Journal article

Publication year: 2004

Pages: 86-92

Journal: The Journal of Nutrition

Volume number: 134

Issue number: 1

ISSN: 0022-3166

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/134.1.86

Publisher: Elsevier

Abstract: 
Recent studies showed that piglets of sows fed diets supplemented with L-carnitine grow faster during the suckling period than piglets of control sows fed diets without L-carnitine. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect Of L-carnitine supplementation in sows on milk production and milk constituents. An experiment was performed in which two groups of 20 gilts each were fed diets with or without supplemental L-carnitine during pregnancy (0 vs. 125 mg L-carnitine daily/sow) and lactation (0 vs. 250 mg L-carnitine daily/sow). The experiment was continued over two reproductive cycles. L-carnitine-treated sows had larger litters (P < 0.01) and higher litter weights (P < 0.05) than control sows. Piglets Of L-carnitine-treated sows had lower birth weights (P < 0.05) but grew faster during the suckling period (P < 0.01) and were heavier (P < 0.05) at weaning than piglets of control sows. L-Carnitine-treated sows had higher milk yields on d 11 and 18 of lactation than control sows (P < 0.05). Milk Of, L-carnitine-treatbd sows had higher concentrations of total and free carnitine than milk of control sows (P < 0.001); concentrations of fat, protein and lactose and the amounts of gross energy in the milk did not differ between the two groups of sows. The amounts of protein (P < 0.05) and lactose (P < 0.05) were higher in L-carnitine-treated sows than in control sows; the amount of energy secreted with the milk tended to be higher in carnitine-treated sows than in control sows (P < 0.10). The study suggests that piglets of carnitine-treated sows grow faster during the suckling period than those of control sows because they ingest more nutrients and energy with the milk.

Harvard Citation style: Ramanau, A., Kluge, H., Spilke, J. and Eder, K. (2004) Supplementation of sows with L-carnitine during pregnancy and lactation improves growth of the piglets during the suckling period through increased milk production, The Journal of Nutrition, 134(1), pp. 86-92. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/134.1.86

APA Citation style: Ramanau, A., Kluge, H., Spilke, J., & Eder, K. (2004). Supplementation of sows with L-carnitine during pregnancy and lactation improves growth of the piglets during the suckling period through increased milk production. The Journal of Nutrition. 134(1), 86-92. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/134.1.86