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Effects of l-carnitine supplementation on milk production, litter gains and back-fat thickness in sows with a low energy and protein intake during lactation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2007

A. Ramanau ,
H. Kluge  and
K. Eder
A. Ramanau
Affiliation:
Institute of Nutritional Sciences, Martin-Luther University Halle-, Wittenberg, Germany
H. Kluge
Affiliation:
Institute of Nutritional Sciences, Martin-Luther University Halle-, Wittenberg, Germany
K. Eder*
Affiliation:
Institute of Nutritional Sciences, Martin-Luther University Halle-, Wittenberg, Germany
*
*Corresponding author: Dr K. Eder, fax +49345 55 21 724, email eder@landw.uni-halle.de
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Abstract

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The present study investigated the effect of l-carnitine supplementation during pregnancy (125 mg/d) and lactation (250 mg/d) on milk production, litter gains and back-fat thickness in sows fed a low-energy and low-protein diet during lactation. Sows supplemented with l-carnitine produced more milk on days 11 and 18 of lactation (+18 %; P<0·05) and had higher litter gains during suckling (+20 %; P<0·01) than control sows. Loss of body weight during lactation was similar in both groups, but sows supplemented with l-carnitine had a greater reduction of back-fat thickness (+45 %; P<0·05) during lactation than control sows. In conclusion, this study shows that l-carnitine increases milk production and litter gains in sows in a strongly negative energy and N balance, and enhances body fat mobilisation.

Keywords

l-CarnitineSowLactationMilk productionEnergy balance
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 93 , Issue 5 , May 2005 , pp. 717 - 721
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2005

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