Abstract:
The experiment was conducted to determine the effect of compound methionine-chelated minerals on the reproductive performance and the level of relevant minerals and enzymes in serum of multiparous sows. The period of experiment was one productive cycle. The serum of sow was collected before mating (3 d after weaning) and after conception (30 d after mating). The concentrations of Cu, Fe, Zn increased on both time points, while the concentrations of Mn and Se in serum decreased. Enzymes relevant to these minerals in serum collected before mating were significantly different from those collected after conception. In the serum collected after conception, methionine-chelated minerals reduced the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), increased the activity of ceruloplasmin but had no significant effect on the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP). In the serum collected before mating, methionine-chelated minerals increased the activity of GSH-PX and had no significant effect on the activity of other enzymes. Methionine-chelated minerals had no significant effect on the level of luteinizing hormone in the serum collected before mating, but significantly increased the level of progesterone in serum collected after conception. The organic minerals improved the litter size (0.6) and litter mass(0.78 kg) of multiparous sow.