title: The effect of carotene and vitamins A and E supplementation on reproduction of sows.
abstract: The effects of synthetic and natural beta-carotene as well as vitamins A and E supplementation on the fertility of sows and number of piglets in a litter were the subject of our studies. The sows fed beta-carotene had from 2 to 4 more piglets in a litter. Vitamin E had a harmful influence on beta-carotene action. It was found that synthetic beta-carotene and vitamin A increased the number of viable embryos and yellow bodies in the sows slaughtered on the 28th day of gestation, moreover beta-carotene subsequently improved the fertility of sows in the next reproductive cycle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Nutrition and Fodder Management, Agricultural University, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Preś
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schleicher
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D010060:Ovulation / Q000502:physiology; D011897:Random Allocation; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids