Vitamin E and selenium plasma concentrations in weanling pigs under field conditions in Norwegian pig herds

Abstract

Background: The status of alpha-tocopherol (vit E) and selenium (Se) has been shown to influence disease resistance in pigs, and may be important for the health of weanling pigs.

Methods: Plasma levels of both vit E and Se were followed in weanling pigs under field conditions in six Norwegian pig herds. Plasma vit E and Se were measured in 3 sows from each herd and 4 piglets in the litter of each sow at the day before weaning (day -1); and in the same piglets at days 4, 8 and 18 after weaning.

Results: Mean plasma vit E was 4.0 microg/ml in the sows and 2.6 microg/ml in the piglets at day -1, fell to 1.6 microg/ml in the weanling pigs at day 4, and remained low. Mean plasma Se was 0.22 microg/g in the sows and 0.08 microg/g in the piglets at day -1, rose to 0.10 microg/g in the weanlings at day 4, and continued rising.

Conclusion: The results suggest that vit E and Se supplementation to piglets and weanling pigs in Norway may still be suboptimal, but that levels of the two nutrients partially compensate for each other in the weaning period.

Figure 1

Plasma vit E and Se in sows and their litters at weaning. Plasma vit E and Se concentrations in sows and average concentrations in their litters, at the day before weaning (day -1), in six Norwegian pig herds.

Figure 2

Changes in plasma vit E, plasma Se and bodyweight in each herd. Changes in average plasma vit E, average plasma Se and average bodyweight in weanling pigs from the day before weaning to day 18 post weaning, in each of the herds studied.