THE EFFECT OF CHROMIUM TRIPICOLINATE ON SOME REPRODUCTIVE PARAMETERS OF THE SOW IN LARGE COMMERCIAL HERDS
by D. Baumann and G. Bilkei

Abstract
The trial was conducted in a large breeding company, with eight identical 600-sow units, each with the same breeding stock, facility design, equipment, nutrition and management. The purpose of the trial was to examine the effect of supplemental organic chromium on the productivity of sows. Based on the reproductive performance over a 6-month pre-test period, the units were assigned to one of the two dietary treatment groups:
??? Organic chromium treatment over a period of 12 months, after a 6-month preloading start-up feeding of chromium tripicolinate (200ppb).
Untreated controls
???? The reproductive performance was evaluated over a 12-month period. The units fed the dietary organic chromium supplementation showed the following results at the end of the 12-month period when compared to the non-treated controls; improved farrowing rate (1.68%, P=0.21); percentage of sows bred within 7 days post-weaning improved by 2.63% (P=0.08); wean to service intervals by 0.54 days (P=0.21); total born piglets by 0.23 (P=0.15); and 0.37 more piglets were born alive (P=0.02). Stillbirths increased by 0.11 (P= 0.64); but piglets weaned per litter improved by 0.51 (P=0.02); pigs per sow per year increased by 0.79 (P=0.19) in the chromium treated group of units when compared to the non-treated control and culling rate showed a 1.46% improvement (P=0.33). Clinical implications
???? It is the opinion of the authors that, for managers seeking to maximise sow productivity, the use of added dietary organic chromium is warranted.

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