Indicators of energy metabolism in pigs when feeding various iron compounds
Authors: Fomina M. , Kalyn B. , Koval H. 
Published: June 2018

Intensive pig breeding is usually aimed at increasing the growth of young pigs, reducing feed costs by 1 kg of live weight gain, balancing diets with the content of the main nutrients.  In order to obtain high-quality pig production, it is necessary to make corrections of rations in pigs of different technological groups using mineral feed additives that take into account not only the physiological needs of minerals of the corresponding age groups and classes of pigs but also the biogeochemical zone or the province where the farms are located in which feed is grown, as well as the conditions that accompany the emergence of the deficit. However, the use of these substances should not adversely affect the quality of products, its cost. These substances include iron preparations. Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for the life of the organism.  They get into the blood from the digestive tract in the form of monosaccharide – glucose. When it comes from the intestines into the bloodstream, glucose passes through the portal vein to the liver, where it becomes a glycogen. The activities of practically all organs without exception are more or less dependent on the content of carbohydrates in the blood streaming into them. Glucose is a universal energy source. As expended, glucose stores in the blood are replenished and, thus, its relatively stable content in the plasma is provided.  The transformation of glucose in the tissues occurs both with the participation of oxygen, and without it, by glycolysis.  Glycogen under the influence of the enzyme phosphorylase is split into glucose and phosphoric acid. Glucose, as a source of energy, is necessary for all tissues of the body, especially its great importance for the functions of the muscular and nervous systems. The results of our studies indicate that the glucose content in the experimental pigs' blood was lower by an average of 4.7% (P < 0.05) – the first group; 6.4% (P < 0.02) was the second group and 8.2% (P < 0.01) was the third group compared to the control animals. Decrease in glucose (within the limits of physiological fluctuations) is associated with more intensive use of the body tissues as an energy source. The activation of energy processes and increase of an additional background of phosphates in the body due to the action of chelating iron compounds is evidenced by the observed increase in the activity of alkaline phosphatase in pigs in experimental groups. The enzyme mentioned catalyzes the cleavage of the phosphate group from the organic monophosphoric acid orthophosphoric acid, and is responsible for the absorption of phosphorus from animal rations. The activity of LF was significantly higher with respect to control in the blood of experimental animals throughout the study period at 1.2; 1.5 and 1.6 times. The higher activity of alkaline phosphatase in the blood of pigs in experimental groups is also explained by the increase of phosphorylation processes due to the better absorption of phosphorus from the feed by the organism due to the action of iron chelate compounds.