Abstract
The response of key metabolic hormones to dietary arginine supplementation in heat-stressed lactating sows was determined. Sixty-three sows were exposed to a thermoneutral (TN = 20°C) or hot (HT = 29.4°C) environmental temperature, and were fed diets containing 0.96% (control, C), 1.34% (medium, ME) or 1.73% (high, HI) arginine. Blood samples were obtained 2 h postprandially on days 7, 14, and 21 of lactation and concentrations of insulin, glucose, growth hormone (GH) and prolactin were determined. Arginine supplementation increased insulin concentrations (P < 0.01) on day 14 of lactation, had no effect (P > 0.1) on glucose, and decreased (P < 0.05) GH with ME compared with C diets. There was a temperature × diet interaction (P < 0.05) for prolactin, with values being greater for the C compared with the ME and HI diets at 29.4°C, but being lower at 20°C.There was no effect (P > 0.1) of temperature alone on any of the measured variables. Results indicate that arginine supplementation may mediate improvements in nutrient utilization by regulating the metabolism of both insulin and GH in lactating sows. Key words: Arginine, growth hormone, heat stress, insulin, lactation, prolactin, sow
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
