Feed intake enhancer for lactating animals

摘要

Methods and compositions are provided for increasing the feed intake of lactating animals. Incorporation of sodium sulfate decahydrate (glauber salts) into animal feed enhances the feed intake of lactating animals. Glauber salts are particularly effective as feed intake enhancers when the lactating animals are under heat stress conditions. Lactating animals provided with a diet supplemented with glauber salts in the farrowing crate until weaning show an increase in the average daily feed intake compared to animals without glauber salts in their diet.

主权项

1. A method of feeding lactating sows experiencing heat stress, comprising:
providing lactating sows an animal feed during conditions of heat stress, the animal feed comprising sodium sulfate decahydrate having a concentration between about 0.6 percent by weight of the feed and about 2.5 percent by weight of the feed, the animal feed provided from farrowing to weaning.