METHOD OF ENHANCING REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE IN SOWS

摘要

The present invention relates to supplementing the diets to sows during the periods of gestation, lactation, and breeding by feeding L-carnitine and chromium. The supplementation enhances pork productivity by increasing the number of pigs born alive in the subsequent reproductive cycle. Sow diets of this invention include L-carnitine and L-carnitine salts and trivalent chromium salts, such as chromium picolinate and chromium nicotinate. L- carnitine is generally added to the swine feed formulation in the amount of from about 20 to about 1500 ppm, and the trivalent chromium salt is generall y added to the swine feed formulation in the amount of from about 20 ppb to about 1000 ppb. The invention also relates to supplemented sow diets and fee d supplement formulation.