CARNITINE SUPPLEMENTED FINISHING PIG DIET

摘要

Feed compositions containing at least 0.6 % lysine, preferably between about 0.7 and 0.8 % lysine, and between approximately 0.1 to 400 ppm, preferably between 5 and 50 ppm, L-carnitine produce greater weight gains and feed efficiency, and alter fat metabolism, as compared with the same diet in the absence of the carnitine when fed to finishing pigs. The L-carnitine can also be administered as a feed supplement providing between 0.05 and 15 mg L-carnitine/kg body weight/day, most preferably between 0.1 and 2.0 mg L-carnitine/kg body weight/day. The effect of the carnitine is sex linked, with significantly greater weight gains and feed efficiency observed for gilts than for barrows.