Piglets getting single dose of 40,000 IU of vitamin D gained more weight – March 2013

Effect of oral vitamin D3 supplementation on growth and serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels of pigs up to 7 weeks of age

J Swine Health Prod. 2013;21(2):94–98.
Steven J. P. Tousignant, DVM; Steven C. Henry, DVM; Albert Rovira, DVM, PhD; Robert B. Morrison, DVM, MBA, PhD
SJPT, RBM: University of Minnesota, Population Medicine, St Paul, Minnesota.
SCH: Abilene Animal Hospital, Abilene, Kansas. AR: University of Minnesota, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, St Paul, Minnesota.
Corresponding author: Dr Steven J. P. Tousignant, 385 AnSci/VetMed, 1988 Fitch Ave, St Paul, MN 55108; Tel: 612-624-1220; Fax: 612-625-1210; E-mail: tous0026 at umn.edu.

Beginning in the spring of 2011, investigations on farms across the United States led to the anecdotal observation that most weaned pigs tested were vitamin D deficient. Work began on developing an oral supplement to be given to piglets early in life, and a few farms immediately adopted its use. Reports from the field by veterinarians and farm staff described encouraging improvement in piglet performance. This case report describes the effects of oral vitamin D3 on one farm during the summer of 2011, where 387 piglets from 36 gilt litters were assigned to either a group supplemented with vitamin D3 at 2 days of age or a control group.

Pigs in the supplemented group were heavier at weaning and 7 days post weaning, fewer lost weight during the first 7 days post weaning, and their serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OHD) levels were higher 26 days post weaning.

Received: February 6, 2012; Accepted: August 16, 2012
PDF is attached at the bottom of this page

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Summary by Vitamin D Life

• Random controlled trial giving a single dose of 40,000 IU to half of 387 piglets
• by 7 days 16% of vitamin D pigs had lost weight, vs 25% of control pigs
• At 26 days vitamin D pigs weighed 12.7 kg, vs control pigs 12.3 kg (3%)
• For pigs: reference values for 25-OHD of 25 to 30 ng per mL (vs 20 ng in US for humans)

See also Vitamin D Life

• Overview Veterinary and vitamin D
• All items in category Veterinary and D 130 items
• Why should animals need more vitamin D than humans
• Piglets not improve much with single 40,000 IU dose of vitamin D - Feb 2012
• Swine with extra vitamin D more likely to get pregnant and have more and larger piglets – June 2012
  Far better results when the piglets are born with more vitamin D
• Piglets helped a lot with 40,000 IU on day 1, provided they did not have diarrhea – Aug 2013