Search

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient that maintains the health of animals. It can improve pig health via modulating calcium and phosphorus homeostasis, skeletal muscle development and the immune system. In recent years, the application of vitamin D3 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in pigs has attracted the attention of scientists. VD can regulate the immune response of piglets, inhibit the infection of pathogenic microorganisms and relieve growth retardation, improve muscle quality through its strong antioxidant capacity, supplementation of VD in pregnancy and lactation diets can improve reproductive performance and lactation performance of sows and increase blood levels of 25(OH)D3 in offspring piglets. In the paper, the application effect of VD in the production of piglets, growing-finishing pigs and breeding pigs was reviewed, which provided reference for the application of VD in the actual production of pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study assessed the effect of birthweight on reproductive performance, including a possible mechanism, in male pigs. Ten newborn male piglets, including five normal birthweight (NBW) piglets and five intra-uterine growth restricted (IUGR) piglets, were used in the study. All piglets were weaned on Day 28 and fed the same diet during the experiment (10 months). Average daily weight gain, feed intake and the feed conversion ratio were higher in NBW than IUGR piglets. Similarly, testis volume and the number of Leydig and Sertoli cells in the distal portion of the testes were higher in NBW than IUGR piglets (P < 0.05). Semen volume (P < 0.05) and the total number of spermatozoa per ejaculate (P = 0.08) were lower in IUGR boars. Testosterone concentrations on Day 141 and prostaglandin E2 concentrations on Days 82 and 141 were higher in IUGR than NBW boars (P < 0.05). The malondialdehyde content of seminal plasma was higher in IUGR boars, whereas sperm glutathione peroxidase activity was lower in IUGR versus NBW boars (P < 0.05). Expression of DNA methyltransferase (Dnmt) genes Dnmtl, Dnmt3a, histone-lysine N-methyltransferase (Suv39h2), and lysine (K)-specific demethylase Kdm4a was upregulated in testes from IUGR boars. These findings suggest that growth restriction affects sperm production via reproductive organ development and epigenetic regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]