Effects of L-carnitine fed during gestation and lactation on sow and litter performance.

Abstract

Multiparous sows (n = 307) were used to evaluate the effects of added dietary L-carnitine, 100 mg/d during gestation and 50 ppm during lactation, on sow and litter performance. Treatments were arranged as a 2 (gestation or lactation) x2 (with or without L-carnitine) factorial. Control sows were fed 1.81 kg/d of a gestation diet containing .65% total lysine. Treated sows were fed 1.59 kg/d of the control diet with a .23 kg/d topdressing of the control diet that provided 100 mg/d of added L-carnitine. Lactation diets were formulated to contain 1.0% total lysine with or without 50 ppm of added L-carnitine. Sows fed 100 mg/d of added L-carnitine had increased IGF-I concentration on d 60 (71.3 vs. 38.0 ng/mL, P<.01) and 90 of gestation (33.0 vs. 25.0 ng/mL, P = .04). Sows fed added L-carnitine had increased BW gain (55.3 vs 46.3 kg; P<.01) and last rib fat depth gain (2.6 vs. 1.6 mm; P = .04) during gestation. Feeding 100 mg/d of added L-carnitine in gestation increased both total litter (15.5 vs. 14.6 kg; P = .04) and pig (1.53 vs 1.49 kg; P<.01) birth weight. No differences were observed in pig birth weight variation. Added L-carnitine fed during gestation increased litter weaning weight (45.0 vs. 41.3 kg, P = .02); however, no effect of feeding L-carnitine during lactation was observed. No differences were observed in subsequent days to estrus or farrowing rate. Compared to the control diet, feeding added L-carnitine in either gestation, lactation, or both, increased (P<.05) the subsequent number of pigs born alive, but not total born. In conclusion, feeding L-carnitine throughout gestation increased sow body weight and last rib fat depth gain and increased litter weights at birth and weaning.

L-carnitine supplementation in breeding pigeons: impact on zootechnical performance and carnitine metabolism

“…Supplementation of L-carnitine in sows during gestation results in higher sow weights and higher piglet and litter weights at parturition and (therefore) at weaning [17]. It is not clear from this sow trial whether other milk production parameters than milk composition, for example duration or quantity, were affected by L-carnitine supplementation.…”

Effect of <i>L</i>-Carnitine on Weight Loss and Body Composition of Rats Fed a Hypocaloric Diet

“…The mechanism of action might be based on endocrinological changes. It was recently observed in sows that carnitine supplementation during pregnancy raises concentrations of insulin and IGF-1 in the blood [11]. McCarthy [12] postulates that adding carnitine to a lowfat diet can enhance the weight loss effect.…”

Effect of L-carnitine diets on performance and blood metabolites in sows

“…Recent studies showed that supplementing sow diets with L-carnitine during pregnancy and lactation elevated litter size and increased the weight of piglets at birth and weaning (Musser et al, 1999;Eder et al, 2001;Ramanau et al, 2002). L-carnitine has been shown to affect several key enzymes involved in protein and lipid metabolism in pigs; therefore, it has been hypothesized that L-carnitine may modify some indices of blood lipid metabolism (Woodworth et al, 2004).…”