TH35660B - Method for enhancing reproductive performance in female pigs - Google Patents

Abstract

DC60 (03/09/45) This invention relates to the supplementation of diets given to sows during pregnancy, lactation, and breeding by administering L-carnitine and chromium. Supplementation helps to increase pork production by increasing the number of surviving piglets in subsequent reproductive cycles. The sow diets in this invention include L-carnitine and salts of L-carnitine and trivalent chromium salts such as chromium picolinate or chromium nicotinate. Typically, L-carnitine is added to sow diet formulations in amounts ranging from approximately 20 ppm to approximately 1500 ppm, and trivalent chromium salts are added in amounts ranging from approximately 20 ppb to approximately 1000 ppb. This invention also relates to sow supplements and supplement formulations. This invention relates to the supplementation of diets given to sows during pregnancy, lactation, and breeding by administering L-carnitine and chromium. Supplementation will... This invention aims to improve pork production by increasing the number of surviving piglets in the next reproductive cycle. The pig diets in this invention include L-carnitine and salts of L-carnitine, and trivalent chromium salts such as chromium picolinate or chromium nicotinate. Typically, L-carnitine is incorporated into pig diet formulations in amounts ranging from approximately 20 ppm to approximately 1500 ppm, and trivalent chromium salts are added in amounts ranging from approximately 20 ppb to approximately 1000 ppb. This invention also relates to pig feed supplements and feed formulations.

Claims (6)

1. Methods for enhancing reproductive performance, as measured by the piglet yield rate in the second farrowing of sows, include feeding sows during two consecutive gestation periods, and possibly during lactation, breeding, and/or pre-breeding, sufficient amounts of L-carnitine or its salts and chromium tripicolinate to improve the piglet yield rate of such sows in the second farrowing. 2. The method of Claim 1 stipulates that during pregnancy, pigs are given L-carnitine or its salts ranging from 9,000 to 14,000 mg/day and trivalent chromium salts ranging from 0.05 to 5 μg/day, and during lactation condensation, they are given L-carnitine or its salts ranging from approximately 20 to 34,000 mg/day and trivalent chromium salts ranging from 0.1 to 10 μg/day. 3. Methods for enhancing reproductive performance, as measured by the piglet yield rate in the second farrowing in sows, include feeding sows during two consecutive gestation periods, and possibly during post-milk elimination, breeding, and/or pre-breeding, with supplemental feeding of sows with sufficient amounts of L-carnitine or its salts and chromium tripicolinate to extend the piglet yield rate of such sows in the second farrowing. 4. Method of Claim 3 where the feeding of female pigs during pregnancy and milk secretion is supplemented with L-carnitine from 20 to 1500 ppm and chromium tripicolinate from 20 to 1000 pph. 5. A method to enhance reproductive performance, as measured by the piglet yield rate in the second farrowing of sows, involves feeding sows in groups during two consecutive gestation periods, and possibly during milk secretion, breeding, and/or pre-breeding, with sufficient amounts of L-carnitine or its salts and chromium tripicolinate to improve the piglet yield rate of such groups of sows in the second farrowing. 6. Method of Claim 5 whereby during pregnancy each female sow shall be given L-carnitine or its salts ranging from 9 to 14,000 mg/day and such chromium tripicolinate ranging from 0.05 to /day, and during lactation shall be given L-carnitine or its salts ranging from 20 to 34,000 mg/day and such trivalent chromium salts ranging from 0.1 to /day.