Taurine supplementation of a skim milk powder based milk replacer in the week old piglet
1992
Stephen, L.L. | Chavez, E.R.
Two Landrace litters with 9 and 10 piglets respectively, were weaned from the sow at 7 days of age. Each were divided into two groups and placed on a dry skim milk powder based milk replacer, with or without supplemental taurine, for a four week experimental period. Blood samples were taken at the beginning of the trial and subsequently at 2, 3 and 4 weeks of the trial Fecal and urine samples were collected from each group at weekly intervals. Feces was analyzed for ether extract content. Four piglets per treatment were sacrificed at 3 and 4 weeks of the experimental period. The heart, liver, brain, thymus, spleen, plasma and urine were analyzed for taurine concentration. There were no differences in growth rate or feed consumption between treatment groups. The growth rate was as good as that of piglets raised on their mother's milk. Plasma taurine concentrations were significantly lower in the unsupplemented group than in the supplemented group (p < 0.001), from week 2 onward. Supplemented piglets excreted significantly more taurine in the urine at weeks 1, 2 and 3 (p < 0.002), but not at week 4. Differences in tissue taurine concentrations were seen in the liver at 3 weeks (p < 0.02), when unsupplemented piglets had significantly lower liver taurine concentrations. No treatment effects in the taurine synthetic activity of the piglet liver, heart or brain were seen. The long term effects of the decrease in taurine pools on development are unknown. The piglet seems to be able to cope with a taurine unsupplemented diet in the fifth week of life.
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