[Macro-element excretion and retention in early weaned piglets with vitamin B6 deficiency]

Two metabolic trials using early-weaned piglets were performed to find out whether highly vitamin B6 deficient prest,rter- or starter feeds (0.4 mg vitamin B6/Kg) would affect the excretion and retention of Ca, P, Mg, K and Na as compared with pair-fed control animals given 6.5 mg B6/Kg. The depleted animals showing typical vitamin B6 deficiency symptoms in the course of the trials, were found to excrete in the feces somewhat smaller amounts of minerals during both metabolic periods. Likewise, the deficiency animals had lower renal Ca and P excretion rates. On the whole, the Ca balance gave significantly higher retention values for the depleted piglets. In terms of nitrogen deposition, both Ca and P revealed significantly higher retention under vitamin B6 deficiency.