Effects of <scp>25‐</scp>hydroxyvitamin <scp>D₃</scp> on growth performance, serum parameters, fecal microbiota, and metabolites in weaned piglets fed diets with low calcium and phosphorus

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND With the development of intensive farming, long‐term exposure of pigs to poor light conditions is not conducive to the production of vitamin D 3 , and vitamin D 3 deficiency could affect absorption and metabolism of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P). 25‐Hydroxyvitamin D 3 (25OHD 3 ) has higher bioactivity than regular vitamin D 3 . This study investigated the effects of 25OHD 3 on performance, serum parameters, fecal microbiota, and metabolites in weaned piglets fed with low Ca‐P diet. RESULTS It was found that a low Ca‐P diet supplemented with 50 μg/kg 25OHD 3 (NC + 25‐D) improved ( P &lt; 0.05) average daily gain (ADG) in phase 2 and in the overall period of the experiment, and increased ( P &lt; 0.05) the immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin A (IgA), catalase (CAT), bone‐specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), and osteocalcin (OC) serum content on day 28 compared with a low Ca‐P diet (NC), but no differences were observed between a normal Ca‐P diet (PC) and the NC + 25‐D diet. Compared with NC, the abundance of Firmicutes was higher ( P &lt; 0.05) in PC and NC + 25‐D. NC + 25‐D decreased ( P &lt; 0.05) the abundance of Streptococcaceae compared with PC and NC, and increased ( P &lt; 0.05) the abundance of Lachnospiraceae compared with NC. Serum 25OHD 3 was negatively correlated with the abundance of fecal Streptococcaceae ( P &lt; 0.05), and positively correlated with the abundance of fecal Lachnospiraceae ( P &lt; 0.05). CONCLUSION Supplementation of 25OHD 3 in a low Ca‐P diet improved serum immunity, bone biochemical parameters, and fecal microbiota such as decreased Streptococcaceae abundance and increased Lachnospiraceae abundance, which could subsequently promote growth of piglets. The effects were similar to that of a normal Ca‐P diet. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

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