Effects of L-carnitine supplementation 1 week prior to farrowing and during lactation on its concentration in milk, return of estrus and growth performance of piglets
2008
Ikeda, S.(Tokyo Univ. of Agriculture, Atsugi, Kanagawa (Japan). Faculty of Agriculture) | Sato, M. | Doi, F. | Muraoka, K. | Watanabe, N. | Odo, S. | Sukemori, S.
L-carnitine stimulates the transport of long-chain fatty acids across the inner mitochondria membrane to produce energy. It is synthesized with lysine and methionine as precursors. During lactation, the potential for biosynthesis of L-carnitine in piglet has not yet developed, and so its supply depends on milk. The effects of L-carnitine supplementation to the feed of sows during pregnancy and lactation were demonstrated in earlier studies. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of short-term L-carnitine supplementation in the following : on its concentration in milk during lactation, on the return of estrus, and on the growth performance of piglets. Fourteen crossbred sows with similar farrowing days were used at a commercial farm. They were classified into 2 groups ; a control group, in which sows were fed normal commercial feed ; and an L-carnitine-treated group, in which the feed included 50 ppm of L-carnitine. Milking was conducted on days 0, 2, 3 and 11 after farrowing and the concentration of total, free and acetyl-form L-carnitine in milk were quantitatively analyzed. Milk yield was determined on days 1, 7, 14 and weaning by the weigh-suckle-weigh method. The number of piglets born, birth weight, deaths due to weakening, weaning weight, and the return date of estrus were recorded.
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