The effects of gestational folic acid supplement of sows on offspring immune organ and muscle development and postnatal immune and growth response

Primiparous sows (113+27 kg BW) from nineteen pairs of littermates were penned individually and fed daily 1.9 kg of a basal. low folic acid diet (.28 mg/kg) supplemented uith 0 or 8 mg folic acid from coitus to parturition. All sows were fed the basal diet for 112 days prior to mating to minimize body folic acid (FA) stores. Sows were synchronized and artificially inseminated within sow litter pair to the same boar. At 5+2 d post-insemination, ovulation rate was determined via laparotomy. At birth, two pigs in each litter were sacrificed. Litters were standardized to 10+2 pigs and sows were self-fed a nutritionally adequate diet. At 11+2 d of age. two pig per litter was weaned, penned individually, self-fed a nutritionally adequate diet, and blood samples were collected for immunological assessment during a 56 d period. Pigs were then administered 1 mL of 20% sheep red blood ceil (SRJBC) i.m and agglutination titers determined weekly for 49 d. Sow serum FA concentration, an indicator of body FA stores, were determined weekly and declined from 69 to 51 ng/mL during the 112 d depletion period. During pregnancy, serum FA concentration further declined thru mid pregnancy (d 70) then increased to d 84 or 91, finally declining as parturition approached. Gestational FA supplementation elevated (P<.01) sow serum FA concentration. Gestational FA supplementation did not alter immunoglobulin (IgA, IgG)