Influence of dietary L-carnitine and chromium picolinate on blood hormones and metabolites of gestating sows fed one meal per day.
Gestating sows (n = 44; parity = 2.0; BW = 208 kg) were used to determine the effects of dietary L-carnitine and Cr picolinate (CrP) on daily blood hormone and metabolite profiles. Diets were formulated as a 2 x 2 factorial with L-carnitine (0 or 50 ppm) and CrP (0 or 200 ppb) and were fed from breeding through gestation, lactation, and 28 d into the subsequent gestation, at which time blood collection occurred. Sows were fed 1 meal per day during gestation (2.04 kg from breeding until d 100 and 2.95 kg from d 100 until farrowing) and ad libitum during lactation. Sows were fitted with indwelling venous catheters, and blood (plasma) was collected at feeding, then once every 15 min for the first 3 h after feeding, and at 6, 9, 15, 20, and 24 h after feeding. Postfeeding and overall insulin and connecting peptide of insulin (c-peptide) was decreased for sows fed diets with CrP or L-carnitine and was greatest for sows fed the control diet; however, sows fed both L-carnitine and CrP had an intermediate response (L-carnitine x CrP, P < 0.01). Postfeeding glucose peak was decreased (P < 0.05) in sows fed diets with L-carnitine, CrP, or both, vs. the control, and mean glucose concentration was decreased (P < 0.01) for sows fed diets with CrP. L-Carnitine decreased (P < 0.04) the NEFA concentration. Sows fed diets with CrP exhibited increased (P < 0.03) postfeeding and overall NEFA and greater (P < 0.02) fasting and overall glycerol. Overall plasma urea N was lowest for sows fed the diet with L-carnitine; however, diets containing CrP had intermediate responses compared with the control (L-carnitine x CrP, P < 0.005). Sows fed diets with L-carnitine had greater (P < 0.008) IGF-I from 3 to 24 h after feeding and tended to exhibit greater (P < 0.06) overall IGFBP-3. Sows fed the diets with CrP had greater (P < 0.05) IGFBP-3 from 2 to 20 h after feeding. No differences were observed for glucagon or triacylglycerol (P > 0.10). The changes in metabolites and metabolic hormones indicate that both L-carnitine and CrP influence energy metabolism of gestating sows; however, their effects on blood hormones and metabolites differ. Thus, the improvement in energy status from adding both L-carnitine and CrP may have an additive effect on reproductive performance of sows.
Woodworth
J C
JC
Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506, USA.
Tokach
M D
MD
Nelssen
J L
JL
Goodband
R D
RD
Dritz
S S
SS
Koo
S I
SI
Minton
J E
JE
Owen
K Q
KQ
D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D010848:Picolinic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019518:Postprandial Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011897:Random Allocation; D013552:Swine / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
D002096:C-Peptide; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D007328:Insulin; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D010848:Picolinic Acids; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; C030614:picolinic acid; D002331:Carnitine