Determination of the effect of a fully oxidized beta -Carotene dietary supplement on the immune system and growth performance of weaned pigs

摘要

Feed additives, including antibiotics, are routinely used in swine production to increase and maintain uniform weight gain, improve feed conversion rates, as well as to prevent disease. Due to increasing public concern around non-therapeutic antimicrobial use, there is value in developing safe and effective alternatives to antimicrobials for growth maintenance and disease prophylaxis. Fully oxidized beta -Carotene is a mixture of compounds created by oxidation of beta-carotene. This process producesa broad spectrum of carotenoid oxidation products that would result from normal in-vivo beta-carotene metabolism, but creates a form that is immediately available for use by the body. This paper will highlight two trials that evaluated the effects of fully oxidized beta -Carotene when administered in feed to pigs.