The effects of DGAT1 and DGAT2 mRNA expression on fat deposition in fatty and lean breeds of pig

Posted in: Meat Quality, Production by admin on August 22, 2011 | No Comments

Diacylgycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) plays a key modulatory role in animal fat deposition. Intramuscular fat (IMF) content and backfat thickness (BFT) were important factors in establishing pork quality. Therefore, the objectives of the current study were to elucidate the relationship between DGAT mRNA expression with IMF content, BFT by quantitative real-time PCR in three important pig breeds, including Laiwu pig (LW, n=12, fatty), Lulai Black (LL, n=12) and Large White (LY, n=12, lean). A total of 36 pigs were castrated boars (114kg) and taken from longissimus dorsi muscle, backfat and liver. Results showed that the mRNA level of DGAT was maximal in LW, the minimal in LY. Finally, the expression of DGAT1 gene was positively correlated with BFT and not IMF; DGAT2 gene was positively correlated with IMF and not BFT. The results indicated that the two genes have a different function in fat deposition; in addition, the IMF contents were significantly different among breeds, and not significantly different among BFT (PN0.05). Based on results of DGAT1 and DGAT2 expression we suggested that the function of IMF and BFT was not the same and the deposition of IMF and BFT was regulated by different mechanisms.

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Effect of target slaughter weight on production efficiency, carcass traits and behaviour of restrictively-fed gilts and intact male finisher pigs

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The effect of 3 slaughter weights (85, 95 or 105 kg) on performance and carcass traits of 481 pigs in single-gender groups of 13 (18 groups of gilts and 19 groups of intact males) was evaluated. Pigs (39.5kg) were fed a liquid diet 3 times daily in a long trough. The behaviour of pigs slaughtered at 105 kg was recorded at 50, 60 and 70 days after the start of the experiment (5 groups of gilts and 4 groups of intact males). Behaviour (active, inactive, feeding) and posture (standing, lying, dog-sitting) of all pigs was recorded at 5-min intervals for 30 min prior to and 1 h after each feeding event. Slaughtering pigs at 95 kg and 105 kg delayed production by 7 and 16 days, respectively, compared to slaughtering at 85 kg. Gilts needed 4 days more than males to reach each slaughter weight, and chilled carcass weights increased with increasing slaughter weight. Daily feed intake and gain were not affected by slaughter weight; however, gain-to-feed ratio increased in males with increasing slaughter weight while the inverse was observed in gilts. The kill-out percentage was greater at the heavier weights. Backfat depth increased in males with increasing slaughter weight but there was no change in females. Muscle depth increased with increasing slaughter weight and therefore lean meat yield did not change. Behaviour did not differ between genders on the 3 days of observation, but the proportion of time spent active and standing before feeding increased as pigs grew from day 50 to 70. The proportion of posture changes was greater before than after feeding. Results of this study indicate that slaughtering intact male pigs at heavier weights improved growth performance but increased fat depth. Conversely, gilts were less efficient at converting feed into body weight at the heavier weights but carcass traits were not modified as slaughter weight increased. In the latter part of the finishing period, competition for access to the trough probably increased as trough space allowance decreased, and the increase found in standing before feeding could reflect an attempt by the pigs to gain immediate access to the feed.

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Estimating fermentative amino acid losses in the upper gut of pigs

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Fermentative catabolism of dietary and endogenous amino acids (AA) in the upper gut of pigs (FAAC) can result in significant loss of AA available for protein synthesis and body maintenance functions. A continuous infusion trial was performed using isotope tracers to determine ammonia flux in the upper gut, whole body urea flux, urea recycling (urea flux−urinary urea excretion), and FAAC (ammonia flux in the upper gut−urea recycling) in ileal-cannulated growing pigs fed a control diet (C, 19.3% CP), the control diet with added fibre (F, 12% pectin added at expense of cornstarch), or a diet low in protein (LP, 13.6% CP). 15N-ammonium chloride and 13C-urea were infused intragastrically and intravenously, respectively, for a period of 4 days. In samples obtained on days 3 and 4 of infusion, 15N-enrichments in blood urea (6.21, 8.93, and 9.78 atoms percent excess (APE) for C, F and LP, respectively) were higher than those in ileal ammonia (0.44, 0.37, and 0.71 APE). This suggests a rapid absorption of ammonia prior to the distal ileum and lack of uniformity for enrichment in the digesta ammonia pool. Simple isotope dilution calculations are, therefore, inadequate for calculating FAAC and ammonia flux in the upper gut of pigs. A two compartment (ileal ammonia and plasma urea) model was developed to determine possible value ranges for FAAC in the upper gut (0.0 to 13.3, 15.5, and 10.7mmol N/kg/d for the three treatments), but this model also has limitations. Quantifying FAAC in the upper gut of pigs offers a number of challenges, but warrants further investigation.

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Evaluation of multi-microbe probiotics prepared by submerged liquid or solid substrate fermentation and antibiotics in weaning pigs

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Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of multi-microbe probiotics (comprising Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus subtilis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus oryzae) prepared by submerged liquid (LF) and solid substrate fermentation (SF) methods and different antibiotics in weaning pigs [Landrace×(Yorkshire×Duroc)]. In both experiments (Exp.), 288 weaned pigs were randomly allotted to four treatments, on the basis of body weight and sex in a randomized complete block design. There were four replicate pens per treatment and each pen comprised 18 pigs. In Exp. 1, the effects of LF and SF probiotics on performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients and faecal microflora were investigated. The basal diet was prepared without any antimicrobials (negative control, NC), and 100 mg chlortetracycline/kg, 0.30% LF and 0.30% SF probiotics were added to the diets of positive control (PC), LF and SF treatments, respectively. Pigs fed PC and probiotic diets showed improved overall performance compared to pigs fed NC diet. Additionally, the overall gain and ATTD of CP were greater in pigs fed PC and SF diets than in pigs fed LF diet. On d 28, pigs fed PC and SF diets had less faecal Clostridia and coliforms compared with pigs fed NC diet, while pigs fed SF diet had more faecal Lactobacillus than pigs from other treatments. In Exp. 2, a 2×2 factorial arrangement was used to investigate the effects of probiotic products (0.30% LF or SF) and antibiotic (40 mg colistin/kg or 44 mg lincomycin/kg) on growth performance, ATTD of nutrients, small intestinal morphology, and intestinal microflora in pigs. Pigs fed SF probiotics showed improved growth performance, ATTD of DM and CP and had more beneficial intestinal bacteria and less harmful bacteria in the ileum than pigs fed LF probiotics. Antibiotics had no effect on the growth performance and there were no antibiotic×probiotic interaction effect on any of the measured variables. However, pigs fed lincomycin had lower caecal Clostridia counts and greater villus height:crypt depth at jejunum and ileum, whereas pigs fed colistin had lower counts of caecal coliforms and Bifidobacteria. These results indicate multi-microbe probiotics prepared by SF method to be superior to probiotics prepared by LF in improving growth performance and beneficial gut microflora and reducing harmful gut microflora.

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Impact of acetic acid concentration of fermented liquid feed on growth performance of piglets

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Feeding fermented liquid feed (FLF) to pigs has proven to benefit gastrointestinal health of the animals. However, growth performance data of piglets and growing pigs fed FLF are variable and often a lower feed intake compared to feeding non-FLF or dry feed has been observed. Accumulation of microbialmetabolites, namely acetic acid, possibly in combinationwith lowfeed pH, has been suggested to be determinant in reducing feed intake by impairing palatability. However, this hypothesis has never been investigated. A study was carried out to determine the impact of increasing levels of acetic acid in FLF on feed intake of weaners. Three experimental FLF diets were prepared to contain varying levels of acetic acid (30, 60, and 120 mM). Twenty piglets per treatment,weaned at 4 weeks of age and housed individually,were fed the experimental diets during six weeks starting at weaning. Feed intake and body weight were registered weekly. The results showed that high acetic acid concentration in FLF, accompanied by a slight lower pH level, tended to decrease feed intake without affecting body weight gain. This discrepancy could partly be explained by the difficulty in measuring accurately feed intake on dry matter basis when feeding liquid feed to pigs. In conclusion, concentrations of acetic acid, at the levels normally measured in FLF, are not expected to affect markedly growth performance of piglets.

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Apparent nutrient and mineral digestibility in growing–finishing pigs fed phosphorus reduced diets supplemented with benzoic acid and phytase

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In a study with 32 growing–finishing crossbred gilts (26–109 kg BW) the effects of benzoic acid and phytase (Peniophora lycii) on nutrient digestibility in P reduced diets was examined. All animals were restrictively fed one of four experimental diets: control diet (CC) without any supplementation, control diet with 0.5% benzoic acid (CB), phytase diet (750 IU/kg,) without benzoic acid (PhyC) and phytase diet with 0.5% benzoic acid (PhyB). Total P (digestible P) content of the control diets was 4 g/kg (1.43 g/kg). In the grower period a negative interaction of benzoic acid×phytase on apparent crude protein and energy digestibility was observed. In the finisher period both additives increased digestibility of P by 12%. Phytase improved Ca digestibility in both fattening periods (+13%). In the finisher period an interaction of benzoic acid×phytase reduced Ca digestibility from 0.62 in diet PhyC to 0.54 in diet PhyB. The results of this study indicate that the combination of benzoic acid and phytase in P reduced diets can adversely affect apparent nutrient and mineral digestibility. So far, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

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The effect transport and space allowance on the physiology of breeding age gilts

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Long duration transport of pigs is an important welfare issue world-wide. Current transportation legislation in the United States dictates that animals cannot be transported over 28 h without being rested and given food and water; however there is limited information available on the acute physiological effects of long distance transport on pigs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 6, 12, 18, 24, or 30 h transport period on the physiology of breeding age gilts. Eight weight matched gilts were allocated to one of 15 treatment groups. Treatments included: Gilts that remained in their home pen for 6, 12, 18, 24, or 30 h (CON); Gilts that were transported for 6, 12, 18, 24, or 30 h at the transport quality assurance guidelines specified space allowance (TQA); or Gilts that were transported for 6, 12, 18, 24, or 30 h at the TQA specified space allowance plus 20% extra space (TQA+). Every 6 h, pigs in one pair of compartments (TQA and TQA+) were removed from the trailer (after a 6, 12, 18, 24, or 30 h transport period). Blood samples and body weights were collected from gilts and their respective controls before and after transport. The granulocyte to lymphocyte ratio was greater in TQA and TQA+ gilts transported for 6 h compared with controls. The percentage of lymphocyte and granulocytes, platelet counts, hemoglobin, and hematocrit concentrations were affected by transport and the duration of transport. Total white blood cell and lymphocyte counts were lower and albumin, glucose, total bilirubin, and total protein concentrations were greater in TQA and TQA+ compared to controls regardless of transport period. Creatine kinase concentrations were greater in TQA compared with controls. Percent body weight was decreased in TQA and TQA+ gilts after a 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30 h transport period compared with controls. Physiological measures of acute stress were observed in transported gilts (TQA and TQA+) after a 6 h transport period, but then returned to similar levels as non-transported control gilts. Physiological measures of dehydration and muscle breakdown were observed in gilts after transport, regardless of transport duration. Overall, these data indicate that gilts transported for a period of up to 30 h experience acute stress and changes in homeostasis probably due to dehydration, food deprivation, and transport. 

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Socio-cultural sustainability of pig production: Citizen perceptions in the Netherlands and Denmark

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Many sustainability studies of animal production consider three pillars: the economic, environmental and socio-cultural. Farmers and animal scientists tend to put most emphasis on the economic and environmental pillar and largely ignore the socio-cultural pillar. Socio-cultural sustainability refers to social perceptions of animal farming, including social appreciations and concerns of animal production systems. Integration of social demands and values in the production sector is a prerequisite to justify animal production within a society. The objective of the present study was therefore to gain further insights into socio-cultural sustainability of pig production. Many citizens may not know what contemporary pig production actually entails. To give people a real life experience with pig production, we conducted farm visits with citizen panels with 18 respondents in the Netherlands and 8 respondents in Denmark. In both countries, respondents were divided over two panels and each panel visited a conventional and an organic pig farm. During the farm visits respondents noted their sensory experiences—what do you smell, hear, see and feel? In addition, each respondent made pictures of six positive and six negative aspects on the farms for which they had to write a motivation. The qualitative analysis resulted in seven socio-cultural themes (SCT) of pig production namely: 1) meat production, 2) farm activities, 3) farm income, 4) animals, 5) housing system, 6) environment and nature, and 7) culture and landscape. Each SCT included several socio-cultural aspects (appreciations, SCA) and socio-cultural issues (concerns, SCI). We identified 31 SCAs in the Netherlands and 33 SCAs in Denmark, of which 29 were SCIs in both countries. Although many issues were associated with animal welfare, the results also showed that social concerns of pig production extended beyond animal welfare. In general it can be stated that citizens are strongly concerned about overexploitation of animals in contemporary pig production systems, but at the same time they appreciate the dynamism in a pig farm including certain modern developments.

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Sanguinarine does not influence availability or metabolism of tryptophan in pigs

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Sangrovit®, a phytogenic feed additive derived from the rhizomes of Sanguinaria Canadensis has been suggested to improve growth performance of pigs by tryptophan sparing due to inhibition of L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase by its active ingredient sanguinarine. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation of Sangrovit® to diets adequate or deficient in tryptophan on growth performance in pigs. In two replicate trials, 24 pigs were fed one of four experimental diets consisting of a basal diet deficient in tryptophan, the basal diet deficient in tryptophan supplemented with 50 mg Sangrovit® per kg diet, the basal diet supplemented with 1 g tryptophan per kg diet and the basal diet supplemented with 1 g tryptophan and 50 mg Sangrovit® per kg diet over a period of three weeks. Compared to the animals receiving the tryptophan adequate diets, pigs fed the tryptophan deficient diets showed a pronounced decrease in feed intake, resulting in decreased daily gain and poorer feed conversion. Supplementation of Sangrovit® to tryptophan adequate and to tryptophan deficient diets had no effect on feed intake, daily gain and feed conversion. Based on the growth performance data, the results of this study, indicate that supplementation of Sangrovit® to pig diets may not have any beneficial effect on tryptophan availability or metabolism.

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Microbial phytase and liquid feeding increase phytate degradation in the gastrointestinal tract of growing pigs

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The quantitative degradation of inositol phosphates (InsP6 to InsP2) in the stomach and small intestine as influenced by microbial phytase and fermented liquid feeding was compared by combining the results from two experiments. Six pigs (49 kg) were fitted with gastric cannulas (Exp. 1) and 3 pigs (42 kg) were fitted with special ileal cannulas (Exp. 2) for total collection of digesta. The pigs were castrated males, and both experiments were 3×3 Latin squares. A basal wheat/barley diet was pelleted at 90 °C (P 4 and Ca 7 g/kg DM). Diet 1, basal diet fed dry; diet 2, diet 1 with microbial phytase (750 FTU/kg) fed dry; diet 3, diet 2 fed in liquid form (fermented 17.5 h, 20 °C, 50% residual in the tank). InsP6-P was not present in gastric or ileal digesta in pigs fed diet 3 due to complete InsP6 degradation before feeding. In pigs fed diet 2 the amount of gastric InsP6-P was considerably smaller compared with pigs fed diet 1 due to phytase addition. On the other hand, the amount of ileal InsP6-P was only slightly less in pigs fed diet 2 compared with diet 1 indicating that InsP6 is greatly degraded in the small intestine. Furthermore, the amounts of gastric or ileal InsP5–InsP2-P were very small for all diets showing that degradation of these compounds is rapid and nearly complete.

For more information the full article can be found at http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/livsci