Untersuchung zur Acidierung des Harns mittels alimentärer Calciumchlorid-Gabe bei tragenden Sauen

In this study the effects of a calcium chloride administration (CaCl2) utilized in order to acidify the urine on the metabolic processes like the acid-base-balance, the bone-metabolism and the mineral homeostasis of sows were investigated. The experimental group consisted of 14 sows receiving 14 g of calcium chloride (Calci Cap®) with their sole feed twice a day from day 80. of pregnancy until farrowing. The control group consisted of 15 animals, which were not administrated additional CaCl2. From day 80 through 108 of pregnancy a sole feed of the pregnant sows (EB 208mEq/kgTS) was applied and from day 108 through the end of this investigation a sole feed for lactating sows (EB. 223mEq/kgTS) was applied. Blood samples were taken from every sow on day 80 and 108 of pregnancy, right after farrowing as well as every second day until day 8 p.p. Spontaneous urine samples were collected on day 90 and 111 of pregnancy. Moreover a blood sample was taken from one piglet of each litter right after delivery. In these samples the following parameters were analyzed: blood: pH-value, hydrogen carbonate, total calcium, ionized calcium, inorganic phosphate, chloride, sodium, creatinine, pth and bone-specific alkaline phosphatases. urine: pH-value, calcium, inorganic phosphate, chloride, sodium and creatinine. In order to examine the impact of an additional intake of CaCl2 on the course of the delivery and the development of the piglets the following parameters were stipulated in addition: The duration of delivery, the period of time until the expulsion of the afterbirths, the quantity of born piglets in total as well as the piglets classified as born alive, weak and dead plus the weight of these piglets. The following results were obtained analyzing these parameters: 1) The medium urine pH-value of the test animals was (pH 5.96 ± 0.45) significantly (p<0.01) lower on day 90 of pregnancy than the pH-value of the control animals (pH 7.05 ± 0.34). Until day 111 of pregnancy after the feed change the urine pH-values rose in both groups significantly so that at this time the medium pH-value of the test animals was measured at pH 6.73 ± 0.46 and that of the control group at pH 7.31 ± 0.31. The significant group-specific difference (p<0,01) endured. 2) The additional substitution of CaCl2 had no statistically relevant effects (p>0,05) on the development of the medium blood pH-value 3) On the day of farrowing the concentration of HCO3- in the blood of the experimental animals was with a difference of 2,16 mmo/l faintly significantly (p<0.05) beneath that of the control group. During the other time of the experiment no significant differences of concentration (p>0,05) arose between the animal groups. 4) The administration of 14 g CaCl2 twice a day indicates no significant effects (p>0,05) on the concentration of ionized calcium in the blood as well as on the total calcium concentration and inorganic phosphate in the plasma. The same holds true for the plasma concentration of sodium and chloride and the content of potassium in the blood. 5) The value of PTH varied strongly from minimum 1.19 pg/ml to maximum 180.27 pg/ml. The comparison of the relative augmentation of the PTH level in contrast to the group specific initial value reflects that this value multiplies by 4.93 for the control animals from day 80 through day 108 of pregnancy. At the time of delivery this value drops to the 2.77-fold. In contrast, the test animals attain a 2.55-fold of the initial value on day 108 of pregnancy which rises further to a 3.48-fold until farrowing. 6) As to the analysis of the data concerning the concentration of the bone-specific alkaline phosphatase there is no relevant group-specific disparity (p>0,05). 7) On day 90 and 111 of pregnancy relative renal excreation of phosphorus (P/Crea) of the control animals is faintly significantly higher (p<0.05) compared to the values of the test animals whereas the values of the relative excision of chloride of the test sows exceeds those of the control group significantly (p<0,01) on both dates. However, the urine excision of calcium and sodium was not significantly influenced by the additional CaCl2 administeration. 8) By the administration of CaCl2 neither the course of the delivery or the expulsion of the afterbirths were influenced. The same holds true for the number of piglets born alive, weak or dead. The birth weight and the results of the analysis of blood gas of the piglets also reveals no disparities originating in the differentiated treatment of the females. In this study an acidifying of urine with urine pH-values inferior to pH 6.5 already be reached after a few days with the additional administering of 14 g (US) of CaCl2 twice a day. A bacteriostatic effect on the germ flora of the urine organs can be assumed with a urine pH-value of that kind. As the germ flora is considered as an origin of the later occurrence of the MMA-complex a reduction in prevalence of this syndrome can be obtained. The acidifying effect and the forced up oral calcium ingestion do not have a negative impact on the metabolic processes in the animals’ body tested in this experiment, so that this method of infection prophylaxis has in praxis absolutely legitimate claim inpractice.