Rivera-Alejandro, Natalia

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    Reproductive performance of gestating gilts supplemented with Riboflavin
    (2014) Rivera-Alejandro, Natalia; Jiménez-Cabán, Esbal; College of Agricultural Sciences; Arcelay, Enid; Santana, Carmen; Latorre, José R.; Department of Animal Science; Borges, Sonia
    To evaluate the effects on litter size and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and uteroferrin, crossbreed gilts (n=24) were supplemented with 0 or 60 mg of riboflavin during gestation. Litter size and average weight of piglets were determined at birth and at weaning. In addition, samples of placenta were collected at farrowing to determine the relative expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and uteroferrin. Gilts supplemented with 60 mg of riboflavin had 11.2±0.6 total piglets born compared to the gilts not supplemented that had 8.2±0.6 of total piglets born (P<.004). There was also a difference between the gilts supplemented with riboflavin in piglets born alive with 10.5±0.6 when compared to 8.1±0.6 (P<0.01). Total piglets weaned was higher for the gilts supplemented with riboflavin when compared with the gilts not supplemented; 9.41±0.6 and 7.5±0.6, respectively (P <0.05). Increased differences were found between treatments on total litter weight at birth, but not at weaning. Relative expression of vascular endothelial growth factor was greater in the placenta (P<.07) of gilts supplemented with 60 mg of riboflavin when compared with gilts not supplemented. There were no differences between treatments in the relative expression of uteroferrin in the placenta of gilts. The results of this investigation demonstrate that daily supplementation of 60 mg of riboflavin to gilts during gestation may increase litter size, perhaps by improving vascularization of the placenta, thus enhancing embryo/fetus survival.