Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Award Date

1957

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Animal Science

Abstract

Vitamin D, through its specific action in calcium and phosphorus metabolism and bone growth, is necessary for the production of a sound, well-developed skeleton which his essential to profitable pork production. The fact that common feeds used in swine rations, especially grains and plant protein supplements, are lacking in calcium, vitamin D and in some cases phosphorus, accounts in part for the appearance of rickets and kindred deficiency symptoms under many practical conditions. Rickets and related bone diseases are normally abated by sufficient exposure to direct sunlight. However, in instances where swine are confined indoors or do not receive sufficient exposure to direct sunlight, some supplemental feed source of vitamin D is indicated. The following work was undertaken to determine whether vitamin D supplementation was necessary for swine of this area, and what relation the diet and environment have upon their need for vitamin D. The objectives of the experiments performed and described in this study were twofold. The primary objective was to study the effect of vitamin D supplementation and sunlight on confined growing pigs; and concurrently, determine if antibiotic supplementation exhibits a vitamin D sparing action in swine, as measured by growth and bone development. The objective of the second experiment was to determine the effect of calcium to phosphorus ratios of the ration on the supplemental need for vitamin D by swine.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Swine -- Feeding and feeds
Vitamin D in animal nutrition.

Description

Includes bibliographical references (pages 53-57)

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

63

Publisher

South Dakota State University

Rights

No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/

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