Suplementação de beta-caroteno em matrizes suínas durante a lactação

Abstract

The production system predisposes sows to oxidative stress, therefore, it is possible to use vitamins and provitamins as antioxidants in diets aiming at tissue protection. The present study evaluated the supplementation of three levels of beta-carotene for sows of third to fifth parity order, on the reproductive parameters and productive performance of litters. Thirty-six commercial sows were distributed in a randomized block design, according to the third, fourth and fifth order of parity, in three levels of daily beta-carotene supplementation: B0 - diet without beta-carotene supplementation; B200 - diet with supplementation of 200 mg of betacarotene/day/sow and B400 - diet with supplementation of 400 mg of beta-carotene/day/sow. The sows were supplemented daily from 110 days of gestation until weaning, with colostrum collections on the day of farrowing and milk at weaning for reading on the Brix refractometer. There was no effect (P>0.05) of beta-carotene supplementation on reproductive parameters and litter performance. It is concluded that beta-carotene supplementation for sows of third to fifth parity orders has no effect on the reproductive parameters of sows and productive performance of litters.