INTRODUCTION
A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Tasco^® on the health and reproductive performance of sows when fed during lactation and pre-breeding. 400 sows (PIC C22 females) were randomly assigned to one of two treatments and equalized for parity. 

RESULTS
When data was analyzed for the current farrowing, no treatment differences were found for any of the parameters measured including litter performance as measured by number of piglets weaned. However, on the subsequent farrowing, there were strong trends for increases in both total number of piglets born and number of piglets alive.

CONCLUSION
When separated by parity, there were strong trends for the number of piglets born alive to be higher for sows in early parities (P 2-3) and late parities (P 8+) where the production stress is usually the greatest. It appears from this preliminary research in swine that Tasco^® has beneficial effects on reproductive parameters associated with important economic production responses. Although more research is required to confirm the results seen in this study, Tasco^® may increase total number of piglets born as well as number of piglets born alive, particularly under high production or stress situations. This increase of about 0.5 piglets per litter would results in about one extra piglet per sow per year. Administration of Tasco^® more often and possibly at times other than that tested in this study may increase the response even further.

Another study conducted at the Tarleton State University swine unit, Stephenville, Texas, concluded that Sows fed a diet containing Tasco^® had a tendency to return to estrus 0.57 days earlier than the control group. Further research is required using larger numbers of animals to confirm and determine the full advantages of utilizing Tasco^® in sow rations.