The thesis studies the impact of iodine aquacitrate on metabolic processes and productivity of pigs of different ages.
For the Western biochemical province, which is not rich in this essential microelement, mineral feeding with the use of preparation with iodine in its nanodispersive form is feasible from technological, ecological and economic point of view. High biological availability and activity of this form of iodine ensures its stimulating impact on metabolic processes, reproductive and productive functions of breeding pigs and piglets in significantly smaller amounts than those used in mineral premixes in inorganic form.
To study the metabolic impact of iodine aqua citrate and possible inclusion of this essential microelement in this form, we used premixes containing iodine aqua citrate produced with the help of nanotechnologies by Avatar Scientific and Production Complex, LLC (potency 1 g per 1 l). At the same time, test group animals were given standard mineral premix containing potassium iodide with evidence-based iodine content. Study group animals were fed premixes without inorganic iodine. Yet, their diet, according to study plan, was supplemented by aqua solution of the bioelement in the form of aqua citrate in the amount of 100, 50, 25 and 10% as compared to iodine content in standard mineral premix.
It has been established that introduction of iodine in the form of aqua citrate into the diet of breeding sows in half (1/2) or quarter (1/4) of the amount of what was given to test group animals, which received the microelement as inorganic salt, ensures a constantly high level of total iodine and protein-bound iodine in blood during all stages of the study. Simultaneously, the concentration of triiodothyronine and thyroxine in blood plasma of study group pigs was within the values characteristic for the test group animals. Under such conditions, total protein content in blood serum on the 90th day of breeding sows pregnancy (groups D2 and D3) was higher than the control index by 4.9% and 7%.
Increase of iodine content in the diet of pregnant animals (aqua citrate and inorganic form iodine ratio 1:1) and particularly its decrease (aqua citrate and inorganic form iodine ratio 0.1:1) were characterized by the suppression of protein-synthesis processes. Amid absence of potential changes in concentration for certain groups of proteins in blood serum, decrease of total protein levels happened with the general tendency of albumin levels decrease and β-fraction globulins increase, with possible iodine excess (first study group) and its deficiency in particular (fourth study group) in the diet of pigs.
Inclusion of iodine as citrate into the diet of breeding sows in the amounts corresponding to 50 and 25% from bioelement content in the standard mineral premix had a positive impact on reproductive characteristics. Such breeding sows gave birth to 13.7-14.0 piglets with an average body mass of 1.2-1.24 kg and based on those indices they outranked test group animals. Animals of those study groups also had better productivity characteristics of the newborn piglets. In particular, during intensification of thyroid gland activities, which manifested itself in the increase of thyreotonins in blood serum, foremilk and milk of breeding sows, the growth and development of their piglets improved. Under such conditions average daily growth of suckling piglets were by 14.8 and 8.7% higher than in piglets born from breeding sows which received iodine in molecular form. Such piglets, based on their body mass on separation from the breeding sow (28th day), superseded the sucklings born from test group breeding sows by 13.8 and 8.1% respectively. Survival rate also increased to 97% (as compared to 94.5% for test group animals). Milk productivity of breeding sows, as one of the main factors of supplying sucklings with nutrients and mineral substances, was also marked by potential growth by 28.7 and 15.8% (P<0.01) respectively.
It has been discovered that where the intensive growth technology was used, test and study group piglets reached 112-117 kg by the end of fattening up period (170th day).
According to quality criteria, the meat obtained from study group pigs, was practically no different from that of the test group pigs, yet in pork side of the study group pigs protein content was slightly higher and fat content was decreasing.
Consequently, for Volyn Polissia the iodine deficiency problem in pigs can be successfully solved by inclusion of iodine aqua citrate into the diet of animals, with the amount of element being much smaller than that recommended for pigs in inorganic form.
