Effect of l-carnitine supplementation and sugar beet pulp inclusion in gilt gestation diets on gilt live weight, lactation feed intake, and offspring growth from birth to slaughter1

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of l-carnitine (CAR) and sugar beet pulp (SBP) inclusion in gilt gestation diets on gilt live weight, cortisol concentration, lactation feed intake, and lifetime growth of progeny. Eighty-four pregnant gilts (Large White × Landrace) were randomly assigned to a treatment at day 38 of gestation until parturition; Control (0% SBP, 0 g CAR), CAR (0.125 g/d CAR), SBP (40% SBP), and SBP plus CAR (40% SBP, 0.125 g/d CAR). Gilts were weighed and back-fat depth was recorded on day 38, day 90, and day 108 of gestation and at weaning. Gilt saliva samples were collected pre-farrowing and fecal consistency was scored from entry to the farrowing room until day 5 post-partum. The number of piglets born (total, live, and stillborn) and individual birth weight was recorded. Piglet blood glucose concentration was measured 24 h post-partum and pigs were weighed on day 1, day 6, day 14, day 26, day 76, day 110, and day 147 of life. Carcass data were collected at slaughter. There was no interaction between CAR and SBP for any variable measured. The SBP-fed gilts were heavier on day 90 and day 108 of gestation (P < 0.05) and lost more weight during lactation (P < 0.05) than control gilts. They also had a greater fecal consistency score (P < 0.01). Total farrowing duration, piglet birth interval, and lactation feed intakes were similar between treatments (P > 0.05). The number of piglets born (total, live, and stillborn) and piglet birth weight was likewise similar between treatments (P > 0.05). Piglets from CAR-fed gilts had lower blood glucose concentrations (P < 0.01), while piglets from SBP-fed gilts had greater blood glucose concentrations (P < 0.01). Piglets from CAR gilts had a lower average daily gain between day 1 and day 6 (P < 0.05) and day 14 and day 26 post-partum (P < 0.05) compared to piglets from control gilts. However, CAR gilts weaned a greater number of pigs (P = 0.07). Live weight and carcass weight at slaughter were heavier for pigs from CAR gilts (P < 0.05) and from SBP gilts (P < 0.05). Pigs from CAR gilts (P < 0.01) and SBP gilts (P < 0.05) had increased carcass muscle depth. In conclusion, no benefit was found from the combined feeding of CAR and SBP. Fed separately, CAR increased the live weight, carcass weight, and muscle depth of progeny at slaughter. Feeding a high SBP diet increased fecal consistency in gilts pre-farrowing and increased live weight and carcass muscle depth of progeny.

Effect of dietary l-carnitine supplementation to sows during gestation and/or lactation on sow productivity, muscle maturation and lifetime growth in progeny from large litters

“…In the present study, no differences were found in sow BW gain during gestation or lactation in response to dietary CAR supplementation. Our results agree with previous results from our group (30) and with a number of other sow studies (14,31) . This suggests that CAR supplementation to pregnant and lactating sows does not appear to improve the efficiency of energy utilisation, at least under conditions of adequate energy and amino acid supply.…”

“…Thus, the prolificacy of these sows is modest relative to the highly prolific sow lines which currently predominate in the pig industry and to the sows in our study; sows in the present study had an average litter size of 16•5 total piglets born. Previous work by our group, in which supplemental CAR was fed to highly prolific gilts from day 38 of gestation (average total litter size of 14•8 piglets), observed no increase in litter size at birth (30) . The present findings therefore suggest that the effect of CAR functioned primarily during embryo implantation, which occurs during the first 35 d of gestation (41) .…”

“…It is much more likely, however, that the observed increase in carcass lean meat yield is because these pigs were lighter at slaughter. A recent study by our group observed heavier live weights and carcass weights and increased carcass muscle depth in pigs at market age (day 147) from CAR-supplemented gilts (30) , and it was hypothesised that this was largely due to increased myofibre hyperplasia. The increased total fibre number observed at birth in the present study, however, did not translate into a greater potential for these pigs to gain muscle in later life.…”

Like Mother Like Child: Do Fearful Sows Have Fearful Piglets?

“…; 179.4 ± 9.87 kg) and back-fat depth (BF; 16.9 ± 3.42 mm) and randomly allocated to 1 of 4 dietary treatments until parturition: (1) control (n = 8), (2) L-carnitine (0.125 g/d L-carnitine; n = 9), (3) sugar beet pulp (40% sugar beet pulp; n = 10), and (4) sugar beet pulp plus L-carnitine (40% sugar beet pulp + 0.125 g/d L-carnitine; n = 10). This study was a component of a larger study by Rooney et al, (2019) [23], in which the effects of the four different diets were evaluated. For further information on both the dietary treatments and the composition of the experimental diets, please see [23].…”

“…This study was a component of a larger study by Rooney et al, (2019) [23], in which the effects of the four different diets were evaluated. For further information on both the dietary treatments and the composition of the experimental diets, please see [23]. Gilts were then moved within their farrowing group to a smaller pen at d 90 of gestation and the pen had the same layout and facilities as the larger group pen.…”