Pork carcass composition, meat and belly qualities as influenced by feed efficiency selection in replacement boars from Large White sire and dam lines.

This study evaluated carcass attributes, meat and belly qualities in finisher boars (n = 79) selected for feed efficiency (low, intermediate and high) based on estimated breeding value for feed conversion ratio within a Large White dam and sire genetic lines. The sire line had lower trimmed fat proportions and higher lean than the dam line (P < 0.01). Genetic lines expressed slight colour changes and drip losses (P < 0.05), with no differences in pH, marbling and cooking traits (P > 0.05). High-efficient animals presented the highest lean yield (P < 0.01), the lowest trimmed fat proportion (P < 0.01) and no effect on meat and belly quality attributes (P > 0.05) compared with other efficient groups. Interaction between efficiency group and genetic line was only detected for belly weight and thickness (P < 0.01). High-efficient animals offer a greater leanness level, with minimal impact on meat and belly quality traits.

Evaluation of pea protein isolates as a protein source for broilers.

A study was conducted to determine the effect of including pea protein isolate (PPI) in diets for broilers on performance, visceral organ weights, and nutrient digestibility. A total of 192 day-old chicks were assigned to 4 diets with 6 birds per cage and 8 replicates per treatment for a 21-d study. The diets included a corn-soybean meal-based basal diet with 0, 5, 10, or 15% of PPI. Total BW and feed disappearance were monitored weekly to determine ADG, ADFI, and feed conversion ratio per cage basis. Excreta samples were collected during the last 3 d of the experiment to determine the apparent total tract retention (ATTR) of protein and energy. On day 21, 3 birds from each cage were euthanized to collect ileal digesta to determine the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of energy and amino acids (AA), and visceral organs were weighed. Increasing dietary inclusion of PPI resulted in a linear decrease in overall ADFI (P = 0.002) and ADG (P = 0.001), and a linear increase in feed conversion ratio (P = 0.013). Dietary PPI quadratically increased (P = 0.005) the spleen weight. The weight of proventriculus showed both linear (P = 0.023) and quadratic (P = 0.005) reduction while the weight of gizzard was quadratically reduced (P = 0.002) with the increase in dietary PPI content. Weights of small and large intestine showed both linear (P < 0.05) and quadratic (P < 0.05) reduction with increasing dietary PPI content. An increase in the dietary level of PPI resulted in a quadratic reduction (P < 0.05) in ATTR of DM and CP. The AID of His, Asp, Glu, Gly, and Ser showed a quadratic reduction (P < 0.05), Tyr a linear reduction (P = 0.031) and Cys and Pro both linear (P < 0.05) and quadratic (P < 0.05) reduction with dietary inclusion of PPI. In conclusion, formulating diets with increasing PPI linearly decreased the growth performance of broilers.

Standardized total tract digestibility of phosphorus in flaxseed meal fed to growing and finishing pigs without or with phytase supplementation.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) of P in flaxseed meal (FM) and the effect of dietary microbial phytase on the digestibility of P in FM fed to growing and finishing pigs. In Exp. 1, eighteen growing barrows (26.6 ± 1.8 kg BW) were allotted to 1 of 3 experimental diets consisting of a diet containing 32% FM that was fed with or without phytase at 500 phytase units (FTU/kg and a P-free diet in a completely randomized design to give 6 replicates per diet. The experimental period lasted 12 d including first 7 d for adaptation and 5 d for total collection of feces. Pigs were fed their assigned diets at 4% of BW at the beginning of the experiment. The daily feed allowance was offered in 2 equal portions at 0800 and 1600 h. All experimental diets were provided in mash form. Results indicated that pigs fed the diets containing FM with dietary phytase had less ( < 0.05) fecal P concentration and daily P output than those fed the diets without phytase supplementation. Also, phytase supplementation increased ( < 0.05) the ATTD of P of the diets containing FM from 37.3% to 51.8% and STTD of P of the diets containing FM from 43.2% to 57.7%. The basal endogenous P losses (EPL) was calculated at 140 ± 11 mg/kg of DMI in growing pigs fed the P-free diet. In Exp. 2, eighteen finishing pigs (78.7 ± 2.4 kg BW) were randomly allotted to 1 of 3 dietary treatments. The experimental diets and procedures were similar to those described in Exp. 1. Similar to Exp. 1, pigs fed FM diets with phytase supplementation had less ( < 0.05) P concentration in feces than those fed diets without phytase supplementation. Also, daily P output was reduced ( = 0.08) when pigs were fed the FM diets with phytase compared to those fed the FM diets without phytase. The ATTD of P in FM diets was increased ( < 0.01) from 31.4% to 45.8%, whereas the STTD of P in FM diets was increased ( < 0.01) from 37.8% to 52.3% as a result of phytase supplementation. The basal EPL was calculated at 164 ± 19 mg/kg of DMI in finishing pigs fed the P-free diet. In conclusion, the ATTD and STTD of P in FM fed to growing pigs were 37.3% and 43.2%, respectively, whereas respective values for finishing pigs were 31.4%, and 37.8%, respectively. Also, dietary phytase supplementation improved both ATTD and STTD of P in FM for both stages of pigs by an average of 33%.

Recent advances in canola meal utilization in swine nutrition.

Canola meal is derived from the crushing of canola seed for oil extraction. Although it has been used in swine diets for a long time, its inclusion levels have been limited due to concerns regarding its nutritive value primarily arising from results of early studies showing negative effects of dietary canola meal inclusion in swine diets. Such effects were attributable to the presence of anti-nutritional factors (ANF; notably glucosinolates) in canola meal. However, due to advances in genetic improvements of canola that have led to production of cultivars with significantly lower ANF content and improved processing procedures, canola meal with a superior nutritive value for non-ruminant animals is now available. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to review the recent studies in the use of canola meal as feedstuff for swine, the factors influencing its use and the strategies to overcome them. First a historical overview of the development of canola is provided.