The nutritional value of expeller-pressed canola meal for grower-finisher pigs

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Expeller-pressed (EP) canola meal contains more residual oil than solvent-extracted canola meal and might be an attractive feedstuff for swine, but it has been poorly characterized. In Exp. 1, six ileal-cannulated barrows (36 kg of BW) were fed at 3× maintenance either a 44% EP canola meal diet or a N-free diet in a crossover design to measure energy and AA digestibility and calculate standardized ileal digestible (SID) AA and NE content, with 6 observations per diet. Each period consisted of a 5-d diet adaptation and a 2-d feces and 3-d digesta collection. The EP canola meal contained (% of DM) 38.5% CP, 13.3% ether extract, 2.42% Lys, 1.54% Thr, 0.62% Met, and 23.2 μmol/g of glucosinolates. Apparent total tract energy digestibility was 75.0% and the DE and predicted NE content were 3.77 and 2.55 Mcal/kg (in DM), respectively. The SID AA content (% of DM) was 1.77% Lys, 1.04% Thr, and 0.52% Met. In Exp. 2, a total of 1,100 pigs (25 kg of BW) housed in 50 pens were fed 5 dietary regimens with 0, 7.5, 15, and 22.5% or decreasing amounts (22.5, 15, 7.5, and 0%, respectively) of EP canola meal over 4 phases to validate performance and carcass characteristics. Diets were formulated to contain equal NE:SID Lys for each growth phase (g/Mcal; 4.04, d 0 to 25; 3.63, d 26 to 50; 3.23, d 51 to 77; 2.83, d 78 to 90). At slaughter, carcass characteristics were measured for all pigs, and jowl fat was sampled for 2 pigs per pen. For d 51 to 90, the 22.5% EP canola meal regimen was reduced to 18% (22.5/18%) because of decreased ADFI in phases 1 and 2. Overall (d 0 to 90), increasing dietary EP canola meal linearly decreased ADG and ADFI and linearly increased G:F. For 0 and 22.5/18% EP canola meal, respectively, ADG was 978 and 931 g/d, ADFI was 2.77 and 2.58 kg/d, and G:F was 0.366 and 0.378. Increasing dietary EP canola meal did not alter the carcass backfat thickness, loin depth, or jowl fat fatty acid profile. Pigs fed 22.5/18% EP canola meal reached slaughter weight 3 d after pigs fed 0% EP canola meal. In summary, EP canola meal provided adequate energy and AA; however, ADG was reduced by 3 g/d per 1% of EP canola meal inclusion, likely because of increased dietary glucosinolates. Thus, the amount of EP canola meal included in swine diets should be targeted to an expected growth performance and carcass quality. Finally, diets formulated to contain an equal NE and SID AA content did not entirely eliminate the risks for reduce growth performance associated with inclusion of an alternative feedstuff.

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Feed preferences and performance of nursery pigs fed diets containing various inclusion amounts and qualities of distillers coproducts and flavor

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We evaluated the preferences of nursery pigs for diets containing increasing distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), varying in color, or highprotein distillers dried grains (HP-DDG) and the effects of flavor supplementation on pig preference and growth performance. In Exp. 1 through 5, diet preference was determined in weanling pigs adjusted to a commercial diet for at least 10 d, and then housed individually for a 2-d double-choice preference test. In Exp. 1, a total of 60 pigs (11.6 kg of BW) were given a choice between a reference diet (0% DDGS) and test diets containing 0, 10, 20, or 30% DDGS. In Exp. 2, a total of 80 pigs (10.8 kg of BW) were given a choice between a reference diet (0% HP-DDG) and diets containing 0, 10, 20, or 30% HP-DDG. In Exp. 3, a total of 80 pigs (10.3 kg of BW) were given a choice between a reference diet (0% DDGS) and a diet containing 0%, 30% light, or 30% dark DDGS. In Exp. 4, a total of 80 pigs (11.2 kg of BW) were given a choice between a reference diet without DDGS and a diet containing either 0% DDGS, 10 or 20% light DDGS, or 10 or 20% dark DDGS. In Exp. 5, a total of 108 pigs (9.0 kg of BW) were given a choice between a reference diet (0% DDGS and no flavor) and a diet without or with flavor and containing 0, 10, or 20% DDGS. In Exp. 1 and 2, DDGS and HP-DDG, respectively, linearly decreased pig preference. In Exp. 3, dark DDGS were preferred compared with light DDGS. In Exp. 4, preferences were linearly reduced with DDGS inclusion, and dark DDGS tended to be preferred compared with light DDGS. In Exp. 5, DDGS reduced preference and flavor reduced preference regardless of DDGS level. In Exp. 6, a total of 192 pigs (6.7kg of BW) were fed starter 1 diets without or with flavor for 1 wk. Subsequently, pigs were fed starter 2 and 3 diets (2 wk each) containing 0, 10, or 20% DDGS while continuing to receive their respective flavor treatment. Flavor addition during the starter 1 phase increased ADFI, and DDGS inclusion tended to decrease ADG and decreased ADFI during the starter 2 phase. Volatile components in DDGS and HPDDG varied greatly depending on the source. Nursery pigs preferred a diet without DDGS or HP-DDG, and this appeared to be unrelated to color differences between sources. Knowledge of volatile compounds that enhance or suppress the palatability of feed may lead to further development of feed additives for masking relatively unpalatable, albeit cost-effective, ingredients.

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Results from six generations of selection for intramuscular fat in Duroc swine using real-time ultrasound. II. Genetic parameters and trends

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 Design of breeding programs requires knowledge of variance components that exist for traits included in specific breeding goals and the genetic relationships that exist among traits of economic importance. A study was conducted to evaluate direct and correlated genetic responses to selection for intramuscular fat (IMF) and to estimate genetic parameters for economically important traits in Duroc swine. Forty gilts were purchased from US breeders and randomly mated for 2 generations to boars available in regional boar studs to develop a base population of 56 litters. Littermate pairs of gilts from this population were randomly assigned to a select line (SL) or control line (CL) and mated to the same boar to establish genetic ties between lines. In the SL, the top 10 boars and 75 gilts were selected based on IMF EBV obtained from a bivariate animal model that included IMF evaluated on the carcass and IMF predicted via ultrasound. One boar from each sire family and 50 to 60 gilts representing all sire families were randomly selected to maintain the CL. Carcass and ultrasound IMF were both moderately heritable (0.31 and 0.38, respectively). Moderate to high genetic relationships were estimated among carcass backfat and meat quality measures of IMF, Instron tenderness, and objective loin muscle color. Based on estimates obtained in this study, more desirable genetic merit for pH is associated with greater genetic value for loin color, tenderness, and sensory characteristics. Intramuscular fat measures obtained on the carcass and predicted using ultrasound technology were highly correlated (rg = 0.86 from a 12-trait analysis; rg = 0.90 from a 5-trait analysis). Estimated genetic relationships among IMF measures and other traits evaluated were generally consistent. Intramuscular fat measures were also genetically associated with Instron tenderness and flavor score in a desirable direction. Direct genetic response in IMF measures observed in the SL corresponded to a significant decrease in EBV for carcass loin muscle area (−0.90 cm2 per generation) and an increase in carcass backfat EBV (0.98 mm per generation). Selection for IMF has led to more desirable EBV for objective tenderness and has had an adverse effect on additive genetic merit for objective loin color.

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Determining the effect of lysine: calorie ratio on growth performance of ten- to twenty-kilogram of body weight nursery pigs of two different genotypes

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Four experiments were conducted to determine the effects of standardized ileal digestible (SID) Lys:calorie (Lys:Mcal) ratio on growth performance of 10- to 20-kg pigs of 2 different genotypes. Experiment 1 (360 pigs, average BW = 10.2 kg; source 1) and Exp. 2 (351 pigs; average BW = 9.3 kg; source 2), were both organized as a combination of 2 simultaneous experiments with the first set of diets consisting of 5 treatments with increasing SID Lys and the second set of diets consisting of 5 treatments with increasing energy density (Exp. 1: 9.9, 10.7, 11.5, 12.2, and 13.0 g/kg of Lys and 2.95, 3.09, 3.24, 3.38, and 3.52 Mcal/ kg of ME, respectively; Exp. 2: 11.1, 11.9, 12.6, 13.4, and 14.2 g/kg and 2.95, 3.10, 3.25, 3.40, and 3.55 Mcal of ME/kg, respectively). In Exp. 1, increasing dietary SID Lys increased (linear) ADG and G:F, and increasing dietary ME increased (quadratic) G:F. In Exp. 1 the optimal Lys:Mcal ratio was estimated to be at least 4.1 g of Lys/Mcal of ME based on G:F. In Exp. 2, increasing dietary SID Lys increased (linear) ADG and G:F. Increasing dietary ME increased (linear) G:F. Because of the linear responses in this experiment, optimal Lys:Mcal ratio was at least 4.0 g of Lys/Mcal of ME. In Exp. 3 (350 pigs; average BW = 9.4 kg; source 1) and Exp. 4 (350 pigs; average BW = 7.5 kg; source 2), Lys:Mcal ratios in Exp. 1 and 2 were compared by titrating Lys at 2 energy levels. Pigs were fed diets with 2.95 or 3.29 Mcal/kg of ME with SID Lys:Mcal ratios of 3.1 to 4.1 g/Mcal of ME (Exp. 3) and 3.5 to 4.5 g/Mcal of ME (Exp. 4). In Exp. 3, there was an ME × Lys:Mcal ratio interaction for ADG. The greatest ADG was a Lys:Mcal ratio of 3.60 for pigs fed low ME and a ratio of 3.35 for pigs fed high ME. Gain:feed ratio increased with increased ME concentration and as Lys:Mcal ratio increased (quadratic); the best G:F was observed at 3.67 g of Lys/Mcal of ME. In Exp. 4, there was a tendency for ME × Lys:Mcal ratio interaction for G:F. The greatest G:F was achieved with a Lys: Mcal ratio of at least 4.50 for pigs fed low ME and a ratio of 4.29 for pigs fed high ME. Results (i.e., lack of ADG response to high energy density) suggest pigs reared in this environment were not in energy dependent growth phases. These pigs needed approximately 11 g/d of SID Lys (19 g of Lys/kg of gain) to optimize ADG and G:F. Based on these results, optimal Lys:Mcal ratio may differ depending on daily caloric intake of the pig.

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Evaluation of the prediction of alternative measures of pork carcass composition by three optical probes

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The accuracy of 3 optical probes (HGP4 Hennessey Grading Probe, Destron-Feering PG-100 probe, and Giraldo OPTO-Electronic PG-200 probe) to predict the carcass percentage of 5 alternative measures of carcass composition (fat-tissue-free lean, lipid free soft tissue, lipid-free lean, total fat tissue, and soft tissue lipid) was evaluated on 203 barrows and gilts of 7 genetic populations. The optical probe backfat depths were more closely correlated (0.963 to 0.983) than the LM depths (r = 0.695 to 0.734). The optical probe backfat depths were related to lean percentage (r = −0.82 to −0.88), total fat tissue percentage (r = 0.84 to 0.88), and soft tissue lipid percentage (r = 0.86 to 0.87). Optical probe LM depths were weakly related (r = 0.23 to 0.34) to measures of carcass lean percentage and total fat tissue percentage (r = −0.16 to −0.26). Fat-free lean percentage was predicted with residual SD (RSD) of 3.7% for equations including lastrib midline backfat thickness, 2.4 to 2.7% for equations including optical probe backfat and LM depth, and 2.3% for ribbed carcass measurements. The RSD for the optical probe equations ranged from 2.1 to 2.4% for lipid-free soft tissue percentage and from 2.0 to 2.3% for lipid-free lean percentage. The RSD for the optical probe equations ranged from 2.9 to 3.3% for total fat tissue percentage and 2.5 to 2.8% for soft tissue lipid percentage. Quadratic and cross-product variables of optical probe fat depth, LM depth, and carcass weight were significant and reduced the RSD of the equations. Optical probe backfat and LM measurements can be used to predict alternative measures of carcass composition. The predicted relationships in fat free lean percentage to backfat depth were nearly identical for each optical probe.

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Use of crude glycerol, a biodiesel coproduct, in diets for lactating sows

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An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary crude glycerol in lactating sow diets on sow and litter performance under heat stress conditions. Mixed parity (range = 0 to 13) sows (n = 345; 253kg of BW) were assigned randomly within gestation housing location and parity to 1 of 4 dietary treatments. Treatments consisted of a cornsoybean- based control diet (CON) and 3, 6, or 9% glycerol added at the expense of corn and soybean meal. Liquid crude glycerol was incorporated in the complete diet at the time of mixing. Dietary treatments were imposed on d 109 of gestation (2.25 kg/d) when sows were moved into farrowing rooms. Heat index during lactation in farrowing rooms exceeded 25°C for all sows. At farrowing, sows were allowed ad libitum access to feed throughout lactation. Dietary treatment tended to influence ADFI of sows (CON = 6.04 kg/d; 3% = 6.21 kg/d; 6% = 5.69 kg/d; 9% = 6.00 kg/d; pooled SE = 0.18). Up to 9% crude glycerol in the diet had no effect on sow BW and backfat loss, weaning-to-estrus interval, preweaning mortality of piglets, and ADG of piglets. Increasing dietary glycerol linearly reduced litter size at weaning (CON = 9.50; 3% = 9.60; 6% = 9.36; 9% = 9.39; pooled SE = 0.08). Daily water consumption was not affected by dietary treatment. Crude glycerol did not affect respiration rates or rectal body temperatures, indicating no efficacy in reducing heat stress of sows. Plasma glycerol concentrations increased linearly as dietary crude glycerol increased (CON = 1.21 μM; 3% = 1.69 μM; 6% = 7.21 μM; 9% = 29.04 μM; pooled SE = 1.58), but plasma glucose concentrations were not affected. Crude protein content of the milk of sows was not affected by dietary treatment. Dry matter and crude fat content of the milk of the sows tended to increase linearly (DM basis: CON = 17.84%; 3% = 18.43%; 6% = 18.98%; 9% = 18.48%; pooled SE

 = 0.34; crude fat: CON = 4.78%; 3% = 4.91%; 6% = 5.50%; 9% = 5.24%; pooled SE = 0.30), whereas milk ash concentration tended to decrease linearly with increasing dietary glycerol (CON = 0.77%; 3% = 0.79%; 6% = 0.74%; 9% = 0.74%; pooled SE = 0.02). Increasing dietary crude glycerol linearly increased lactose concentration in the milk of sows (CON = 5.16%; 3% = 5.30%; 6% = 5.43%; 9% = 5.46%; pooled SE = 0.10). Results from this study indicate that lactating sows fed diets containing up to 9% crude glycerol perform similarly to sows fed a standard corn-soybean meal diet.

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Prenatal exposure to maternal low or high protein diets induces modest changes in the adipose tissue proteome of newborn piglets

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The possibility that maternal diets during gestation could affect growth and tissue development of offspring and program their later phenotype is an emerging challenge in pig production. The objective of the current study was to investigate the effects of contrasted protein levels in diets of pregnant sows on the proteomic features of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT) of the offspring at birth and its possible persistence later in age. Sows were fed control (Con), low (LP), or high protein (HP) diets throughout gestation. A subset of piglets was killed at 1 d of age for SCAT sampling. The remaining piglets were cross-fostered to nonexperimental sows during lactation. They were fed standard diets during postweaning and fattening periods until 186 d of age. Modifications in SCAT protein abundance shortly after birth were investigated by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometry. A total of 65 spots were found differentially expressed in SCAT of 1-d-old experimental piglets vs. Con piglets. Proteins with a greater abundance in LP piglets compared with Con piglets were involved in pathways related to glucose and fatty acid metabolisms, lipid transport, and regulation of apoptosis. Upregulation of 5 proteins representative of these biological pathways in LP group vs. Con group were further validated by Western blot analyses. Furthermore, the specific activity of the key lipogenic enzyme fatty acid synthase was found greater in SCAT of 1-d-old LP piglets than in Con piglets. The main changes evidenced in SCAT of HP piglets compared with Con animals at 1 d of age rather concerned proteins putatively involved in AA metabolism or in protein turnover. Adipose tissue contents in some proteins that had displayed a greater abundance in experimental pigs compared with Con at d 1 (e.g., transaldolase, annexin II, and apolipoprotein A4) were, however, similar in the 3 groups at d 186 of age. Enolase 1 has less abundance in LP pigs compared with Con pigs at this stage. In conclusion, the proteomics tool has allowed the identification of early changes in various molecular pathways of SCAT in response to the levels of maternal protein supply during gestation.

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Meta-analysis of the effect of the halothane gene on 6 variables of pig meat quality and on carcass leanness

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Technological meat quality is a significant economic factor in pork production, and numerous publications have shown that it is strongly influenced both by genetic status and by rearing and slaughter conditions. The quality of meat is often described by meat pH at different times postmortem, as well as by color and drip loss, whereas carcass quality is often characterized by lean percentage. A meta-analysis of findings relating to 3,530 pigs reported in 23 publications was carried out to assess the effects of the halothane gene, sex, breed, and slaughter weight of animals on 7 selected variables: pH at 45 min postmortem, ultimate pH, reflectance (L*-value), redness (a*-value), yellowness (b*-value), drip loss, and lean percentage. Two statistical methods were used in the meta-analysis: the method of effect size and the better known random effects model. The method of effect size was associated with Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques for implementing Bayesian hierarchical models to avoid the problems of limited data and publication bias. The results of our meta-analysis showed that the halothane genotype had a significant effect on all analyzed pork quality variables. Between-study variance was evaluated with the Cochran (1954) Q-test of heterogeneity. Meta-regression was used to explain this variance, with covariates such as breed, sex, slaughter weight, and fasting duration being integrated into different regression models. The halothane gene effect was associated with the breed effect only for the following variables: L*-value, b*-value, and drip loss. Slaughter weight contributed significantly only to the explanation of differences in ultimate pH between homozygous genotypes. In response to inconsistencies reported in the literature regarding the difference between the genotypes NN and Nn, results of the meta-analysis showed that the difference between these 2 genotypes was significant for all the analyzed variables except the a*-value.

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Effects of dietary aflatoxin on the health and performance of growing barrows

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Aflatoxins, especially aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), can be greater in dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) because it can be concentrated during the ethanol production process. Increased use of DDGS in swine diets could potentially lead to an increased incidence of aflatoxicosis, a disease associated with decreased feed intake, reduced BW gain, and impaired liver function. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of AFB1 on the health, performance, and serum profile of growing barrows. Ninety Duroc × Yorkshire crossbred barrows were purchased (age = 35 d; BW = 14.2 kg), allocated to 9 pens with 10 pigs per pen, and randomly assigned to receive diets containing 0 μg/kg of AFB1 (CON), 250 μg/kg of AFB1 (LO), or 500 μg/kg of AFB1 (HI) for 7, 28, or 70 d in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments. Feed intake was measured daily, and pigs were weighed and blood samples collected weekly. Serum was analyzed for concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin (BILI), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Both ADFI and ADG were negatively affected by AFB1 treatment. Average daily feed intake was less in HI barrows than in CON barrows from wk 5 to 10 and was less in LO barrows than in CON barrows in wk 5 and again from wk 8 to 10. Also, ADFI was less in HI barrows than LO barrows in wk 10. Decreased ADG was observed in HI barrows than in CON barrows in wk 8 and 10; no differences in ADG were noted between CON and LO barrows. There was no effect of AFB1 treatment on ALT or BILI concentrations. However, both AST and BUN were affected by AFB1 treatment. Serum AST was greater in LO barrows than CON barrows in wk 5, and serum BUN was greater in CON barrows than LO barrows in wk 3. Results from this study demonstrate that the performance and health of young growing barrows were affected by consumption of an AFB1-contaminated diet, especially when fed for a more extended period.

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Morphology and enzymatic activity of the small intestinal mucosa of Iberian pigs as compared with a lean pig strain

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Castrated male Iberian (n = 12) and Landrace × Large White (n = 12) pigs were used to study histological structure and enzymatic activity in the small intestine at 3 points of the productive cycle (BW = 15, 50, and 115 kg). Both strains were fed the same cereal-based diets (DE = 2,799 kcal・kg−1, and CP = 15%) throughout the entire experimental period. Differences in histometrical variables (villus height, width and surface, crypt depth, villus height/ crypt depth relationship, mucosal thickness, muscular layer thickness, and number of goblet cells) were found among samples of small intestinal sections (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum) at the 3 productive stages studied. Also, differences in histometrical variables of small intestinal samples were found between Iberian and lean pigs at all productive stages, although these differences tended to disappear with age. Differences in enzymatic activities (lactase, sucrase, maltase, isomaltase, aminopeptidase, and alkaline phosphatase) of small intestinal samples were found between the different intestinal sections at all productive stages studied. Although differences in enzymatic activities of small intestinal samples were found between Iberian and lean pigs at all productive stages, values tended to equalize with pig age. We concluded that differences previously found in dietary nutritional utilization between Iberian and lean strains are likely not due to differences in intestinal absorption or hydrolytic capacity.

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