INTRODUCTION
A study was conducted at the Tarleton State University swine unit, Stephenville, Texas, to observe the effects of Tasco^® on sow performance during parturition and lactation. 

RESULTS
Sows fed a diet containing Tasco^® had significantly less weight loss during lactation. The Tasco^® sows only lost 46.6 pounds while the control sows lost 69 pounds during the lactation time period. The treatment group had an advantage of 22.84 pounds less weight loss than the control.

Sows fed a diet containing Tasco^® showed a trend towards less body condition loss. The weaning body condition score of sows feed Tasco^® was higher at 4.76 points while the control sows were 3.97 points on a scale on 1 to 9 (1 signifying very thin and 9 signifying very fleshy/fat).

CONCLUSION
When sows are fed a diet containing Tasco^®, they trend to require less feed intake while maintaining a higher level of body conditioning and have significantly less weight loss during the lactation period. These results indicate that Tasco^® increases the performance and productivity of sows and possibly increases the longevity due to reduction in loss of body condition without compromising soundness.

Although this is an initial study and more research is warranted to verify results, the supplementation of Tasco^® in the diet of sows positively affects sow performance during late gestation and lactation.