Effects of L-Carnitine Supplemented Throughout all Grow-Finish Phases or Only in Late Finishing on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Pigs

A total of 1,833 mixed-sex growing-finishing pigs (PIC, 337 × 1050; initially 58.5 ± 1.62 lb) were used in a 112-d growth trial to determine the effects adding L-Carnitine throughout entire grow-finishing period or for just last 28 d before marketing on performance and carcass characteristics. There 26 replicate pens per treatment 20 (group 1) 27 2) pen completely randomized design. three diets: control with no added L-Carnitine; diets containing 50 ppm trial; 3) diet until 84 then L-Carnitine. On day 84, half randomly assigned The experimental corn-soybean meal-DDGS-based fed 4 phases. From 0 statistical analyses compared 52 that 85 market, comparisons made using all 3 treatments. In first d, had greater (P < 0.002) BW, ADG, ADFI similar F/G = 0.459) as those diet. No evidence differences > 0.13) observed from 29 56 57 84. tendency 0.052) ADFI, but there was 0.14) F/G, removals, mortalities. market overall, 0.22) removals For traits, difference 0.54) HCW, yield, backfat, lean, loin depth detected between conclusion, improved early phase, due variation, this did not resulting same overall performance. Feeding only also elicit improvements.