Combination of dietary glycaemic index and fasting time prior to slaughter as strategy to modify quality of pork.

This study evaluates the effect of the dietary glycaemic index (low: L-GI vs. high: H-GI), pre-slaughter fasting times (17 h: f17 vs. 19 h: f19 vs. 22 h: f22), and their interaction, on certain meat quality characteristics. Greater duration of fasting resulted in lesser drip loss of muscle, greater LIPE expression (lipolysis) and 10% greater TBARS, with PUFA being the main source of free-fatty acid production. L-GI diets produced a greater drip loss, lipolytic activity and lesser C18:1n-9 relative mobilization, suggesting this group had greater glycolytic potential than H-GI. An interaction was found in meat characteristics related to fat metabolism. The IRS2 gene expression was greater in pigs fed L-GI diets, but only in a low fasting period. LIPE gene expression was greater for L-GI-f17 group than for L-GI-f22. Lesser n-6 PUFA but greater MUFA were found in the free fatty acid fraction of L-GI- f17 group thus resulting in a faster lipolysis initiation in this group.

Fat accumulation, fatty acids and melting point changes in broiler chick abdominal fat as affected by time of dietary fat feeding and slaughter age.

1. This work aims to quantify changes in fatty acid profile, melting point, abdominal fat accumulation and 2-thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances production depending on dietary fat source and age at slaughter, and to estimate the optimal date for the change from an unsaturated fat to a saturated fat diet or vice versa. 2. Treatments established were (1) birds fed 8% tallow from 21 to 49 d (TTT); (2) birds fed 8% tallow from 21 to 37 d and 8% sunflower oil from d 38 to 49 (TSS); (3) birds fed 8% sunflower oil from 21 to 37 d and 8% tallow from d 38 to 49 (STT); (4) birds fed 8% sunflower oil from 21 to 41 d and 8% tallow from d 42 to 49 (SST); (5) birds fed 8% sunflower oil from 21 to 49 d (SSS). Birds from each group were slaughtered on d 21, 29, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46 and 49. 3. The polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) proportion in the SSS group reached maximum values at d 40 and fitted a quadratic response. This group also showed a decrease in saturated fatty acids (SATs) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) of lower intensity than the PUFA increase. The highest synthesis of SAT + MUFA was found in the SSS and TSS groups, whereas these had the lowest body-to-dietary PUFA ratio. 4. A high and quadratic increase in the MUFA proportion was observed during the first 10 d of feeding with the tallow-enriched diet at the expenses of the proportion of PUFA that quadratically decreased (minimum values at d 38). 5. Lipogenic and desaturation capacity decreased with age. 6. The TSS group increased tissue PUFA content faster that the SST group decreased PUFA content after the change in diet which indicates that the earlier feeding has to be taken into consideration for obtaining higher or lower changes in quality parameters. 7. The melting point of the SSS group showed a lower response to the dietary treatment in the initial period when compared to the TTT treatment. 8. The TTT, STT, SST and TSS groups showed similar fat accumulation, and changes in lipid oxidation were related to the day of dietary sunflower oil supplementation. 9. Based on the results, it would be possible to determine the most appropriate dietary programme and optimum slaughter age to obtain chicken meat with the desired quality characteristics.

Effect of dietary organic selenium on muscle proteolytic activity and water-holding capacity in pork.

This study evaluates the effect of dietary selenium (Se) supplementation source (organic, Se-enriched yeast; SY vs. inorganic, sodium selenite; SS), dose (0.2: L vs. 0.4: H mg/kg) and the combination of Se and vitamin E (VITE+SS) for 26days on drip loss, TBARS, colour changes, myofibrillar protein pattern and proteolysis in pork. The lowest water losses were observed in the SY-H group when compared to the others. SY-H and VITE+SS groups presented lower myofibrillar protein hydrolysis/oxidation. VITE+SS supplementation also resulted in higher PRO, TRP and PHE content at days 2 and 7, whereas the SY group showed increased GLY and CAR and tended to have higher TAU and ANS at day 2. The myofibrillar fragmentation index was not modified by the dietary treatment; however, at day 8, it tended to be higher in groups supplemented with SeY and VITE+SS. The results of the present study might indicate a possible relation between muscle proteolysis and water loss.

Developmental Origins of Health and Disease in swine: implications for animal production and biomedical research.

The concept of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) addresses, from a large set of epidemiological evidences in human beings and translational studies in animal models, both the importance of genetic predisposition and the determinant role of maternal nutrition during pregnancy on adult morphomics and homeostasis. Compelling evidences suggest that both overnutrition and undernutrition may modify the intrauterine environment of the conceptus and may alter the expression of its genome and therefore its phenotype during prenatal and postnatal life. In fact, the DOHaD concept is an extreme shift in the vision of the factors conditioning adult phenotype and supposes a drastic change from a gene-centric perspective, only modified by lifestyle and nutritional strategies during juvenile development and adulthood, to a more holistic approach in which environmental, parental, and prenatal conditions are strongly determining postnatal development and homeostasis. The implications of DOHaD are profound in all the mammalian species and the present review summarizes current knowledge on causes and consequences of DOHaD in pigs, both for meat production and as a well-recognized model for biomedicine research.

Growth performance and carcass quality of crossbreds pigs from two Pietrain sire lines fed isoproteic diets varying in energy concentration.

The effects of net energy (NE) content of isoproteic diets on growth performance and carcass and meat quality traits were studied in crossbreds from Landrace×Large White females and two Pietrain sire lines (PIC L62 vs. German Pietrain). Feed intake (FI) decreased (Lineal, P<0.001) and feed efficiency improved (Lineal, P<0.001) as the NE content of the diet increased. Crossbreds from PIC L62 had greater (P<0.001) FI and average daily gain (ADG) but were less efficient (P<0.01) than crossbreds from German Pietrain. German Pietrain crossbreds were leaner (P<0.001) and had higher shoulder yield (P<0.01) and less fat at m. Gluteus medius (P<0.001) than carcasses from PIC L62 crossbreds. In summary, an increase in the NE concentration of the diet improved feed efficiency but did not affect ADG. Crossbreeds from PIC L62 sires grew faster and had fatter carcasses than crossbreds from German Pietrain.

Effect of sex, dietary glycerol or dietary fat during late fattening, on fatty acid composition and positional distribution of fatty acids within the triglyceride in pigs.

The effect of sex, source of saturated fat (lard v. palm oil) and glycerol inclusion in the fattening diet on composition and fatty acid positional distribution in the triglyceride molecule was studied in pigs from 78 to 110 kg BW. Average daily gain and carcass characteristics, including ham and loin weight, were not affected by dietary treatment but sex affected backfat depth (P < 0.01). A significant interaction between sex and glycerol inclusion was observed; dietary glycerol increased lean content in gilts but not in barrows (P < 0.05 for the interaction). Individual and total saturated fatty acid (SFA) concentrations were greater in barrows than in gilts. In contrast, the concentration of total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and of C18:2n-6, C18:3n-3, C20:3n-9 and C20:4n-6 in the intramuscular fat (IMF) was higher (P < 0.05) in gilts than in barrows. Sex did not affect total monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) concentration in the IMF. The proportion of SFA in the subcutaneous fat (SF) was higher in barrows than in gilts (P < 0.001). Within the individual SFA, sex affected only the concentrations of C14:0 and C16:0 (P < 0.001). Dietary fat did not affect total SFA or PUFA concentrations of the IMF but the subcutaneous total MUFA concentration tended to be higher (P = 0.079) in pigs fed lard than in pigs fed palm oil. Dietary glycerol increased total MUFA and C18:1n-9 concentration in the IMF and increased total MUFA and decreased C18:2n-6, C18:3n-3 and total PUFA concentrations in the SF. The data indicate that altering the fatty acid composition of the triglyceride molecule at the 2-position, by dietary intervention during the fattening phase, is very limited.

Long term vitamin A restriction improves meat quality parameters and modifies gene expression in Iberian pigs.

Vitamin A is a key regulator of gene expression, influencing adipogenesis and lipid metabolism in animal tissues. This experiment was conducted to assess the effect of dietary vitamin A level and administration time on productive traits, intramuscular fat (IMF) content in ham muscles, tissue fatty acid composition, and expression of a panel of adipogenic and lipogenic candidate genes in Iberian pigs. Sixty piglets of 16.3 kg (SD = 2.5 kg) live weight (LW) were either fed a vitamin A-enriched diet (10,000 IU vitamin A/kg; CONTROL, n = 20) or a diet without supplemented vitamin A, applied from 16.3 kg (SD = 2.5 kg; early restriction group, ER, n = 20) or from an average weight of 35.8 kg (SD = 3.1 kg; late restriction group, LR, n = 20). Two slaughters were performed when pigs reached the averaged weights of 101.4 (SD = 4.1 kg) and 157.9 kg LW (SD = 7 kg) and samples from liver, heart, and backfat were obtained in both sacrifice times. In addition, ham subcutaneous fat and Semimembranosus (SM) and Biceps Femoris (BF) muscles were sampled at the last sacrifice. Dietary vitamin A level produced no effect on carcass traits in any of the harvests, while a small effect was observed on fatty acid composition in backfat at 101.4 kg LW. However, at 157.9 kg LW, the ER and LR groups showed higher MUFA content and lower SFA content in backfat, ham fat, and IMF (P < 0.01). In IMF, a decrease in n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio was observed in the restricted groups (P < 0.005). Intramuscular fat content in SM muscle was greater (P < 0.05) in the ER group than in the CONTROL and LR groups, while no difference was detected in BF muscle. Little effect of dietary vitamin A was observed in liver. Regarding changes in gene expression, ACSL4, CEBPB, and IGF1 genes were upregulated (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001, and P < 0.05, respectively) in the ER group in hepatic tissue, whereas CRABPII and SCD genes were upregulated (P < 0.05) in the same group in adipose tissue. On the other hand, was downregulated ( < 0.05) in the ER group in adipose tissue. Results found in this experiment show that long-term restriction of dietary vitamin A has a positive effect on nutritional and sensorial parameters of ham meat. Moreover, gene expression results were consistent with the vitamin A transcriptional regulation of adipogenesis and lipogenesis and with the changes observed in meat and fat composition.

Dietary vitamin A restriction affects adipocyte differentiation and fatty acid composition of intramuscular fat in Iberian pigs.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether dietary vitamin A level is associated with differences in adipocyte differentiation or lipid accumulation in Iberian pigs at early growing (35.8kg live weight) and at finishing (158kg live weight). Iberian pigs of 16.3kg live weight were allocated to two feeding groups, one group received 10,000IU of vitamin A/kg diet (control); the other group received a diet with 0IU of vitamin A (var) for the whole experimental period. The dietary vitamin A level had no effect on growth performance and carcass traits. The early suppression of vitamin A increased the preadipocyte number in Longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle in the early growth period (P<0.001) and the neutral lipid content and composition (higher MUFA and lower SFA content) at the end of the finishing period (P<0.05). Vitamin A restriction in young pigs increases their lipogenic potential without affecting carcass traits.

Effect of micellized natural (D-α-tocopherol) vs. synthetic (DL-α-tocopheryl acetate) vitamin E supplementation given to turkeys on oxidative status and breast meat quality characteristics.

This study evaluates the effect of vitamin E supplementation source (micellized natural vs. the synthetic form) and dosage (40, 80, or 120 mg/kg) on α-tocopherol concentration in plasma and muscle, antioxidant capacity, and breast meat quality in turkeys. Three hundred female turkeys were randomly selected at an average live weight 63.2 g±0.5 and distributed into 7 groups. One group (control) was fed a standard diet without vitamin E supplementation and the other 6 were given mixed diets supplemented with the natural (d-α-tocopherol) or synthetic (dl-α-tocopheryl acetate) form of vitamin E in 3 dosages (40, 80, or 120 mg/kg). Following 11 wk feeding, results showed that performance parameters were not modified either by source or dosage of vitamin E supplementation to the turkeys. Plasma and muscle α-tocopherol at d 9 of refrigerated storage were higher when turkeys were supplemented with the natural form at higher doses. Losses in the concentration of α-tocopherol in meat between the beginning and the end of the 9 d refrigerated storage were greater in the groups supplemented with the synthetic form of vitamin E compared to those receiving the natural supplementation. The relationship between plasma α-tocopherol and the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity followed a different trend depending on the vitamin E source. Intramuscular fat was not significantly affected by the vitamin E source supplementation; however the slope of the linear regression equation was lower for the natural form than for the synthetic form. Turkeys given the natural form had higher C18:1n-9 but lower C15:1, C17:1, C20:5n-3, and C22:6n-3 in breast muscle. Meat samples from turkeys supplemented with natural vitamin E had higher deoxymyoglobin at d 3, 6, and 9 and lower metmyoglobin at d 9 of refrigerated storage than those receiving the synthetic form. Dietary supplementation with medium doses (80 mg/kg) micellized d-α-tocopherol is an interesting feeding strategy for ensuring antioxidant status and improving meat quality.

Effect of fatty acid composition and positional distribution within the triglyceride on selected physical properties of dry-cured ham subcutaneous fat.

Analysis of fatty acid (FA) positional distribution within the triglyceride (TG) and selected physical properties of dry-cured ham subcutaneous fat (SF) were carried out. The slip point (SP) of the SF was related to the concentration and positional distribution of FA. When C16:0 was in Sn-2, the SP depended on the FA present in Sn-1,3. Hardness was related to the FA concentration in external positions of TG. A significant direct linear correlation between hardness against C18:0, SFA and average chain length (ACL) and inverse against C18:1, C18:2 and PUFA and unsaturation index (UI) in external positions was found. Adhesiveness was related to SFA, C16:0, C18:0, C18:1, MUFA, UI and ACL exclusively in Sn-2 position. A different role of FA in Sn-2 and Sn-1,3 positions on SP and texture properties of fat was found.

Alternative method for intramuscular fat analysis using common laboratory equipment.

A procedure to quantify intramuscular fat was developed using common inexpensive laboratory equipment. Three homogenization methods of lyophilized muscle samples (Ball-mill, Grinder and Mortar) and two extraction methods (Ball-mill or Vortex) were used in turkey meat and pork. Two-hundred mg of lyophilized and homogenized samples were accurately weighed and mixed with 1.5 mL of dichloromethane-methanol (8:2) and shaken either in a Mixer Mill (MM400, Retsch Technology) or in a Vortex. The final mixture was separated by centrifugation. Solvent was evaporated under a nitrogen stream and lipid content was gravimetrically determined. Besides, it was checked that the fatty acid profile was not altered by the protocol used. Moreover, the analysis of 4 replicas from the same sample showed different variation coefficients (16-29%) for the new procedures proposed over a wide range of IMF content. The combination of Grinder and Vortex methodologies can be proposed as a simple and inexpensive alternative to previous ones.

Influence of net energy content of the diets on productive performance and carcass merit of gilts, boars and immunocastrated males slaughtered at 120kg BW.

In total, 540 crossbred pigs with an initial body weight of 28.5kg were used to investigate the effects of the net energy (NE) content (2.29, 2.33, 2.37, 2.41 and 2.45 Mcal/kg) of the diet on growth performance and carcass and meat quality traits of gilts, boars and immunocastrated males (IMC). An increase in dietary NE increased NE intake and decreased feed conversion ratio linearly. The IMC pigs showed greater feed intake and average daily gain than gilts and boars. Backfat depth increased and chilled and trimmed ham yield decreased, as the dietary NE increased. Backfat depth was greater for gilts and IMC than for boars. Also, gilts had greater carcass and loin yields than boars and IMC. Diets with the greater NE content were more appropriate for the production of heavy pigs. However, the economic interest of this practice needs further assessment.

Prenatal programming of obesity in a swine model of leptin resistance: modulatory effects of controlled postnatal nutrition and exercise.

The main role of early nutritional programming in the current rise of obesity and associated diseases is well known. However, translational studies are mostly based in postnatal food excess and, thus, there is a paucity of information on the phenotype of individuals with prenatal deficiencies but adequate postnatal conditions. Thus, we assessed the effects of prenatal programming (comparing descendants from females fed with a diet fulfilling 100 or only 50% of their nutritional requirements for pregnancy) on gene expression, patterns of growth and fattening, metabolic status and puberty attainment of a swine model of obesity/leptin resistance with controlled postnatal nutrition and opportunity of exercise. Maternal restriction was related to changes in the relationships among gene expression of positive (insulin-like growth factors 1 and 2) and negative (myostatin) regulators of muscle growth, with negative correlations in gilts from restricted pregnancies and positive relationships in the control group. In spite of these differences, the patterns of growth and fattening and the metabolic features during juvenile growth were similar in control gilts and gilts from restricted pregnancies. Concomitantly, there was a lack of differences in the timing of puberty attainment. However, after reaching puberty and adulthood, females from restricted pregnancies were heavier and more corpulent than control gilts, though such increases in weight and size were not accompanied by increases in adiposity. In conclusion, in spite of changes in gene expression induced by developmental programming, the propensity for higher weight and adiposity of individuals exposed to prenatal malnutrition may be modulated by controlled food intake and opportunity of physical exercise during infant and juvenile development.

Feasibility of MRI and selection of adequate region of interest for longitudinal studies of growth and fatness in swine models of obesity.

PURPOSES: To determine the feasibility of MRI for imaging subcutaneous and visceral adiposity in longitudinal studies in obese swine models (Iberian pig). To establish the anatomical regions of interest (ROIs) and measurement points (MPs) adequate for their evaluation through analyses on the inter-individual variability and over-time reproducibility and through the assessment of their reliability and validity by comparison with in vivo and ex vivo zoometric data. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five male and five female pigs were used from four (live weight around 48 kg and back-fat depth around 18 mm) to eight months old (live weight 134 kg and back-fat depth around 48 mm). MRI was carried out with a Panorama 0.23T scanner (Philips Medical Systems, Best, Netherlands), using a body/spine XL coil. RESULTS: The ROIs of election for visualization of subcutaneous data are located from the cranial margin of left diaphragmatic crura to the lumbar vertebrae L3. Visceral adiposity may be equally evaluated from the vertebrae L1 to L3. CONCLUSIONS: MRI allows the evaluation of subcutaneous and visceral fatness in a single acquisition, which improves animal welfare and time- and cost-efficiency and provides an accurate, consistent and repeatable procedure for sequential studies of adiposity in obese swine.

Effects of oral micellized natural vitamin E (D-α-tocopherol) v. synthetic vitamin E (DL-α-tocopherol) in feed on α-tocopherol levels, stereoisomer distribution, oxidative stress and the immune response in piglets.

This study evaluated the strategy of supplementing oral micellized natural vitamin E (D-α-tocopherol) to either piglets and/or sows on α-tocopherol concentrations in piglets serum and tissues after weaning. One first experiment tested the influence of the vitamin E supplementation source (natural form in water v. the synthetic form in feed) and dose administered to piglets and/or sows on serum α-tocopherol concentration, α-tocopherol stereoisomer accumulation, antioxidant capacity and immune response of weaned piglets. A second experiment studied the effect of sow source and dose vitamin E supplementation on some of these parameters in piglets. Oral supplementation to sows with natural vitamin E as a micellized form (D-α-tocopherol) at the lowest dose produced a similar concentration of α-tocopherol in serum at days 2, 14 and 28 postpartum to those supplemented with threefold higher dose of the synthetic form in feed. At day 39 of age, neither piglet supplementation source nor dose significantly affected α-tocopherol accumulation in the serum, muscle, subcutaneous fat or liver. Those piglets from sows supplemented with the micellized alcohol form had higher RRR-α-tocopherol stereoisomers (P<0.001) and lower (P<0.001) RRS- RSS- and RSR-α-tocopherol, at day 39 of age than those from sows supplemented with the synthetic form. A predominant importance of sow over piglet vitamin E supplementation was observed on stereoisomer distribution in piglets. Low doses of oral natural vitamin E supplementation to sows or piglets did not increase the oxidative stress of piglets when compared with the use of the synthetic form in feed. Immunoglobulin levels in piglet serum at day 39 were not affected by natural vitamin E supplementation at low doses in drinking water of piglets or sows when compared with the synthetic form in feed. IgA tended to be higher (P=0.145) at day 39 in piglets supplemented with natural vitamin E when compared with those supplemented with the synthetic form. Low doses of oral micellized natural vitamin E supplementation to sows is an interesting feeding strategy, when compared with the use of high doses of the synthetic form in feed, because it results in similar α-tocopherol concentrations, allows a predominant -R stereoisomer distribution in piglets and also maintains their oxidative status in vivo.

The effect of immunocastration and a diet based on granulated barley on growth performance and carcass, meat and fat quality in heavy gilts.

A total of 48 Duroc × (Landrace × Large White) gilts of 33.2 kg BW were used to investigate the influence of immunocastration and diet on growth performance and carcass, meat and fat quality. Four treatments were arranged factorially (2 × 2) with two sexes (immunocastrated gilts: IG v. entire gilts: EG) and two dietary treatments (a commercial feedstuff as control v. granulated barley as a single major ingredient) provided during the finishing period (from 103 to 126 kg BW). There were four replicates of three pigs per treatment. At the end of the trial, the IGs grew faster (P<0.05) and ate more feed (P<0.05) than the EGs. Carcasses from the IGs had thicker backfat depth than those from the EGs (P<0.01) and carried out a lower percentage of rejected carcasses (P<0.05) at slaughterhouse owing to lack of fat. Meat from the IGs tended to have higher intramuscular fat (IMF) content in the Longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle than that from the EGs (P=0.09). In addition, immunocastration increased the total saturated fatty-acid proportion in subcutaneous fat and IMF (P<0.001) and decreased the total monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and total polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) percentages in subcutaneous backfat (P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively) and in IMF (P<0.01 and P=0.06, respectively). The use of a diet based on granulated barley during the finishing period had no effect on growth performance but tended to increase IMF content in the LT muscle (P<0.06), and increased MUFA (P<0.05) and decreased PUFA (P<0.01) proportions in omental fat. It is concluded that immunocastration of gilts intended for dry-cured ham industry improved some aspects of growth performance and carcass and meat quality, whereas granulated barley had scarce effect on productive traits and fatty-acid profile but tended to improve IMF content.

Alpha-tocopherol stereoisomer analysis as discriminant method for distinguishing Iberian pig feed intake during the fattening phase.

The use of stereoisomers of α-tocopherol to correctly classify Iberian pig fat samples according to their feeding system was investigated. Samples were obtained over two different seasons in controlled farms from the four categories of pigs described in the Industry Quality Policy (FREE-RANGE: pigs fed exclusively under free-range conditions; FREE-FEED: pigs fed free-range and supplemented with feed; FEED-OUT: pigs fed outdoors with access to grass and a mixed diet; and FEED: pigs fed exclusively a mixed diet). A higher presence of RRR-stereoisomer indicated a greater consumption of the natural form of tocopherol provided by acorns or grass, whereas a higher proportion of S forms were related to a higher mixed diet intake. Validation results showed 90% success in fat sample classification. Analysis of the RRR-stereoisomer together with γ- and α-tocopherol determination can be considered as a potent tool for distinguishing fat from pigs fed under free-range conditions or exclusively with acorns and grass from those receiving a supplemented diet at any time of their fattening phase.

A laboratory efficient method for intramuscular fat analysis.

A new procedure to extract intramuscular fat (IMF) was developed to minimize sample amount, solvent use and time of analysis. Lyophilised samples (200mg) were accurately weighed in a safe-lock micro test tube, homogenized in 1.5 mL dichloromethane-methanol (8:2) and mixed in a mixer mill (MM400, Retsch technology). The final biphasic system was separated by centrifugation (8 min, 10,000 rpm). The extraction was repeated three times. Solvent was evaporated under nitrogen stream and lipid content was gravimetrically determined. Results from 64 determinations were compared to those obtained with other referred method and showed a linear response over the whole range of IMF content (1.6-6.9 g/100 g sample). Moreover, the analysis with different methodology of six replica from the same sample showed lowest variability (standard deviation intra-method) for the new methodology proposed over a wide range of IMF content. A cost and time efficient lipid extraction procedure was developed without loss of precision and accuracy and with a fatty acid profile comparable to other protocols.

Short- and long-term effect of oral administration of micellized natural vitamin E (D-α-tocopherol) on oxidative status in race horses under intense training.

This study tested the effect of micellized vitamin E (D-α-tocopherol; 1,400 IU/d) administered 12 and 1 h orally before training for 1 d (ST-VitE) or 8 d (LT-VitE) compared with an unsupplemented control (CONTROL) on plasma α-tocopherol, thiobarbithuric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), total glutathione (GSHt), and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) in 10 race horses. Different sampling times [immediately before training (BEF) and after intense training (END) or 8 h after recovery (+8h)] were investigated. Plasma α-tocopherol concentration was greater in the ST-VitE group than the CONTROL group at +8h (P < 0.05). Natural vitamin E supplementation increased plasma α-tocopherol (P < 0.001) in the LT-VitE group by approximately 1.6-fold at BEF, END, and +8h. In all groups, TBARS tended to be slightly greater (P = 0.087) immediately after training when compared with values BEF or +8h and the lowest TBARS values were observed at +8h in LT-VitE. Vitamin E supplementation did not affect the GSHt concentrations at BEF, END, or +8h. The TEAC values were modified by the vitamin E administration (P = 0.010). The greatest TEAC was found in the LT-VitE group at all sampling times and similar concentrations were reached in the ST-VitE group at +8h. The CONTROL group was not able to maintain TEAC after training (P < 0.001), indicating consumption of antioxidants (mainly vitamin E) and consequently oxidative stress because of the antioxidant system being overwhelmed by a reduced antioxidant supply. In conclusion, micellized natural vitamin E at 1,400 IU/d for 8 d efficiently increased plasma α-tocopherol concentration of race horses undergoing intense training conditions and maintained the general oxidative status.

The effect of granulated barley as single major ingredient in the growing or finishing diet on productive performance, carcass, meat and fat quality of heavy pigs.

A total of 48 Duroc × (Large White × Landrace) gilts of 46.8 kg BW (86 ± 3 days of age) were used to investigate the effect of diet during the growing and finishing periods on growth performance and carcass, meat and fat quality. The control diet consisted of a commercial feedstuff and the granulated barley diet had that cereal as the single major ingredient. There were three treatments: (i) control diet provided from 45.6 to 127.8 kg BW (C group), (ii) control diet from 47.0 to 91.8 kg BW and granulated barley from 91.8 to 129.7 kg BW (C + GB group) and (iii) granulated barley from 47.9 to 93.1 kg BW and control diet from 93.1 to 135.1 kg BW (GB + C group). Each treatment was replicated eight times, with two pigs per replicate. The C group grew faster (P < 0.001) and had a better feed conversion ratio (P < 0.001) than the GB + C group, with C + GB being intermediate. Carcasses from C + GB gilts had higher backfat depth than those from C gilts, with GB + C being intermediate (P < 0.05). Also, the main joints (ham + shoulder + loin) had a higher (P < 0.01) yield in carcass in the GB + C group than in the C group, with C + GB being intermediate. The intramuscular fat (IMF) content was higher (P < 0.001) in loin from C + GB and GB + C gilts than in C gilts. The IMF of loin from C + GB gilts had higher (P < 0.05) C18:1n-9 and total monounsaturated fatty acid (FA) proportions than that from C gilts, whereas the C18:2n-6 and total polyunsaturated FA percentages were lower (P < 0.05) in C + GB gilts than in the remaining gilts. The total saturated FA percentage was lower (P < 0.05) in loin from GB + C than in that from C gilts. Hams from C + GB and GB + C gilts had higher (P < 0.05) C18:1n-9 and total monounsaturated FA proportions and lower C18:2n-6 and total polyunsaturated FA contents than those from C gilts. We can conclude that granulated barley provided during the growing or the finishing period improved some carcass and meat characteristics of heavy gilts desirable for dry-cured ham production.