[Pregnancy anabolism of the trace elements copper, zinc, nickel and manganese in sows].

In an experiment with 16 sows of the German Landrace the influence of gravidity and a varying dietary trace element supply on the total balance of copper, zinc, nickel and manganese was tested from the 21st day of gravidity until farrowing. The trial was of a factorial design (2X2X3). The balances were measured with 8 nongravid and 8 gravid sows at two levels of trace element supply (basic and supplemented groups) in three collecting periods. Additionally concentration of copper, zinc, and nickel and manganese was analyzed in the gestational products, namely in piglets, amniotic fluid and placenta. These balance trials were conducted to investigate whether there also is a pregnancy anabolism of copper, zinc, nickel and manganese in sows. Besides, the requirements of these trace elements of nongravid and gravid sows should be worked out. Trace element excretion in the gestational products amounted in comparison to the total fecal and urinary excretion to 2.3, 2.5, 0.4 and 0.2 per cent for Cu, Zn, Ni and Mn, respectively. The balances of zinc, nickel and also manganese were controlled homeo-statically in the nongravid sows with a higher intake of these elements. From the experimental data a daily requirement of 12 mg Cu, 50 mg Zn, 1.4 mg Ni and 50 mg Mn is established, i.e. 6 mg Cu, 25 mg Zn, 0.7 mg Ni and 25 mg Mn per kg of feed. At increased dietary supply of copper, zinc, nickel and manganese pregnancy anabolism of these elements took effect in sows. Dependent on the level of dietary supply in this experiment of zinc, nickel and manganese 33, 12, 19 and 12 per cent the dietary copper, were accreted anabolically in the maternal body itself.