Effect of Supplemental Lanthanum on the Growth Performance of Pigs

Wang, M. Q.; Xu, Z. R.

doi:2003.16.9.1360

Article

Animal Breeding and Genetics

Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 2003;16(9): 1360-1363.
https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.2003.1360 Published online January 1, 2003.

Effect of Supplemental Lanthanum on the Growth Performance of Pigs

M. Q. Wang, Z. R. Xu

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted on pigs to study the effect of La on their growth performance. Sixty barrows were randomly assigned to two groups (each of which included three replicates) and they were fed same basal diet supplemented with 0 or 100 mg/kg lanthanum (La) respectively for 30 d. Blood samples were collected and analyzed to study the growth hormone secretion pattern. La residues in selected organs were analyzed to test the safety level. The results showed that average daily gain and feed conversion ratio of pigs were increased by 12.95% (p<0.05) and 6.78% (p<0.05) respectively with the supplementation of La. Blood samples analysis showed that peak amplitude, base-line level and mean level of growth hormone in serum were elevated by 80.42% (p<0.05), 70.99% (p<0.05) and 64.91% (p<0.05) respectively. No significant difference of La residues was found in selected organs between the control and La-treated group.

Keywords: Lanthanum; Pigs; Growth Performance; Growth Hormone; Residue