Volume 53 (2003) Issue: 2003 No#1

EFFECTS OF SUPPLEMENTATION OF ORGANIC-BOUND TRACE ELEMENTS ON BLOOD AND TISSUES - MICROMINERAL PROFILE AND IMMUNE PARAMETERS OF PIGLETS

Author(s): Novotny J, Pistl J, Kováč G

Keywords:piglets, organic trace elements, micromineral profile, immune parameters

An 8-week experiment was carried out on piglets to observe the effects of organic trace element supplementation (Piglet Booster Alttech, Inc.) on the micromineral profile of blood serum, immunological parameters, body weight (before and after weaning), and tissue concentrations of Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, and Se. Forty piglets from 4 sows were divided into 2 groups (control – 19 piglets, experimental – 21). Organic trace element supplementation affected positively the body weight of the experimental animals. The metabolic activity of phagocytes and polyclonal activation of lymphocytes were significantly increased (p< 0.05 – 0.01) in the second phase of the experiment. Significant increases in Fe, Cu, and Se in the blood serum (p<0.05 – 0.001) and Zn, Se, and Mn in the heart muscle (p<0.05) were recorded. Increased concentrations of minerals were observed in the heart (Fe), liver (Zn, Fe, and Se), kidneys (Zn, Fe, Se, and Mn), and loin muscles (Fe, Se, and Mn).