[L-Carnitine in reduced protein diets for piglets]
1997
Jost, M. | Bracher-Jakob, A. (Station federale de recherches en production animale, Posieux (Switzerland))
In a five-week feeding trial with a total of 128 Large White female and castrated male piglets of the 10-30 kg weight group the effect of dietary L-Carnitine (50 ppm) and of two protein levels (17 % CP and 16 % CP) on performance characteristics and health state were examined. The experiment was set up as a two factorial-design. Each diet contained the antimicrobial growth agent Mecadox (50 ppm). Only isolated cases of diarrhea had to be treated. Over the whole experimental period the factor "protein content" did not have any significant influence on growth rate or feed intake in contrast to the feed conversion ratio, which was impaired in animals fed the low-protein diet. No growth promoting effect of supplemental L-Carnitine was observed. Feed intake tended to be lower (-4 %) in both L-Carnitine groups. Its feed-saving effect was characterised by a significant interaction between the protein level and dietary L-Carnitine. Feed conversion ratio was improved by 3.6 % under the low-protein conditions only, implying some kind of protein-saving mechanism
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