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

Sows of differing parities and genetics were used at different locations to determine the effects of feeding added L-carnitine during lactation on sow and Litter performance. In Exp. 1, sows (n = 50 PIC C15) were fed a lactat ion diet (1.0% total lysine, .9% Ca, and .8% P) with or without 50 ppm of a dded L-carnitine from d 108 of gestation until weaning (d 21). No differenc es in litter weaning weight, survivability, sow ADFI, or sow weight and las t rib fat depth change were observed. Number of pigs born alive in the subs equent farrowing were not different (P > .10). In Exp. 2, parity-three and -four sows (n = 115 Large White cross) were used to determine the effect of feeding 0, 50, 100, or 200 ppm of added L-carnitine during lactation (diet containing .9% total lysine, 1.0% Ca, and .8% P) on sow and litter perform ance. No improvements in the number of pigs or litter weights at weaning we re observed (P > .10). Sows fed added L-carnitine had increased weight loss (linear; P < .04), but no differences (P > .10) were observed in last rib fat depth change or subsequent reproductive performance. In Exp. 3, first-p arity sows (n = 107 PIC C15) were fed a diet with or without 50 ppm of adde d L-carnitine during lactation (diet containing 1.0% total lysine). Sows fe d added L-carnitine tended (P < .10) to have fewer stillborn and mummified pigs than controls (.42 vs .81 pigs). No differences were observed for litt er weaning weight, survivability, or subsequent farrowing performance. Feed ing 50 to 200 ppm of added L-carnitine during lactation had little effect o n sow and litter performance.