Evaluation of piglet birth weight on growth performance and qualitative and quantitative characteristics of carcasses of immunocastrated pigs

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of birth weight on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of immunocastrated male pigs. Seventy-two boars were assigned to three birth weight categories (BiW): light BiW pigs (LP: 0.98±0.083 kg BW; n = 24), normal BiW pigs (NP: 1.42±0.067 kg BW; n = 24), and heavy BiW pigs (HP: 1.85±0.096 kg BW; n = 24). For treatment design, we considered a weight range of two standard deviations (SD) in relation to the average population body weight (from 0.785 to 2.155 kg BW−1 ). The animals were housed in six pens with 12 animals per pen, with ad libitum access to water and feed throughout the study. In the growing and finishing phases, pigs were immunocastrated with two doses of vaccine at 112 and 161 days of age. The three BiW categories were different up to departure from the nursery (70 days). After this period, there was no difference between NP and HP in terms of BiW. Measurements showed that a low BiW reduced the loin eye area (9.4%), longissimus thoracis muscle depth (7.6%), and meat:fat ratio (21.6%). Backfat thickness (21.5%) and fat area (11.8%) were higher in LP as compared with the NP and HP categories. Light BiW pigs presented a lower weight steak (7.0%) and belly + rib (8.6%) compared with NP and HP, but did not differ within the LP group. Light BiW pigs required a greater lodging time (14 days), generating higher accumulated feed intake to reach the same slaughter BiW as the other categories. Growth performance and carcass characteristics are influenced by the birth weight (BiW) category. Light BiW pigs require more time and feed intake to reach the same slaughter weight. Birth weight has positive effects on meat quality and weight of commercial cuts.

Fibrous feedstuffs for the nitrogen retention of growing pigs / Contribuição dos alimentos fibrosos para a retenção de nitrogênio de suínos em crescimento

The aim of this study was to measure the nitrogen (N) balance of pigs fed with lysine-limiting diets containing practical levels of wheat bran (WB) or soybean hulls (SH). Twelve pigs with average weights of 57.36±2.01 and 72.68±3.24 kg were used in trials 1 and 2, respectively. In trial 1, treatments were CT1 - control diet and WB - diet with inclusion of 15% WB. In trial 2, CT2 - control diet and SH - diet with inclusion of 6% SH. Fibrous diets increased (P<0.05) the fecal N in 63.54 and 60.55% in relation to CT1 and CT2, respectively. The urinary N was higher (P<0.05) in pigs receiving the WB diet, but was not influenced in the trial with SH. The N retention (NRET) was higher (P>0.05) in pigs ingesting the WB diet; although, when the proportion of NRET was expressed relative to N ingested (NING) there was no difference (P>0.05) between treatments. Inclusion of SH did not affect (P>0.05) the NRET when the result was expressed in absolute or proportional terms. In conclusion, inclusion of practical levels of WB and SH does not significantly affect the metabolic costs involved with nitrogen metabolism. However, only WB was able to contribute to the N balance of pigs, while the relative amount of N added by SH was fully recovered in feces.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi medir o balanço de nitrogênio (N) de suínos alimentados com dietas limitantes em lisina contendo níveis práticos de inclusão de farelo de trigo (FT) ou casca de soja (CS). Foram utilizados 24 suínos machos castrados com peso médio inicial de 57,36±2,01 kg e 72,68±3,24 kg nos experimentos 1 e 2, respectivamente. No experimento 1 os tratamentos foram CT1 - dieta controle, e FT - dieta com inclusão de 15% de FT. No experimento 2 CT2 - dieta controle, e CS - dieta com inclusão de 6% CS. As dietas fibrosas aumentaram (P<0,05) o N fecal em 64,54 e 60,55% em relação a CT1 e CT2, respectivamente. O N urinário foi maior (P<0,05) nos suínos que receberam a dieta FT, mas não foi afetado no experimento com CS. A retenção de N (NRET) foi maior (P<0,05) nos suínos alimentados com a dieta FT, entretanto quando a proporção do NRET foi expressa em relação ao N ingerido (NING) não houve diferença entre os tratamentos (P<0,05). A inclusão de CS não afetou (P<0,05) a NRET quando os resultados foram expressos em termos absolutos ou proporcionais. Em conclusão, a inclusão de níveis práticos de FT ou CS não afeta significativamente o custo metabólico envolvido no metabolismo de N. Entretanto, apenas o FT foi capaz de contribuir para o balanço de N dos suínos, enquanto a quantidade N relativa a adição de CS foi totalmente recuperada nas fezes.(AU)

Intervalos de coletas de sêmen em reprodutores suínos no início da vida reprodutiva: avaliação dos parâmetros seminais / Intervals of semen collection from boars during early reproductive life: evaluation of seminal fluid parameters

Background: In swine production, good reproduction rates can be achieved through genetic selection and reproductivebiotechnologies. One of these biotechnologies is artificial insemination, which contributes to disseminate genes and optimizebreeding boars, thus improving the quality of insemination doses. This study focused on evaluating the intervals betweensemen collection from boars at the beginning of their reproductive maturity vis-à-vis the viability of insemination doses.Materials, Methods & Results: Twenty 9-month-old boars of the genetic lineage AGPIC 337 (Agroceres PIC) were used inthis study. The experimental design used here was completely randomized, and the randomly selected males were dividedinto four treatment groups, which were named according to the interval between semen sample collections: T1: 2 days; T2:3 days; T3: 4 days and T4: 7 days. Each treatment comprised 5 animals, and at the end of the 90 days of this study, a totalof 150 ejaculates were obtained in T1, 110 in T2, 90 in T3 and 60 in T4. The values of total motility, volume and spermconcentration of the ejaculates were evaluated, as was oxidative stress by means of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS), the latter after 0, 72, 120 and 168 h of the study. Membrane integrity was evaluated at 0, 72, 120 and 168 h usingthe eosin-nigrosin staining procedure. Sperm heat resistance was tested after 120 h, and sperm morphology after 72, 120 and168 h. Sperm concentrations differed, with T3 showing 27.04% and 29.65% higher concentrations (P < 0.05) than groupsT2 and T1, respectively. Total motility in group T4 was 0.56%, 1.98% and 3.28% higher (P < 0.05) than in T3, T2 and T1,respectively, indicating that the 7-day interval produced the best result. The heat...

Intervalos de coletas de sêmen em reprodutores suínos no início da vida reprodutiva: avaliação dos parâmetros seminais / Intervals of semen collection from boars during early reproductive life: evaluation of seminal fluid parameters

Background: In swine production, good reproduction rates can be achieved through genetic selection and reproductivebiotechnologies. One of these biotechnologies is artificial insemination, which contributes to disseminate genes and optimizebreeding boars, thus improving the quality of insemination doses. This study focused on evaluating the intervals betweensemen collection from boars at the beginning of their reproductive maturity vis-à-vis the viability of insemination doses.Materials, Methods & Results: Twenty 9-month-old boars of the genetic lineage AGPIC 337 (Agroceres PIC) were used inthis study. The experimental design used here was completely randomized, and the randomly selected males were dividedinto four treatment groups, which were named according to the interval between semen sample collections: T1: 2 days; T2:3 days; T3: 4 days and T4: 7 days. Each treatment comprised 5 animals, and at the end of the 90 days of this study, a totalof 150 ejaculates were obtained in T1, 110 in T2, 90 in T3 and 60 in T4. The values of total motility, volume and spermconcentration of the ejaculates were evaluated, as was oxidative stress by means of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS), the latter after 0, 72, 120 and 168 h of the study. Membrane integrity was evaluated at 0, 72, 120 and 168 h usingthe eosin-nigrosin staining procedure. Sperm heat resistance was tested after 120 h, and sperm morphology after 72, 120 and168 h. Sperm concentrations differed, with T3 showing 27.04% and 29.65% higher concentrations (P < 0.05) than groupsT2 and T1, respectively. Total motility in group T4 was 0.56%, 1.98% and 3.28% higher (P < 0.05) than in T3, T2 and T1,respectively, indicating that the 7-day interval produced the best result. The heat...(AU)

Chemical, microbiological and sensory characteristics of cured product prepared with pork fed diets enriched with beta adrenergic and natural antioxidants / Características químicas, microbiológicas e sensoriais do produto curado preparado com carne de suínos alimentados com dietas contendo beta adrenérgico e antioxidantes naturais

Background: Through individual properties and synergistic action of its active principles, adding antioxidants (AN) in diet can indirectlyinfluence the meat properties and chemical characteristics, microbiological and sensory of the salami. This work evaluated the chemical, microbiological and sensory product made with meat from finishing pigs fed diets containing ractopamine (RAC) and natural AN.Materials, Methods & Results: One hundred and eight pigs were used in a completely randomized, blocked by sex and distributed in ninetreatments with 0, 10 and 20 ppm of RAC; 0, 250 and 500 ppm of AN and their interactions. The animals were slaughtered in slaughterhouse fridge with federal inspection. After that, for laboratory analysis and preparation of salami, the Longissimus dorsi muscle wasremoved from the right half carcass. Two duplicates of each treatment were separated and vacuum packed for the laboratory analyzes.In the sensory analysis evaluated the acceptability of Milano salami on a seven-point hedonic scale. The moisture percentage of thesalami prepared with meat from animals that received 10 RAC+500 AN in the diet had an average 7.5% higher (P < 0.05) than control,20 ppm for RAC and levels of AN. The ash content in the salami produced from the animals that received 10 RAC+500 AN in the diethad an average 9.5% higher (P < 0.05) than control, 20 RAC+250 AN and 250 AN. The protein content in the salami elaborated withanimal received 10 RAC+250 AN in the diet was 10.2% higher (P < 0.05) than other treatments. The lipid content of the control groupsalami were 16.6% higher (P < 0.05) than other treatments. In the color evaluation of salami prepared with meat from females, the levelof inclusion 10 RAC+250 AN showed better acceptability (P < 0.05) compared to the other treatments. In relation to the characteristicodor, females salami with 500 AN from the treatment showed better acceptability (P < 0.05)...(AU)

Chemical, microbiological and sensory characteristics of cured product prepared with pork fed diets enriched with beta adrenergic and natural antioxidants / Características químicas, microbiológicas e sensoriais do produto curado preparado com carne de suínos alimentados com dietas contendo beta adrenérgico e antioxidantes naturais

Background: Through individual properties and synergistic action of its active principles, adding antioxidants (AN) in diet can indirectlyinfluence the meat properties and chemical characteristics, microbiological and sensory of the salami. This work evaluated the chemical, microbiological and sensory product made with meat from finishing pigs fed diets containing ractopamine (RAC) and natural AN.Materials, Methods & Results: One hundred and eight pigs were used in a completely randomized, blocked by sex and distributed in ninetreatments with 0, 10 and 20 ppm of RAC; 0, 250 and 500 ppm of AN and their interactions. The animals were slaughtered in slaughterhouse fridge with federal inspection. After that, for laboratory analysis and preparation of salami, the Longissimus dorsi muscle wasremoved from the right half carcass. Two duplicates of each treatment were separated and vacuum packed for the laboratory analyzes.In the sensory analysis evaluated the acceptability of Milano salami on a seven-point hedonic scale. The moisture percentage of thesalami prepared with meat from animals that received 10 RAC+500 AN in the diet had an average 7.5% higher (P < 0.05) than control,20 ppm for RAC and levels of AN. The ash content in the salami produced from the animals that received 10 RAC+500 AN in the diethad an average 9.5% higher (P < 0.05) than control, 20 RAC+250 AN and 250 AN. The protein content in the salami elaborated withanimal received 10 RAC+250 AN in the diet was 10.2% higher (P < 0.05) than other treatments. The lipid content of the control groupsalami were 16.6% higher (P < 0.05) than other treatments. In the color evaluation of salami prepared with meat from females, the levelof inclusion 10 RAC+250 AN showed better acceptability (P < 0.05) compared to the other treatments. In relation to the characteristicodor, females’ salami with 500 AN from the treatment showed better acceptability (P < 0.05)...

Metanálise da relação entre espessura de toicinho e variáveis nutricionais de porcas gestantes e lactantes / Meta-analysis of relation among backfat thickness and nutritional variables of gestating and lactating sows

Uma metanálise foi realizada para avaliar a relação entre a espessura de toicinho e as variáveis nutricionais de porcas gestantes e lactantes. A base de dados contemplou 14 artigos publicados de 2000 a 2006 em revistas indexadas. A metanálise foi realizada através de análises gráfica, de correlação e de variância. A correlação entre espessura de toicinho na gestação (ETg) com consumo de alimento na gestação (CAl G) foi de -0,09 (P=0,04), com CAl na lactação (CAl L) baseado na tabela NRC (1998) foi de -0,09 (P=0,06), com CAl na lactação baseado na tabela Rostagno (2000) foi de -0,08 (P=0,06) e com consumo de proteína bruta na lactação (CAl L PB) foi de -0,08 (P=0,06). A correlação entre espessura de toicinho na lactação (ETl) com CAl na gestação foi de 0,29 (P<0,01), com CAl na gestação NRC (1998) foi de 0,20 (P<0,01), com CAl na gestação Rostagno (2000) foi de 0,20 (P<0,01), com CAl na lactação foi de -0,21 (P<0,01), com consumo na lactação NRC (1998) foi de -0,24 (P<0,01) e com consumo na lactação Rostagno (2000) foi de 0,24 (P<0,01). O CAl de PB na gestação foi de 0,20 (P<0,01) e o CAl de PB na lactação foi de -0,26 (P<0,01). A variação da espessura de toicinho durante a lactação é influenciada pelos níveis de proteína e lisina da dieta e pela gordura e proteína no leite. A variação da espessura de toicinho na gestação e na lactação foi semelhante para as tabelas do NRC (1998) e de Rostagno (2000). Há relação significativa entre espessura de toicinho e variáveis nutricionais em porcas gestantes e lactantes.(AU)

A meta-analysis was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between backfat thickness and nutritional variables of sows during gestation and lactation. The database was developed from 14 studies published between 2000 and 2006. The meta-analysis was carried out trough by graphical analysis, correlation and variance. The correlation between backfat thickness at gestation (BTg) and feed intake (FI) at this phase was -0.09 (P=0.04). The correlation between backfat thickness at gestation (BTg) and lactation FI NRC (1998) was -0.09 (P=0.06); BTg and FI at lactation Rostagno (2000) presented a correlation of-0.08 (P=0.06). In the same way the correlation between BTg and crude protein (CP) intake at lactation was -0.08 (P=0.06). The correlation between backfat thickness at lactation (BTl) and FI at gestation was 0.29 (P<0.01). BTl and FI at gestation NRC (1998) presented a correlation of 0.20 (P<0.01). For BTl and gestation feed intake Rostagno (2000) a correlation of 0.20 (P<0.01) was reported. The correlation between BTl and lactation FI was -0.21 (P<0.01), the correlations between BTl and lactation FI NRC (1998) were -0.24 (P<0.01) and lactation FI Rostagno (2000) 0.24 (P<0.01). Correlations of 0.20 (P<0.01) and -0.26 (P<0.01) were observed between BTl and CP intake at gestation and CP intake at lactation respectively. The backfat thickness variation at lactation is influenced by protein and lysine levels in the diet and fat and protein of the milk. Gestation and lactation backfat thickness variation was similar to NRC (1998) and Rostagno (2000). There is a significant relationship between backfat thickness and nutritional variables in pregnant and farrowing sows.(AU)