Abstract
Improvements in sow productivity have raised questions regarding dietary vitamin D
recommendations. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of the
housing system with access to sunlight exposure and supplementation of
25-hydroxicholecalciferol on performance and serum levels of 25(OH)D3 in sows
during gestation and lactation. Sows were distributed in an experimental design with
two housing systems: gestation crates or gestation free-range system with external
area for sunlight exposure; and two diets: 0 or 50 μg of 25-hydroxicholecalciferol
kg1. The use of 25-hydroxicholecalciferol tended (P = 0.052) to improve total
born and influenced (P = 0.046) on number of born alive. Litter weight at birth
was also increased (P = 0.01) by 25-hydroxicholecalciferol supplementation;
25-hydroxicholecalciferol supplementation and housing system (free-range with
sunlight exposure) tended to increase weaning weight (P = 0.07) and litter daily gain
(P = 0.051) during lactation. Exposure to sunlight and 25-hydroxicholecalciferol
supplementation increased 25(OH)D3 serum levels when compared with control
treatment during gestation (136.95 vs. 113.92 ng mL1; P = 0.035) and lactation
(120.29 vs. 88.93 ng mL1; P = 0.026). In conclusion, the association of
25-hydroxicholecalciferol supplementation with exposure to sunlight during gestation
improved significantly 25(OH)D3 serum levels and consequently performance
traits in gestation and lactation.
KEYWORDS
gestation, housing system, lactation, sows, vitamin D
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