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Bioavailability of calcium in alfalfa hay for gestating swine
Abstract
The research objectives were to determine the bioavailability of Ca in alfalfa hay (AH), the response relationship of several bones to Ca source (CaS) and the effect of AH and dietary Ca level (DCL) on reproductive performance and fetal composition. Two CaS (AH and CaCO$\sb3$), each formulated into four DCL (50, 75, 100, 125% of NRC, 1988) and two gestation stages (GS; 55 and 105 d) were used in a 2 x 4 x 2 factorial arrangement. Response criteria were plasma (alkaline phosphatase (AKP), Ca and P); bone (shear stress (SS), ash (BA), density (BD) and ash density (AD) from the metacarpal (MC), metatarsal (MT), rib (RB), thoracic vertebrae (TV) and coccygeal vertebrae (CC)); gilt performance; litter size (LS); litter weight (LW) and fetal composition (DM, N, ash, Ca and P). Shear stress, BA, BD, AD and plasma variables were similar between CaS. Gilts fed 50% of NRC for Ca showed a linear increase in plasma AKP as gestation progressed from 0-105 d. There was little difference in GS for the variables measured. As DCL increased, SS increased in the MC, MT, TV and CC. Most bones collected were correlated in their SS and BA response. Litter size and LW tended to increase in the gilts fed AH as compared to those fed CaCO$\sb3$. A decline in LS occurred with an increase in DCL from 100 to 125%. Gilts fed at 75% of NRC for Ca were lower in BD and AD in the MC, MT and RB and lower in RB ash, gilt gain, carcass weight, final weight and BF. Weight gains were higher in the AH fed gilts. Fetal composition did not vary with CaS. The CC bone appears to be most responsive to DCL. These results show alfalfa hay to be an excellent source of Ca when fed to gestating gilts.
Subject Area
Livestock|Agricultural chemicals
Recommended Citation
Walker, Gerald Lynn, "Bioavailability of calcium in alfalfa hay for gestating swine" (1989). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9013633.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9013633