The effect of carotene and vitamins A and E supplementation on reproduction of sows.

The effects of synthetic and natural beta-carotene as well as vitamins A and E supplementation on the fertility of sows and number of piglets in a litter were the subject of our studies. The sows fed beta-carotene had from 2 to 4 more piglets in a litter. Vitamin E had a harmful influence on beta-carotene action. It was found that synthetic beta-carotene and vitamin A increased the number of viable embryos and yellow bodies in the sows slaughtered on the 28th day of gestation, moreover beta-carotene subsequently improved the fertility of sows in the next reproductive cycle.