 Treatments ** Vitamin E 9.50± ± ±0.24 Systems 35.27** Vitamin E + Selenium 10.17± ± ±0.24 Treatment x systems 2.07 Litter weight at weaning (kg) Control 73.57± ± ±3.22 Treatments ** Vitamin E ± ± ±1.38 Systems 37.79** Vitamin E + Selenium ± ± ±0.52 Treatment x systems 3.26 Average litter weight at weaning (kg) Control 10.69± ± ±0.21 Treatments 8.35** Vitamin E 12.09± ± ±0.31 Systems 4.13 Vitamin E + Selenium 12.02± ± ±0.26 Treatment x systems 2.41 Percentage of pre weaning mortality Control Treatments 1.52* Vitamin E Systems 0.56 Vitamin E + Selenium Treatment x systems 0.67 * Significant at five per cent level (P<0.05); ** Significant at one per cent level (P<0.01).

4 104 INDIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL RESEARCH Table 2. Mean+S.E. and analysis of variance of blood SGOT (U/lit) levels during gestation and lactation of gilts fed with antioxidants Different reproductive Treatments Systems Overall Statistical analysis F value stages Intensive Semi-intensive Source of variation At 5 months of age Control Treatments 1.01 Vitamin E Systems 1.48 Vitamin E + Selenium Treatment x systems 0.01 Gestation days 0 Control Treatments ** Vitamin E Systems 0.02 Vitamin E + Selenium Treatment x systems 9.39** 30 Control Treatments ** Vitamin E Systems 0.72 Vitamin E + Selenium Treatment x systems Control Treatments ** Vitamin E Systems 6.59* Vitamin E + Selenium Treatment x systems Control Treatments ** Vitamin E Systems 4.48* Vitamin E + Selenium Treatment x systems 0.19 Lactation days 14 Control Treatments ** Vitamin E Systems 2.42 Vitamin E + Selenium Treatment x systems Control Treatments ** Vitamin E Systems 3.51 Vitamin E + Selenium Treatment x systems 6.59** 42 Control Treatments ** Vitamin E Systems 8.17** Vitamin E + Selenium Treatment x systems 4.52* * Significant at five per cent level (P<0.05); ** Significant at one per cent level (P<0.01).

5 Vol. 40, No. 2, Table 3. Mean+S.E. and analysis of variance of blood SGPT (U/lit) levels during gestation and lactation of gilts fed with antioxidants Different reproductive Treatments Systems Overall Source of variation F value stages Intensive Semi-intensive At 5 month s of age Control ± Treatments 11.57** Vitamin E Systems 1.35 Vitamin E + Selenium ± ±0.43 Treatment x systems 0.18 Gestation days 0 Control Treatments ** Vitamin E Systems 0.92 Vitamin E + Selenium ± ±0.54 Treatment x systems Control 30.22± Treatments ** Vitamin E 18.17± Systems 2.00 Vitamin E + Selenium 16.97± ± ±0.30 Treatment x systems Control 48.02± ±0.42 Treatments ** Vitamin E Systems 4.30* Vitamin E + Selenium 15.62± ± ±0.25 Treatment x systems Control Treatments ** Vitamin E Systems 2.35 Vitamin E + Selenium 14.27± ± ±0.48 Treatment x systems 0.50 Lactation days 14 Control ±0.38 Treatments ** Vitamin E ±0.28 Systems 0.30 Vitamin E + Selenium 11.57± ± ±0.22 Treatment x systems Control 53.37± ±0.40 Treatments ** Vitamin E 14.35± ±0.39 Systems 9.84** Vitamin E + Selenium 11.48± ± ±0.27 Treatment x systems Control 62.13± Treatments ** Vitamin E 19.93± Systems 0.87 Vitamin E + Selenium 15.07± ± ±0.55 Treatment x systems 7.70** * Significant at five per cent level (P<0.05); ** Significant at one per cent level (P<0.05).

6 106 INDIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL RESEARCH compared to the Vitamin E and selenium treated groups. Serum activity of SGOT in normal pigs is 28±15 U/lit and the normal upper limits of SGOT 59 U/lit (Mahan, 1994). It can be seen from the present experiment that the control group exceeded the normal upper limit, whereas the antioxidant treated groups maintained on par with normal mean of 28±15 U/lit both during gestation and lactation. These elevated SGOT values may be due to a rapid degeneration, fetal reabsorption or both and stress during gestation and lactation in control groups. This was in close agreement with findings of Groce et al. (1971) who reported that sows which were not supplemented with Vitamin E during gestation and lactation in a building with concrete floors had significantly (P<0.01) higher SGOT levels during gestation and lactation than pigs receiving Vitamin E 22IU/ kg of diet (average 55.9 vs U/lit). Similarly with regard to SGPT, at fifth month of age the level of SGPT in all the groups were same. From 0, 30, 60 and 90 days of gestation there was a significant (P<0.01) difference in SGPT level between the antioxidant and the control groups. In control as pregnancy advanced to end up in and 56.67±0.42 U/lit at 90 days of gestation both under intensive and semiintensive system respectively. In the antioxidants group the levels were significantly (P<0.01) lower than the control groups. It can be seen from Table 3 that the SGPT activity were more or less equivalent to the normal level of 20±6 U/lit whereas in untreated groups the SGPT enzyme activity exceed the upper limit (>32 U/lit). During the period of lactation also, dietary supplementation of the antioxidants significantly (P<0.01) reduced the SGPT activity at 14,28 and 42 days of lactation than the untreated control groups. Similar observations of reduced SGPT enzyme activity at gestation and lactation stages, by Tensingh Gnanaraj (2001). It was concluded that gilts fed with both vitamin E and selenium had improved the reproductive performance irrespective of the systems. REFERENCES Chavez, E.R. and Patton, K.L. (1986). Can. J. Anim. Sci., 66: Groce, A.W. et al. (1971). J. Anim. Sci, 32: Kim, Y.Y. and Mahan, D.C. (2001). J. Anim. Sci, 79: Mahan, D.C. (1994). J. Anim. Sci, 72: Mavromatis, J. et al. (1999). J. Vet. Med. Series A, 46: Mutetikka, D.B. and Mahan, D.C. (1993). J. Anim. Sci.,71: Orstadius, K. et al. (1959). Zentrablatt fur veterinarmedizin, 6: 71. Rafai, P. and Jakab, L. (2000). Anim. Breed. Abstr., 68: 392. Snedecor, G.W. and Cochran, W.G. (1996). Statistical Methods. Iowa State University Press, Ames, USA. Tensingh Gnanaraj, P. (2001). Ph.D. Thesis, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai.