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Two different experiments were conducted, experiment 1 (Exp 1) evaluated the inorganic or organic trace mineral source of origine and levels in developing gilts on performance responses. A total of 216 gilts (Yorkshire x Landrace) were obtained at weaning and at approximately 30 kg of BW gilts were alloted to the experimental treatments which were prepared by adding trace minerals (Cu, Fe, Mn, Se and Zn) from organic or inorganic at NRC level or at level recomended from an industry survey (IND). Corn-soybean meal based diets fed from 30 to 110 kg were formulated to provide decreasing lysin levels from 1.3 to 0.9%. The second experiment (Exp 2) was conducted after gilt developement. The experimental treatments that were fed during the developement period were provided until breeding, where upon additional Ca and P were added to to the two additional treatment diets (IND) and fed during the reproductive study. Corn-soybean meal based diets were also formulated to contain 0.75% of total lysin in the gestating phase and 1% of total lysin during lactation and 0.75% Ca and 0.6% P in both phases.
It was observed that gilt growth, developement and feed performance responses was not affected by the origin of the trace mineral source. However, in Exp 2 it was obseved that sows fed organic trace minerals farrowed more (P<0.05) total (12.2 vs 13.3) and live piglets (11.3 vs 10.6) compared with sows fed inorganic trace minerals. Heavier litter birth weights (P<0.05) was also observed in those sows fed the organic source trace minerals whereas BW, feed intake and rebreeding interval were not affected by trace mineral source or inclusion level.
It is concluded that feeding sows organic trace minerals may improve sow productive performance but with minimal effects on reproductive performance.
JC Peters and DC Mahan. 2008. Journal of Animal Science , 86: 2247-2260.
