Influence of dietary carnitine and/or chromium on blood parameters of gestating sows

Gestating sows (n=44; parity=2.0; BW=458 lb) were used to determine the effects of dietary Carnitine and/or chromium picolinate on daily blood parameter profiles. Diets were formulated as a 2 × 2 factorial with carnitine (0 or 50 ppm) and chromium (0 or 200 ppb) and were fed from breeding, through gestation, lactation, and 30 d into the next gestation at which time blood was collected. Sows were fed one meal per day during gestation (2.1 kg) and ad libitum during lactation. Sows were fitted with indwelling venous catheters and blood (plasma) was collected at feeding, once every 15 min for the first 3 h after feeding, and at 6, 9, 15, 20, and 24 h after feeding. Chromium picolinate elicited its greatest effect immediately after feeding (0-3 h) by decreasing (P<0.05) insulin and cpeptide, whereas Carnitine decreased (P<0.05) NEFA and urea N (PUN) in the fasting state (6-24 h post-feeding). Sows fed both carnitine and chromium exhibited intermediate responses. Post-feeding glucose peak was lower (P<0.05) for diets with carnitine and/or chromium versus the control and mean glucose concentration was lower (P<0.01) for sows fed diets with chromium. Mean insulin and cpeptide concentration was lowest (P