Humoral and cell-mediated immune response and performance of weaned pigs fed four supplemental vitamin E levels and housed at two nursery temperatures.

E. D. Bonnette, E. T. Kornegay, M. D. Lindemann, C. Hammerberg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

Three trials using 80 Yorkshire x Hampshire x Duroc crossbred pigs (avg initial wt, 6.9 kg) were conducted to determine the effects of four dietary vitamin E levels (11, 110, 220 and 550 IU/kg of feed) on the humoral and cell-mediated immune response and performance of 4-wk-old weanling pigs housed at two nursery temperatures (19 or 30 degrees C). Interactive effects of temperature and vitamin E were not observed for any measurements. Serum and liver vitamin E levels increased linearly with increasing level of dietary vitamin E, but performance, cortisol, antibody levels and mitogen-induced stimulation indices were not affected by supplemental levels of vitamin E. Average daily gain and feed intake were higher (P less than .01) for pigs housed at 19 degrees C than for pigs housed at 30 degrees C, but feed:gain ratios, mitogen stimulation index of white blood cells, plasma cortisol levels and antibody titers were not altered. Although supplemental vitamin E above the NRC estimated requirement increased serum and liver vitamin E concentrations, no differences were observed in humoral and cell-mediated immune response, cortisol levels or performance for weanling pigs housed at either 19 or 30 degrees C temperatures.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1337-1345
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Animal Science
Volume68
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1990

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Food Science
  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • Genetics

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