The classification of vitamins is based on their solubility in fat and water. The group of fat-soluble vitamins includes vitamins A, D, E, K, and water-soluble vitamins and the water-soluble group includes B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B12, etc.) and C, which are reserved in small amounts in the body.
Retinols (vitamin A) are called vitamins for growth. Their absence leads to stunted growth. Retinols promote metabolism, increase resistance to infectious diseases, act as regulators of endocrine glands, and perform other important functions.
Vitamin A deficiency leads to many serious diseases, in particular to pathological changes in the mucous membranes, discharge from the eyes and nose, corneal clouding, night blindness. Especially often with vitamin A avitaminosis in animals and poultry and сan lead to a violation of reproductive capacity.
In plant green feeds, especially in alfalfa, the most important of the provitamins A – β-carotene is contained. In poultry farming, carotenoids contribute to the coloring of egg yolk and the pigmentation of the skin and legs of chickens. The content of retinols and carotenoids in an egg characterizes its quality.
Calciferols (vitamin D). The most important of the calciferols are vitamins D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3 (cholicalciferol). These are the main anti-rachitis medicines. Calciferols regulate the content of calcium and phosphorus in the blood by accelerating the absorption of these elements from the intestine. Calciferols promote bone growth, the formation of egg shells, and regulate the content of calcium salts in milk.
Prolonged calciferol deficiency in adult birds leads to reduced egg production. In this case the thoracic cyst becomes soft and leg and wing bones become brittle; egg shells become thinner and chick hatchability decreases significantly.
Calciferols are present in very small amounts in plant and animal feeds.
In animals, vitamin biosynthesis occurs in the skin under the influence of ultraviolet rays. When keeping animals and birds for years in enclosed premises, natural sources of vitamin can practically not be taken into account and the whole need of animals’ organism for calciferols must be covered by adding them into the compound feed.
Ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) is made by UV irradiation of ергостерона produced from baker’s yeast.
Calciumferrol (vitamin D3) is very sensitive to air oxygen. Biological activity of calciferols varies with respect to different animal species. Antirachitic activity of animal cholycalciferol is almost in 30 times greater than the activity of ergocalciferol in birds. Therefore, more versatile preparations of vitamin D3 are used in the feed industry.
Tocopherols (vitamin E). This vitamin KOMBInes a group of eight vitamins, the most important of which is a-tocopherol. Vitamin E is essential for normal reproduction, effects metabolism, supports liver function. In laying hens, the lack of vitamin E in the ration can cause 100% embryo mortality without reducing egg production.
In animals, vitamin E deficiency causes general muscular dystrophy. Tocopherol is synthesized only by plants. The average requirement of animals for vitamin E is 1-2 micrograms per 1 kg of their weight per day.
Naphthoquinone (vitamin K).. This vitamin is essential for maintaining normal blood clotting ability, which regulates cellular metabolism. In addition, there are a number of derivatives of this compound that have high K-vitamin activity, and several provitamins K (menadione, vikasol, etc.).
B Vitamins
B vitamins have a general character of biological action. They are called antineuritic because they regulate the activity of the nervous system. They participate in the activity of enzyme systems, ensure the transformation of proteins, carbohydrates and fats in the body.
Thiamine (vitamin B1).. Thiamine is involved in water metabolism, is associated with the function of blood-making organ, regulates the activity of the heart, central and peripheral nervous system, performs the protective function of the gastrointestinal tract, supports normal intestinal peristalsis.
Riboflavin (vitamin B2).. ЦIn the body this vitamin ensures dehydration reactions associated with the assimilation of proteins and fats, participates in the ocular mechanism and metabolism of other B vitamins.
Pantothenic acid (vitamin B3).. As part of coenzyme A, it plays a fundamental role in oxidation and biosynthesis of fatty acids, decarboxylation of keto acids, synthesis of citric acid, formation of phospholipids. Vitamin B3 is necessary for normal reproduction of pigs, contributes to increase in body weight gain of birds, increase egg laying rate. It is necessary for normal function of mucous membranes and skin, pigmentation of wool.
Choline (vitamin B4).. Refers to the essential amino alcohols. It is part of lecithin, promotes tissue formation required for fat metabolism as well as for the metabolism of carotenes and retinols. It shows great activity in the presence of vitamin B12.
Choline-rich animal protein feeds, fodder yeast, meal.
Nicotinic acid (vitamin PP or B5). Plays a major role in oxidation and biosynthesis of fatty acids and participates in catalytic redox reactions of cellular metabolism. Vitamin PP is often referred to as an antipellagric vitamin. Pellagra (rough skin) is seen externally in pigs in mucosal ulcers around the mouth and tongue. The poultry shows poor feathering, weak legs, stunted growth, and other abnormalities are detected.
A lot of nicotinic acid is found in fodder yeast, animal and plant protein, especially in sunflower and peanut meal.
Pyridoxine (vitamin B6). The vitamin is central in protein metabolism and plays an important role in the transformation of amino acids by carrying out their reamination and decarboxylation reactions; it is important for fat, carbohydrate metabolism, and central nervous system functions.
Symptoms of pyridoxine deficiency are diverse: dermatitis, changes in the nervous system, slow growth of young animals; pigs have the development of anemia, changes in the liver.
Bran, grain, meal, dry yeast are rich in pyridoxine. Protein feeds of animal origin are poor.
Folic acid (vitamin B9 or Bc) has anti-anemic effects necessary for blood formation. Vitamin deficiency in small chickens and turkeys leads to growth disorder and feathering. Adult birds show ruffled feathering, dermatitis, feather depigmentation, reduced egg production and preservation of embryos. In Pigs, rabbits insufficiency of the vitamin cannot be found because it is synthesized in sufficient quantities by intestinal microflora.
Folic acid is found in almost all feeds, especially in alfalfa flour, soybean meal, fish meal, feeding yeast.
Cyancobalamin (vitamin B12) is also essential for blood formation. It is called anti-anemic because its absence in the feed leads to the development of anemia. It has a positive effect on animal growth, blood-forming function of the body, as well as on protein metabolism, which affects the regulation of the optimal balance of methionine, threonine, valine, leucine and isoleucine in the body. This is especially important when rations are unbalanced in terms of amino acid composition. Cyanocobalamin is also related to fat metabolism.
Ciancobalamin deficiency is reflected in slow growth of young animals, poor digestion of feed. Some animals have anemia, rough skin, dermatitis. Birds have problems such as – plumage deterioration, reduced number of offspring, increased death of embryos and increased mortality of chicks.
Ciancobalamin is not synthesized by higher plants, so it is almost absent in plant foods. The main producers of cyancobalamin are microorganisms – bacteria, actinomycetes and some species of unicellular algae. The latter are a source of vitamin B12 accumulation in fish. Therefore, a small amount of ciancobalamin is contained in fish meal.
In ruminants, the rumen microflora actively produces vitamin B12. The intensity of this microbiological process enhances with the intake of the microelement cobalt, necessary for the construction of the molecule of cyancobalamin. In the intestines of polygastric animals and birds, synthesis of the vitamin occurs in small amounts, but it does not fully cover the body’s need for it.
Biotin (vitamin H). It is involved in cellular metabolism. Its deficiency leads to disruption of carboxylation reactions and slows down the synthesis of fatty acids. Especially important vitamin H for young farm animals and birds. Since it is not synthesized in the body, it must come with the feed.
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C). It is involved in redox processes, synthesis of collagen and procollagen, as well as in normalization of capillary permeability. Introduction of vitamin C in the feed reduces the need for vitamins A, E, B1, B2 and BV.
Ascorbic acid increases the body’s resistance to infectious diseases and stress. Vitamin C is naturally synthesized by plants and can be produced in most animals. Seeds and grains of higher plants are practically deprived of ascorbic acid.
Ascorbic acid is easily oxidized and destroyed during storage, heat treatment of feed. Stressful situations of industrial growing and keeping of animals and poultry, their increased productivity should also be taken into account. This leads to the need to add additional vitamin C in the recipe of feed.
