Antioxidant capacity and concentration of redox-active trace mineral in fully weaned intra-uterine growth retardation piglets.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The redox status of intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR) piglets post-weaning has been poorly studied.

Methods

Newborns from twenty-four sows were weighted, weaned at 21 d and fed a starter diet until sampling. Sampling was done at 14 d post-weaning. A piglet was defined as IUGR when its birth weight was 2 SD below the mean birth weight of the total population. At weaning, eighteen piglets with nearly equal body weight from each category (i.e. IUGR or normal birth weight (NBW) piglets) were selected and then allocated to two treatments, consisted of six replicates with each pen having three piglets.

Results

Compared with NBW group, IUGR significantly decreased average daily gain (P < 0.001), average daily feed intake (P = 0.003), and feed efficiency (P <

SUBMITTER: Zhang H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4652383 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature