Is 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH-D3) a good biomarker to evaluate bone and cartilage health in pigs?
19 Aug 2024
Lameness, a welfare issue and a source of major economic losses in pigs, is also increasingly seen in finishing pigs. This is because the higher growth rate and lean tissue accretion of modern breeds carries a higher mineral demand which can result in the redirection of minerals away from bone deposition towards muscle growth and immunity. Lame or unhealthy pigs have been shown to have reduced serum levels of the form of vitamin D3 known as 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH-D3). It is therefore relevant to consider whether serum 25-OH-D3 could be used as a good indicator of bone health, to support interventions to avoid lameness. This article explores this by considering the metabolic basis of lameness, how this relates to vitamin D status, and how 25-OH-D3 supplementation can be used to improve bone health and reduce bone-related disease.