EFFECT OF CHROMIUM YEAST SUPPLEMENTATION ON PERFORMANCE, REPRODUCTIONAND IMMUNE FUNCTION IN PIGS

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Cr-supplementatio n of lactating sow diet on sow performance, reproduction and immune fu nctions. Sixteen hybrid commercial breed (Goland) sows were assigned t o two experimental groups (eight sows/group; average parity = 2.3 +/- 0.4): control (no Cr supplementation) and Cr-supplemented. Supplementa tion of Cr was carried out by adding Cr-yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisia e) from day 107 of gestation and during lactation. The following param eters were considered at day 3, day 15 after parturition and at weanin g: litter size, litter weight, sow body condition score and feed intak e. At the same time blood samples were collected to measure superoxide production by blood neutrophils, interleukin-l production (ILK-1) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II expression by blood m acrophages. Litter size, litter weight, sow body condition score and f eed intake were not affected by Cr-supplementation of sow diet. There were no significant differences in superoxide anion production by bloo d neutrophils, or ILK-1 production and MHC class-II antigen expression by blood macrophages when control and Cr-supplemented sows were compa red. ((C) Elsevier/Inra).