Effects of vitamin K supplementation on reproductive performance and bone metabolism-related biochemical markers in lactation sows

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of vitamin K (VK) supplementation on reproductive performance and bone metabolism-related biochemical markers in sows. METHODS: Twenty-four Large White×Landrace sows (mean parity 4.04) were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments (NC diet, a basal diet with 0.5 mg/kg of VK(3); VK diet, a basal diet with 5 mg/kg of VK(3)) with twelve replicates per treatment and one sow per replicate according to parity. The experiment started on day 107 of gestation and lasted until day 21 of lactation (weaning). RESULTS: We observed that there were no differences (p>0.05) in average daily feed intake, backfat loss of sows, live piglet number at birth and weaning, average birth weight, average weaning weight, and average daily gain of piglets between two treatments. The apparent total tract digestibility of phosphorus was increased (p<0.05) in VK sows compared with NC sows. The serum bone alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, type I procollagen amino-terminal peptide, and type I procollagen carboxyl-terminal peptide on day of farrowing were higher (p<0.05) in VK sows than in NC sows. The serum phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha on day of weaning were lower (p<0.05) in VK sows compared with NC sows. CONCLUSION: Therefore, the overall results suggested that increasing dietary VK(3) (0.5 to 5 mg/kg) during lactation improved the apparent total tract digestibility of phosphorus and serum bone metabolism biochemical markers in sows.