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The Role of Trace Minerals in Livestock and Poultry Production
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The Role of Trace Minerals in Livestock and Poultry Production

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2024) | Viewed by 19010

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Lin Xi

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Guest Editor
Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
Interests: hepatic lipid metabolism; intestinal health; trace minerals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Yanling Huang

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Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Animal Science of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, College of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, China
Interests: intestinal health; nutrition; trace minerals
Prof. Dr. Kwanseob Shim

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Guest Editor
Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Jeonbuk National University, Jeollabuk-do 54896, Republic of Korea
Interests: heat stress in poultry; meat quality; lipid metabolism; fatty acids; oxidative stress

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Trace minerals play a critical role in biological metabolic functions of livestock and poultry. These functions support growth, development, and production such as milk, egg, and meat qualities. Trace minerals are also essential for reproductive performances, immune functions, and epigenetic processes. Animal producers, feed manufacturers, veterinarians, and researchers have great interest in the latest advances in trace minerals research and applications in livestock and poultry.

The aim of this Special Issue on The Role of Trace Minerals in Livestock and Poultry Production is to introduce and present current knowledge and progress on trace minerals in physiology, nutrition, and health, with the ultimate goal of optimizing the efficiency of trace minerals and maintaining sustainable animal and poultry production. We encourage the submission of research and reviews focusing on all areas of trace minerals associated with metabolic functions, growth and reproductive performance, the immune response and health, molecular and epigenetic regulation, and microbiological and environmental issues. The submission of studies on new products and formulations or others related to them (as well as in cell lines and other species) is also welcome for this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Lin Xi
Prof. Dr. Yanling Huang
Prof. Dr. Kwanseob Shim
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • trace minerals
  • animal and poultry production
  • physiology
  • nutrition
  • immunological response and environmental ecology

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 1521 KiB  
Article
Organic Trace Elements Improve the Eggshell Quality via Eggshell Formation Regulation during the Late Phase of the Laying Cycle
by Songfeng Yang, Haibin Deng, Jiahao Zhu, Yiru Shi, Junyi Luo, Ting Chen, Jiajie Sun, Yongliang Zhang and Qianyun Xi
Animals 2024, 14(11), 1637; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111637 - 30 May 2024
Viewed by 1030
Abstract
The quality of eggshells is critical to the egg production industry. The addition of trace elements has been shown to be involved in eggshell formation. Organic trace elements have been found to have higher biological availability than inorganic trace elements. However, the effects [...] Read more.
The quality of eggshells is critical to the egg production industry. The addition of trace elements has been shown to be involved in eggshell formation. Organic trace elements have been found to have higher biological availability than inorganic trace elements. However, the effects of organic trace elements additive doses on eggshell quality during the laying period of commercial laying hens required further investigation. This experiment aims to explore the potential mechanisms of different doses of organic trace elements replacing inorganic elements to remodel the eggshell quality of egg-laying hens during the laying period. A total of 360 healthy hens (Lohmann Pink, 45-week-old) were randomly divided into four treatments, with six replications per treatment and 15 birds per replication. The dietary treatments included a basal diet supplemented with inorganic iron, copper, zinc and manganese at commercial levels (CON), a basal diet supplemented with organic iron, copper, zinc and manganese at 20% commercial levels (LOT), a basal diet supplemented with organic iron, copper, zinc and manganese at 30% commercial levels (MOT), and a basal diet supplemented with organic iron, copper, zinc and manganese at 40% commercial levels (HOT). The trial lasted for 8 weeks. The results of the experiment showed that the replacement of organic trace elements did not significantly affect the production performance of laying hens (p > 0.05). Compared with inorganic trace elements, the MOT and HOT groups improved the structure of the eggshells, enhanced the hardness and thickness of the eggshells, increased the Haugh unit of the eggs, reduced the proportion of the mammillary layer in the eggshell, and increased the proportion of the palisade layer (p < 0.05). In addition, the MOT and HOT groups also increased the enzyme activity related to carbonate transport in the blood, the expression of uterine shell gland-related genes (CA2, OC116, and OCX32), and the calcium and phosphorus content in the eggshells (p < 0.05). We also found that the MOT group effectively reduced element discharge in the feces and enhanced the transportation of iron (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 30–40% organic micronutrients were able to improve eggshell quality in aged laying hens by modulating the activity of serum carbonate transport-related enzymes and the expression of eggshell deposition-related genes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Trace Minerals in Livestock and Poultry Production)
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19 pages, 1952 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Organic Trace Mineral Supplementation in the Form of Proteinates on Performance and Sustainability Parameters in Laying Hens: A Meta-Analysis
by Laurann Byrne, Stephen Ross, Jules Taylor-Pickard and Richard Murphy
Animals 2023, 13(19), 3132; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13193132 - 7 Oct 2023
Viewed by 3688
Abstract
The effect of supplementing organic trace minerals (OTM), in the form of mineral proteinates (Bioplex® Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn, Alltech Inc., Nicholasville, KY, USA), in the diets of laying hens was examined using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) statistical software. The impact on [...] Read more.
The effect of supplementing organic trace minerals (OTM), in the form of mineral proteinates (Bioplex® Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn, Alltech Inc., Nicholasville, KY, USA), in the diets of laying hens was examined using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) statistical software. The impact on production performance, egg quality traits, and sustainability parameters related to the carbon footprint of egg production was assessed. Data were obtained from 32 global studies, comprising 107 dietary assessments of 30,992 laying hens. Overall pooled effect size (raw mean difference) of production performance when dietary organic trace minerals were supplemented either in basal diets, partial replacement of inorganic trace minerals (ITM), or total replacement of ITM, indicated that use of Bioplex minerals resulted in 2.07% higher hen-day production (HDP), whilst feed conversion ratio (FCR) was lower by 51.28 g feed/kg egg and 22.82 g feed/dozen eggs, respectively. For egg quality traits, daily egg mass was 0.50 g/hen/day higher and egg weight was 0.48 g per egg greater when Bioplex minerals were incorporated in the diet. The mean difference in egg loss was −0.62%. Eggshell thickness was greater by 0.01 mm, and a higher eggshell strength of 0.14 kgf was observed. Eggshell weight was heavier by 0.20 g, eggshell percentage was higher by 0.15%, and Haugh unit was 1 point higher (0.89). We also carried out a meta-regression of the effects of the study factors (location, year of study, hen breed/strain, age of hens, number of hens, and study duration) on the overall pooled effect size of the production performance and egg quality traits in response to supplementary OTM inclusion, and it indicated that certain factors had a significant (p < 0.05) impact on the results. Finally, a life cycle assessment (LCA) model was selected to evaluate the impact of feeding organic trace mineral proteinates on the carbon footprint (feed and total emission intensities) of the egg production using the data generated from the meta-analysis. Results showed that the inclusion of OTM proteinates resulted in an average drop in feed and total emission intensities per kg eggs of 2.40% and 2.50%, respectively, for a low-global-warming-potential (GWP) diet and a drop of 2.40% and 2.48% for feed and total emissions, respectively, based on high-GWP diet. Based on the overall results, the inclusion of organic trace mineral proteinates in layer diets can benefit production performance and egg quality traits while contributing to a lower carbon footprint. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Trace Minerals in Livestock and Poultry Production)
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18 pages, 803 KiB  
Article
Influence of Molybdenum and Organic Sources of Copper and Sulfur on the Performance, Carcass Traits, Blood Mineral Concentration, and Ceruloplasmin Activity in Lambs
by Renata Maria Consentino Conti, Thiago Henrique da Silva, Iuli Caetano da Silva Brandão Guimarães, Helena Viel Alves Bezerra, Arlindo Saran Netto, Paulo Henrique Mazza Rodrigues, José Carlos Guilardi Pacheco and Marcus Antonio Zanetti
Animals 2023, 13(18), 2945; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13182945 - 16 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1432
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of molybdenum (Mo) and organic and inorganic sources of copper (Cu) and sulfur (S) on the performance, carcass traits, and blood concentration of these minerals in lambs. Forty male non-castrated crossbred Dorper x Santa Inês lambs [...] Read more.
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of molybdenum (Mo) and organic and inorganic sources of copper (Cu) and sulfur (S) on the performance, carcass traits, and blood concentration of these minerals in lambs. Forty male non-castrated crossbred Dorper x Santa Inês lambs (20 ± 1.2 kg of body weight and 90 ± 2 d of age) were randomly allocated into one of the ten following treatments: (T0) control, basal diet; (T1) Mo; (T2) inorganic Cu and inorganic S; (T3) inorganic Cu and organic S; (T4) organic Cu and inorganic S; (T5) organic Cu and organic S; (T6) Mo plus inorganic Cu and inorganic S; (T7) Mo plus inorganic Cu and organic S; (T8) Mo plus organic Cu and inorganic S; and (T9) Mo plus organic Cu and organic S. Regardless of the source, Mo, Cu, and S were added at levels of 10 mg, 10 mg, and 2000mg/kg DM, respectively. The mineral supplements (Mo, Cu, and S) were added into the total mixed ration (TMR) by mixing them apart with the mineral and vitamin premix and then put into the TMR. The animals were kept in individual pens and received a total mixed ration for 84 days. Body weight and blood sampling was performed every 28 days. All animals were slaughtered after 84 days, and carcass traits were evaluated. Although organic sources of Cu and S added to Mo supplementation had increased the ADG throughout the study, this effect did not reflect in the heavier final BW outcomes for this treatment. In addition, no effect of these treatments was observed on the carcass traits. The serum Cu concentration was higher for the T0 group compared to the other groups; otherwise, Mo reduced the serum Cu concentration compared to the other groups. Considering the interaction among the minerals and their sources at 84 d of study, organic sources of Cu and S treatment and Mo associated with inorganic sources of Cu plus organic S treatment had an increased serum Cu concentration compared to other groups. Regardless of time, organic sources of Cu and S increased serum S concentration. At 84 days after enrollment, serum Mo concentration was lower for the control group compared to the other groups. Further, Mo supplementation increased its blood concentration compared to the control group throughout the study. The control group had the highest ceruloplasmin activity compared to the other groups; otherwise, at 84 d of the study, either Mo or inorganic S supplementation reduced ceruloplasmin activity. Serum ceruloplasmin activity was higher when Cu supplementation, regardless of source, was associated with organic S. However, at d 84 of the study, inorganic Cu associated to organic S supplements increased serum ceruloplasmin activity. In this current study, it was not possible to identify a pattern in the variables studied, however, further studies are needed to confirm that organic sources of Cu and S interacted alone without a defined pattern. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Trace Minerals in Livestock and Poultry Production)
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14 pages, 576 KiB  
Article
Effects of Diets Containing Different Levels of Copper, Manganese, and Iodine on Rumen Fermentation, Blood Parameters, and Growth Performance of Yaks
by Huizhen Lu, Weibin Wu, Xinsheng Zhao, Musaddiq Wada Abbas, Shujie Liu, Lizhuang Hao and Yanfeng Xue
Animals 2023, 13(16), 2651; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13162651 - 17 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1464
Abstract
Copper, manganese, and iodine are part of a yak’s required trace elements. However, knowledge about their dietary requirements is scarce. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to evaluate rumen fermentation, blood parameters, and growth performance and screen out the optimum levels of trace elements [...] Read more.
Copper, manganese, and iodine are part of a yak’s required trace elements. However, knowledge about their dietary requirements is scarce. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to evaluate rumen fermentation, blood parameters, and growth performance and screen out the optimum levels of trace elements in yaks’ diet. Here, 18 three-year-old castrated yaks were randomly divided into four groups, which fed with diets containing basal (CON: 4.40, 33.82, and 0 mg/kg) and low-level (LL: 10.00, 40.00, and 0.30 mg/kg), middle-level (ML: 15.00, 50.00, and 0.50 mg/kg), and high-level (HL: 20.00, 60.00, and 0.70 mg/kg) copper, manganese, and iodine for 30 days. With the increase in trace elements, yaks’ daily weight gain (DWG), rumen pH, ammonia nitrogen, microbial protein (MCP), and volatile fatty acids levels and serum triglycerides and urea nitrogen levels showed firstly increasing and then decreasing trends and reached the highest values in ML, and serum ceruloplasmin and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activities showed continuously increasing trends. Yaks’ DWG, rumen MCP, butyrate, and valerate levels and serum triglycerides, urea nitrogen, ceruloplasmin, and T-SOD levels in ML were significantly higher than CON. Therefore, the recommended levels of copper, manganese, and iodine in growing yaks’ diet are 15.00, 50.00, and 0.50 mg/kg (ML), respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Trace Minerals in Livestock and Poultry Production)
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15 pages, 4961 KiB  
Article
Vitamin D Alleviates Cadmium-Induced Inhibition of Chicken Bone Marrow Stromal Cells’ Osteogenic Differentiation In Vitro
by Xishuai Tong, Ying Zhang, Yutian Zhao, Yawen Li, Tan Li, Hui Zou, Yan Yuan, Jianchun Bian, Zongping Liu and Jianhong Gu
Animals 2023, 13(15), 2544; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13152544 - 7 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2452
Abstract
Vitamin D is a lipid soluble vitamin that is mostly used to treat bone metabolism-related diseases. In this study, the effect of Cd toxicity in vitro on osteogenic differentiation derived from BMSCs and the alleviating effect of lα, 25-(OH)2D3 were [...] Read more.
Vitamin D is a lipid soluble vitamin that is mostly used to treat bone metabolism-related diseases. In this study, the effect of Cd toxicity in vitro on osteogenic differentiation derived from BMSCs and the alleviating effect of lα, 25-(OH)2D3 were investigated. Cell index in real time was monitored using a Real-time cell analyzer (RTCA) system. The activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and the calcified nodules and the distribution of Runx2 protein were detected using ALP staining, alizarin red staining, and immunofluorescence, respectively. Furthermore, the mitochondrial membrane potential and the apoptotic rate of BMSCs, the mRNA levels of RUNX2 and type Ⅰ collagen alpha2 (COL1A2) genes, and the protein expression of Col1 and Runx2 were detected using flow cytometry, qRT-PCR and western blot, respectively. The proliferation of BMSCs and osteogenic differentiation were enhanced after treatment with different concentrations of lα, 25-(OH)2D3 compared with the control group. However, 5 μmol/L Cd inhibited the proliferation of BMSCs. In addition, 10 nmol/L lα,25-(OH)2D3 attenuated the toxicity and the apoptosis of BMSCs treated by Cd, and also promoted the osteogenic differentiation including the activity of ALP, and the protein expression of Col1 and Runx2. lα, 25-(OH)2D3 can alleviate cadmium-induced osteogenic toxicity in White Leghorn chickens in vitro. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Trace Minerals in Livestock and Poultry Production)
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21 pages, 4117 KiB  
Article
Dietary Zinc Supplemented in Organic Form Affects the Expression of Inflammatory Molecules in Swine Intestine
by Ramya Lekha Medida, Ashok Kumar Sharma, Yue Guo, Lee J. Johnston, Pedro E. Urriola, Andres Gomez and Milena Saqui-Salces
Animals 2023, 13(15), 2519; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13152519 - 4 Aug 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1428
Abstract
Animals receiving Zinc (Zn) dietary supplementation with organic sources respond better to stress than inorganic Zn sources supplementation. The study aimed to identify the effect of different Zn sources on intestinal epithelial gene expression. In total, 45 pigs (9 per treatment) (77.5 ± [...] Read more.
Animals receiving Zinc (Zn) dietary supplementation with organic sources respond better to stress than inorganic Zn sources supplementation. The study aimed to identify the effect of different Zn sources on intestinal epithelial gene expression. In total, 45 pigs (9 per treatment) (77.5 ± 2.5 kg weight) were fed for 32 days, a corn-soybean meal diet without supplemented Zn (ZnR) or supplemented with 50 and 100 ppm of inorganic ZnCl2 (Zn50 and Zn100), and amino acid-bound organic Zn sources (LQ50 and LQ100). Gene expression changes form RNA-seq in ileum tissues of ZnR revealed changes associated with Zn insufficiency. Comparing organic with inorganic Zn sources by one-way ANOVA, pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 18 (IL18) was downregulated (p = 0.03) and Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) upregulated (p = 0.02). To determine the role of epithelial cells in response to dietary Zn, swine intestinal organoids (enteroids) were exposed to Zn restriction, ZnCl2 or LQ-Zn. In enteroids, ZIP4 expression decreased with added Zn compared with Zn-restriction (p = 0.006) but Zn sources did not affect (p > 0.05) IL18 or TLR2 expression. These results suggest that organic Zn may stimulate TLR2 signaling possibly affecting immune response, while decreasing the proinflammatory cytokine IL18 expression in non-epithelial cells of intestinal mucosa. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Trace Minerals in Livestock and Poultry Production)
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17 pages, 948 KiB  
Article
Maternal Supplementary Tapioca Polysaccharide Iron Improves the Growth Performance of Piglets by Regulating the Active Components of Colostrum and Cord Blood
by Shengting Deng, Chengkun Fang, Ruiwen Zhuo, Qian Jiang, Yating Song, Kaili Yang, Sha Zhang, Juanyi Hao and Rejun Fang
Animals 2023, 13(15), 2492; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13152492 - 2 Aug 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1406
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of maternal supplementation with TpFe (tapioca polysaccharide iron) on reproductive performance, colostrum composition, cord blood active components of sows, and growth performance of their nursing piglets. Sixty healthy Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of maternal supplementation with TpFe (tapioca polysaccharide iron) on reproductive performance, colostrum composition, cord blood active components of sows, and growth performance of their nursing piglets. Sixty healthy Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire sows were randomly assigned to three groups at day 85 of gestation. The experimental diets included a basal diet supplemented with 100 mg/kg FeSO4·H2O (CON group), the basal diet supplemented with 50 mg/kg TpFe (TpFe50 group), and the basal diet supplemented with 100 mg/kg TpFe (TpFe100 group), as calculated by Fe content. The experiment lasted from day 85 of gestation to the end of weaning (day 21 of lactation). Results showed that maternal supplementation with 100 mg/kg TpFe improved (p < 0.05) feed intake during lactation, live births, and birth weight of the litter (alive) and increased (p < 0.05) colostrum IgM (immunoglobulin m), IgA (immunoglobulin A), as well as the IgG levels, while it decreased (p < 0.05) the urea nitrogen and somatic cell count of sows. Moreover, sows in the TpFe100 group had higher (p < 0.05) serum iron levels and IgG. Additionally, maternal supplementation with 100 mg/kg TpFe increased (p < 0.05) iron level, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px), catalase (CAT), IgG, red blood cells (RBC), and hemoglobin (Hb) of cord blood, similar with the iron content, T-AOC, GSH-px, IgG, RBC, Hb, hematocrit (HCT), and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of weaned piglet blood. The diarrhea and mortality rates among the nursing piglets were decreased (p < 0.05), while the average weight at day 21 of age was increased (p < 0.05) in the TpFe100 group. Serum PRL (prolactin) levels of sows exhibited a positive correlation (p < 0.05) with live births. Suckling piglet diarrhea was positively correlated with colostrum urea nitrogen level but negatively correlated with colostrum IgM, IgG, and cord blood Hb content (p < 0.05). The mortality of suckling piglets was negatively correlated with serum iron content and IgM in colostrum, GSH-px, and IgG in cord serum of sows (p < 0.05). The average weight of weaning piglets was positively (p < 0.05) related to colostrum IgM and IgG levels, as well as cord serum RBC counts of sows on day 21. In conclusion, maternal supplementation with TpFe can improve the active components of colostrum and umbilical cord blood and improve the growth performance of suckling piglets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Trace Minerals in Livestock and Poultry Production)
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14 pages, 1635 KiB  
Article
Dietary Supplementation with Different Types of Potassium and Magnesium during Late Gestation and Lactation Modulates the Reproductive Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, and Immune Function of Sows
by Zixi Wei, Lei Xu, Rong Bai, Limin Cui, Huigang Han, Yulong Han, Wenjuan Sun, Yanpin Li, Xianren Jiang, Xilong Li and Yu Pi
Animals 2023, 13(13), 2183; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132183 - 3 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1986
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with different types of potassium and magnesium on the reproductive performance, antioxidant capacity, and immunity of sows. Forty-five Landrace × Yorkshire sows at the late gestation stage (85 d) were [...] Read more.
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with different types of potassium and magnesium on the reproductive performance, antioxidant capacity, and immunity of sows. Forty-five Landrace × Yorkshire sows at the late gestation stage (85 d) were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 15). Sows in the control group (CON), potassium chloride and magnesium sulfate group (PM), and potassium-magnesium sulfate group (PMS) were fed with a basal diet, a basal diet supplemented with magnesium sulfate (0.20%) and potassium chloride (0.15%), or a basal diet supplemented with potassium-magnesium sulfate (0.45%), respectively. The results showed that dietary supplementation with PMS did not yield significant effects on the reproductive performance compared with the CON group (p > 0.05). However, it significantly elevated the level of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in plasma and immunoglobulin A (IgA) in colostrum (p < 0.05). Furthermore, PMS significantly augmented the activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) while reducing the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in comparison to the CON group (p < 0.05). Compared with the PM group, the PMS group significantly reduced the incidence rate of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) (p < 0.05) and significantly decreased the concentration of the proinflammatory cytokine (TNF-α) level in plasma (p < 0.05). These results indicated that dietary supplementation with PMS during late gestation could enhance sows’ antioxidant capacity and the IgA level in colostrum. These findings will provide a theoretical reference for the use of magnesium and potassium in sow production to improve sows’ health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Trace Minerals in Livestock and Poultry Production)
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14 pages, 716 KiB  
Article
Effects of Different Iron Supplements on Reproductive Performance and Antioxidant Capacity of Pregnant Sows as Well as Iron Content and Antioxidant Gene Expression in Newborn Piglets
by Xiaokun Xing, Chunyong Zhang, Peng Ji, Jia Yang, Qihua Li, Hongbin Pan and Qingcong An
Animals 2023, 13(3), 517; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13030517 - 1 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2664
Abstract
To improve the reproductive performance of sows and the iron nutrition of newborn piglets, we studied the effects of dietary iron on reproductive performance in pregnant sows as well as antioxidant capacity and the visceral iron content of sows and newborn piglets. Forty [...] Read more.
To improve the reproductive performance of sows and the iron nutrition of newborn piglets, we studied the effects of dietary iron on reproductive performance in pregnant sows as well as antioxidant capacity and the visceral iron content of sows and newborn piglets. Forty pregnant sows were divided into four groups, the iron deficiency group (Id group) was fed a basic diet while sows in the treatment groups were fed diets supplemented with 200 mg/kg lactoferrin (LF group), 0.8% heme-iron (Heme-Fe group), or 500 mg/kg iron-glycine complex (Fe-Gly group). The results indicated that (1) different sources of iron had no significant effect on litter size, live litter size, and litter weight of sows; (2) the three additives improved iron nutrition in newborn piglets, with LF and Heme-Fe having better improvement effects; and (3) the addition of different iron sources improved the level of serum antioxidant biochemical indexes of sows and newborn piglets, and it can have an effect on gene level, among which lactoferrin has the best effect. Thus, adding LF, Heme-iron, or Fe-Gly to the diet of sows during the second and third trimester of gestation can improve the antioxidant capacity of the sows. The supplementation of LF in pregnant sow diets can also improve the antioxidant capacity and the iron nutrition of newborn piglets, with better additive effects than in Heme-Fe and Fe-Gly. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Trace Minerals in Livestock and Poultry Production)
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