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A P Schinckel

Publications and source records attributed to A P Schinckel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Evaluation of the effects of dietary fat, conjugated linoleic acid, and ractopamine on growth performance, pork quality, and fatty acid profiles in genetically lean gilts.

An 8-wk study of the effects of CLA, rendered animal fats, and ractopamine, and their interactive effects on growth, fatty acid composition, and carcass quality of genetically lean pigs was conducted. Gilts (n = 228; initial BW of 59.1 kg) were assigned to a 2 x 2 x 3 factorial arrangement consisting of CLA, ractopamine, and fat treatments. The CLA treatment consisted of 1% CLA oil (CLA-60) or 1% soybean oil. Ractopamine levels were either 0 or 10 ppm. Fat treatments consisted of 0% added fat, 5% choice white grease (CWG), or 5% beef tallow (BT). The CLA and fat treatments were initiated at 59.1 kg of BW, 4 wk before the ractopamine treatments. The ractopamine treatments were imposed when the gilts reached a BW of 85.7 kg and lasted for the duration of the final 4 wk until carcass data were collected. Lipids from the belly, outer and inner layers of backfat, and LM were extracted and analyzed for fatty acid composition from 6 pigs per treatment at wk 4 and 8. Feeding CLA increased (P < 0.02) G:F during the final 4 wk. Pigs fed added fat as either CWG or BT exhibited decreased (P < 0.05) ADFI and increased (P < 0.01) G:F. Adding ractopamine to the diet increased (P < 0.01) ADG, G:F, and final BW. The predicted carcass lean percentage was increased (P < 0.05) in pigs fed CLA or ractopamine. Feeding either 5% fat or ractopamine increased (P < 0.05) carcass weight. Adding fat to the diets increased (P < 0.05) the 10th rib backfat depth but did not affect predicted percent lean. Bellies of gilts fed CLA were subjectively and objectively firmer (P < 0.01). Dietary CLA increased (P < 0.01) the concentration of saturated fatty acids and decreased (P < 0.01) the concentration of unsaturated fatty acids of the belly fat, both layers of backfat, and LM. Ractopamine decreased (P < 0.01) the i.m. fat content of the LM but had relatively little effect on the fatty acid profiles of the tissues compared with CLA. These results indicate that CLA, added fat, and ractopamine work mainly in an additive fashion to enhance pig growth and carcass quality. Furthermore, these results indicate that CLA results in more saturated fat throughout the carcass.

Adipose Tissue↗

Evaluation of alternative nonlinear mixed effects models of duck growth.

Two nonlinear growth functions were evaluated on 6 groups of 32 ducks. Ducks were randomly assigned to 1 of 6 dietary treatments and weighed weekly from 1 to 43 d of age. The Weibull function had the form: BW(it) = A - (A - B) exp - [(C - 1)/C] (t/IP)**C, where BW(it) is the BW of the ith duck at age t in days and A, B, C, and IP are fixed parameters. The variable A represents mature BW and the variable IP is the age (inflection point) at which maximum average daily gain is achieved. The addition of a single random effect to the Weibull growth function (ip), in which the age to reach the BW at the overall population inflection point of each duck varies, provided a substantially better fit than any other alternative fixed or mixed models. Overall, the Weibull function under-predicted the d-1 BW (46.7 vs. 55.1 g, P < 0.05) and over-predicted the d-8 BW (233.6 vs. 211.7 g, P < 0.05). The predicted BW from d 15 to 43 was very close to the actual mean BW at each age. This model predicts that the between-duck variance in BW increases with age and that the CV increases from 1 to 8 d of age, reaches a plateau from 15 to 22 d of age, and then slowly declines. This mixed effects model predicts the mean age and approximate variation in age that ducks require to reach a specific BW, and is easily adaptable to stochastic modeling.

Aging↗

Ractopamine treatment biases in the prediction of pork carcass composition.

Carcass and live measurements of 45 barrows were used to evaluate the magnitude of ractopamine (RAC) treatment prediction biases for measures of carcass composition. Barrows (body weight = 69.6 kg) were allotted by weight to three dietary treatments and fed to an average body weight of 114 kg. Treatments were: 1) 16% crude protein, 0.82% lysine control diet (CON); 2) control diet + 20 ppm RAC (RAC16); 3) a phase feeding sequence with 20 ppm RAC (RAC-P) consisting of 18% crude protein (1.08% lysine) during wk 1 and 4, 20% crude protein (1.22% lysine) during wk 2 and 3, 16% crude protein (0.94% lysine) during wk 6, and 16% crude protein (0.82% lysine) during wk 6. The four lean cuts from the right side of the carcasses (n = 15/treatment) were dissected into lean and fat tissue. The other cut soft tissue was collected from the jowl, ribs, and belly. Proximate analyses were completed on these three tissue pools and a sample of fat tissue from the other cut soft tissue. Prediction equations were developed for each of five measures of carcass composition: fat-free lean, lipid-free soft tissue, dissected lean in the four lean cuts, total carcass fat tissue, and soft-tissue lipid mass. Ractopamine treatment biases were found for equations in which midline backfat, ribbed carcass, and live ultrasonic measures were used as single technology sets of measurements. Prediction equations from live or carcass measurements underpredicted the lean mass of the RAC-P pigs and underpredicted the lean mass of the CON pigs. Only 20 to 50% of the true difference in fat-free lean mass or lipid-free soft-tissue mass between the control pigs and pigs fed RAC was predicted from equations including standard carcass measurements. The soft-tissue lipid and total carcass fat mass of RAC-P pigs was overpredicted from the carcass and live ultrasound measurements. Prediction equations including standard carcass measurements with dissected ham lean alone or with dissected loin lean reduced the residual standard deviation and magnitude of biases for the three measures of carcass leanmass. Prediction equations including the percentage of lipid of the other cut soft tissue improved residual standard deviation and reduced the magnitude of biases for total carcass fat mass and soft-tissue lipid. Prediction equations for easily obtained carcass or live ultrasound measures will only partially predict the true effect of RAC to increase carcass leanness. Accurate prediction of the carcass composition of RAC-fed pigs requires some partial dissection, chemical analysis, or alternative technologies.

Adipose Tissue↗

The effects of ractopamine on the behavior and physiology of finishing pigs.

The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of ractopamine (RAC) on the behavior and physiology of pigs during handling and transport. Twenty-four groups of three gilts were randomly assigned to one of two treatments 4 wk before slaughter: finishing feed plus RAC (10 ppm) or finishing feed alone. Pigs were housed in the same building in adjacent pens with fully slatted floors and ad libitum access to feed and water. Behavioral time budgets were determined in six pens per treatment over a single 24-h period during each week. Behavioral responses of these pigs to routine handling and weighing were determined at the start of the trial and at the end of each week. Heart-rate responses to unfamiliar human presence were measured in all pigs and blood samples were taken from a single pig in each pen on different days during wk 4. At the end of wk 4, all pigs were transported for 22 min to processing. Heart rate was recorded from at least one pig per pen during transport and a postmortem blood sample was taken from those pigs that were previously sampled. During wk 1 and 2, RAC pigs spent more time active (P < 0.05), more time alert (P < 0.05), and less time lying in lateral recumbency (P < 0.05). They also spent more time at the feeder in wk 1 (P < 0.05). At the start of the trial, there were no differences in behavioral responses to handling. However, over each of the next 4 wk, fewer RAC pigs exited the home pen voluntarily, they took longer to remove from the home pen, longer to handle into the weighing scale and needed more pats, slaps, and pushes from the handler to enter the scales. At the end of wk 4, RAC pigs had higher heart rates in the presence of an unfamiliar human (P < 0.05) and during transport (P < 0.05), but not during loading and unloading. Also at the end of wk 4, RAC pigs had higher circulating catecholamine concentrations (P < 0.05) than control pigs. Circulating cortisol concentrations and cortisol responses to transport did not differ between treatments. The results show that ractopamine affected behavior, heart rate, and catecholamine profile of finishing pigs and made them more difficult to handle and potentially more susceptible to handling and transport stress.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

Development of a model to describe the compositional growth and dietary lysine requirements of pigs fed ractopamine.

The objective of this research was to use recent ractopamine research data to develop an updated mathematical model to describe the daily compositional growth of pigs fed ractopamine. Mean increases of 18.2, 23.1, and 25.0% for daily protein accretion were assumed for 5, 10, and 20 ppm of ractopamine for an overall gain of 40 kg of BW gain during the feeding period. The relative effect of ractopamine described the rapid increase and subsequent decrease in the effect of ractopamine as a function of BW gain or days on test and ractopamine concentration (RC, ppm). The reduction in ME intake produced by ractopamine was described as 0.036 x (RC/20)(0.7) multiplied by the ME intake for the first 20 kg of BW gain, and then increasing to 0.078 x (RC/20)(0.7) at 40 kg of BW gain feeding period. The ratio of fat-free muscle gain to protein accretion increased by 14 to 16% with the feeding of ractopamine, depending on the dietary lysine/essential AA levels. The ratio of carcass fat gain to empty body lipid gain was increased when lysine and essential AA requirements were met. Daily protein accretion and fat-free lean growth were described as functions of dietary lysine/essential AA intakes. The percentage of lysine in protein accretion increased with the feeding of ractopamine from 6.80 to 7.15%, depending on ractopamine concentration. Equations predicting carcass measurements, such as fat and longissimus muscle depths from carcass weight and composition, were modified to incorporate prediction biases produced by ractopamine. For the four concentrations of ractopamine (0, 5, 10, and 20 ppm, respectively) during a 78 to 110 kg of BW feeding period, the model predicted performance levels for ADG (1.03, 1.15, 1.16, and 1.16 kg/d), gain:feed (kg of ADG/kg of ADFI; 0.360, 0.401, 0.412, and 0.425), dressing percentage (75.1, 76.0, 76.3, and 76.4), percentage fat-free lean (48.7, 51.0, 51.5, and 52.2), longissimus muscle area (38.8,41.8,42.5, and 43.5 cm2), 10th-rib fat depth (22.1, 19.8, 19.3, and 18.7 mm), and fat-free lean gain (321, 446, 467, and 495 g/d), comparable to recent research data. The model allows the effect of ractopamine to be added to farm specific pig growth curves. It can be used to evaluate ways to optimize the use of ractopamine, including duration of ractopamine feeding, concentration of ractopamine, and dietary lysine concentration.

Adipose Tissue↗

The growth performance of the progeny of two swine sire lines reared under different floor space allowances.

A total of 736 pigs was used in a study with a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement to investigate the effects of and interactions between sire line (Line A vs. B), floor space (unrestricted vs. restricted), and gender (barrow vs. gilt) on growth performance, BW, and protein and estimated lipid accretion curves from 40 to 120 kg of BW. Pigs were by eight Line-A and nine Line-B sires mated with PIC C22 dams. Line A was of Pietrain ancestry and Line B was a synthetic line. The unrestricted floor space treatment consisted of small groups (four pigs) with 0.93 m2/pig of floor space for the entire grow-finish period. Pigs in the restricted floor space were in larger groups (12 pigs) with 0.37 and 0.56 m2/pig of floor space for the grower and finisher phases, respectively. Pigs were given ad libitum access to a three-phase dietary program, and one and three nipple waterers were available in the groups of 4 and 12 pigs, respectively. No sire line x floor space interactions were found for any of the traits measured. Line A pigs grew more slowly (50 g/d, P < 0.05), took longer (4.1 d, P < 0.05) to reach harvest weight (120.3 kg), and had similar feed intakes, but a lower gain:feed ratio (2.8%, P < 0.05) than Line B pigs. Line A pigs had greater longissimus muscle depth (P < 0.05) and estimated protein accretion rate (P < 0.05) than Line B pigs, but Line A and Line B pigs had a similar estimated percentage of lipid-free soft tissue. Pigs reared in the restricted floor space grew more slowly (105 g/d, P < 0.05) and consumed less feed (280 g/d, P < 0.05) but had a similar (P > 0.05) gain:feed ratio to pigs reared in the unrestricted floor space. Pigs reared in the unrestricted floor space had greater (P < 0.05) predicted protein and lipid accretion rates throughout the growth period than pigs reared in the restricted floor space. Differences between genders for growth traits and carcass measurements were in agreement with previous research. The differences in growth performance, carcass measures, and compositional growth curves between these two sire lines were similar in the two floor spaces.

Adipose Tissue↗

Impact of betaine on pig finishing performance and carcass composition.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of betaine supplementation of finishing diets on growth performance and carcass characteristics of swine. Experiment 1 included 288 pigs in a 2 x 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments consisting of barrows and gilts of two genetic populations fed diets with 1.25 g/kg supplemental betaine from either 83 or 104 kg to 116 kg and control pigs fed betaine-devoid diets. Pigs were housed three pigs per pen with eight replicate pens per treatment. Diets were corn-soybean meal-based with 300 ppm added choline. Genetic populations differed (P < 0.05) in fat depth (2.24 vs 2.93 cm) and longissimus muscle depth (53.8 vs 49.1 mm) at 116 kg. Betaine reduced feed intake (P < 0.05); however, real-time ultrasound measurements were not affected. In Exp. 2, 400 pigs were used in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to evaluate the effect of sex (barrow or gilts), betaine (0 or 1 g/kg of diet), and crude protein (CP) (0.70% lysine = 12.7% CP or 0.85% lysine = 15.0% CP) when fed from 60 to 110 kg live weight. Pigs had been assigned to either a high- or low-protein feeding regimen at an average initial weight of 11.3 kg and were maintained on their respective protein levels throughout the experiment. For a 56-d period from 61.7 kg to 113.6 kg, pigs were fed diets with 300 ppm added choline. Within each protein level, pigs were randomly assigned to diets containing 0 or 1 g/kg betaine. Pigs were group-housed (four to five pigs per pen). Pig weight and feed intake were recorded every 28 d. Real-time ultrasound measurements were recorded initially and at d 28 on 64 pigs, and on all pigs prior to slaughter. Growth rate was fastest and feed intake greatest for barrows (P < 0.05) and for pigs receiving 12.7% crude protein. A crude protein x betaine interaction (P < 0.05) was observed from d 28 to 56 with pigs fed the 15% CP diet growing fastest when supplemented with 1 g/kg betaine, and pigs receiving the 12.7% CP diet growing fastest when the diets contained 0 g/kg betaine. Gilts more efficiently (P < 0.05) converted feed into body weight gain, as did pigs receiving the 12.7% CP diet (P < 0.05). Longissimus muscle area and fat measurements were unaffected by betaine or dietary protein on d 28. However, by d 56 betaine reduced average fat depth in barrows (P < 0.05; 3.21 vs 3.40 cm), but not in gilts. Betaine may be more effective at altering body composition in barrows than in gilts.

Adipose Tissue↗

Two on-farm data collection methods to determine dynamics of swine compositional growth and estimates of dietary lysine requirements.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the use of two real-time ultrasound data-collection methods to develop a dynamic assessment of live weight growth, protein and lipid accretions, and lysine requirement curves on two commercial swine operations. For the first method, pigs (40 barrows and 40 gilts) were weighed (ranging from 18 to 121 kg) and scanned ultrasonically to collect backfat depth and longissimus muscle area measurements every 3 wk in the finishing facility on two farms (serial method). For the second method, pigs (200 gilts and 200 barrows) of similar corresponding ages on the same two farms were weighed and scanned on 1 d (mass scan) at three different times (February, April, and May). Thirty-two pigs/sex were measured at approximately the same ages as with the serial scans. Pigs on farm 1 grew faster and had smaller backfat depths and larger longissimus muscle areas (P < 0.01) than those on farm 2, irrespective of method. These measurements were used to predict empty-body protein and lipid contents using nonlinear functions, which then were converted to accretion rates and lysine requirements at each BW. Protein accretion (g/d) and daily lysine requirements increased and then decreased for each sex on each farm and were higher on farm 1 than on farm 2. Data from the individual mass scans had larger standard errors for modeled live weight growth than data from the serial scans. Combining data from the three mass scans yielded growth curves with standard errors similar to those for the curves from the serial scans. For the protein accretion curves, the standard errors of the combined mass scans were approximately 20% lower than the standard errors of the serial scans. The standard errors for the modeled lysine:calorie ratio requirement from the serial scans were approximately 1% of the requirement at each BW. These results indicated that either the serial or mass scan data-collection method is a practical means of determining on-farm growth and daily protein and lipid accretion rates, which can be used to determine the farm-specific lysine requirements of growing-finishing pigs.

Adipose Tissue↗

Evaluation of conjugated linoleic acid and dietary antibiotics as growth promotants in weanling pigs.

An experiment was conducted to determine the efficacy of dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) as a growth promotant in weanling swine. Weanling pigs (n = 192; 7.6 kg and 29 d of age) were randomly assigned to four treatments that were arranged as a 2 x 2 factorial. Concentrations of dietary CLA (0 or 0.6%) and antibiotics (+/-) constituted the main effect variables. Dietary CLA treatments consisted of a 1% addition of an oil containing 60% CLA isomers or 1% soybean oil, and dietary antibiotic treatments were antibiotics or no antibiotics. The experimental diets were fed for 9 wk in four phases (1, wk 1; 2, wk 2 and 3; 3, wk 4 through 6; and 4, wk 7 through 9), after which all pigs were fed identical medicated diets for the duration of the finishing phase. Live weights were recorded at wk 17 postweaning and at marketing to determine any residual effects of dietary treatments on finisher ADG and days to market. Medicated diets fed during phases 1 and 2 contained 55 mg carbadox/kg; during phase 3 contained 299 mg tilmicosin/kg; and during phase 4 contained 110 mg tylosin and 110 mg sulfamethazine/kg. Pigs fed medicated diets had higher overall ADG than pigs fed unmedicated diets for wk 0 through 9 (P < 0.03). Gain:feed (G:F) was greater for pigs fed medicated diets than for pigs fed unmedicated diets during phase 1 (P < 0.03) and for the duration of the nursery phase (P < 0.03). There were no effects of CLA on ADG, ADFI, or G:F. There were no residual effects of nursery CLA or antibiotics on finisher ADG and days to market. Blood samples collected from a subset of pigs (n = 72) at the completion of phases 2, 3, and 4 were assayed for serum IGF-I and antibody concentrations to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. There was a tendency for pigs fed medicated diets to have greater IGF-I concentrations than pigs fed unmedicated diets at the completion of phase 4 (P < 0.06). Pigs fed CLA had greater antibody titers (P < 0.02) to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae at d 63 than pigs fed diets without CLA. These results indicate that feeding 0.6% dietary CLA did not enhance growth performance in weanling swine and that the use of dietary antibiotics can increase production efficiency in nursery pigs. Furthermore, there were no interactions between CLA and dietary antibiotics on the variables addressed in this study.

Animal Feed↗

Effects of conjugated linoleic acid on the belly firmness and fatty acid composition of genetically lean pigs.

A study of the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on the belly firmness and fatty acid composition of genetically lean pigs was conducted. From 75 to 120 kg live weight, 30 gilts were allowed ad libitum access to a corn-soybean meal diet supplemented with either 1% CLA oil (CLA-60) or 1% sunflower oil (SFO) or were fed the sunflower oil-supplemented diet restricted to the amount consumed by pigs fed the CLA-60 diet (RSFO). Conjugated linoleic acid oil consists of 60% positional and geometric isomers of CLA. Pigs fed SFO exhibited higher average daily gains (0.98 vs 0.80 kg/d, P < 0.01) than RSFO-fed pigs, but there were no effects of dietary treatment on feed intake or feed efficiency. Dietary treatment did not affect (P > 0.05) backfat thickness or longissimus muscle area. Bellies of gilts fed CLA-60 were subjectively evaluated to be firmer (2.91 vs 2.43 or 2.07 +/- 0.13, P < 0.01) than those of SFO- or RSFO-fed gilts, respectively. The longissimus muscle of gilts fed CLA-60 contained more saturated fatty acids (39.77 vs. 36.04 or 36.73 +/- 0.74%, P < 0.001) and less unsaturated fatty acids (60.23 vs 63.96 or 63.27 +/- 0.74%, P < 0.001) than that of gilts fed SFO or RSFO, respectively. The belly fat of gilts fed CLA-60 contained more saturated fatty acids (44.45 vs. 37.50 or 36.60 +/- 0.46%, P < 0.001) and less unsaturated fatty acids (54.78 vs. 61.75 or 62.47 +/- 0.46%, P < 0.001), resulting in lower iodine values (57.69 vs 66.37 or 65.62 +/- 0.91, P < 0.001) than that of gilts fed SFO or RSFO, respectively. Gilts fed CLA-60 accumulated more CLA in the longissimus muscle (0.55 vs 0.09 or 0.09 +/- 0.03%, P < 0.01) and belly fat (1.56 vs. 0.13 or 0.13 +/- 0.15%, P < 0.001) than did gilts fed SFO or RSFO, respectively. Dietary treatment did not affect (P > 0.05) 24-h pH, drip loss or subjective quality evaluations of the longissimus muscle. The effect of supplemental CLA to improve belly firmness is of practical significance and may provide a nutritional solution to carcass fat and belly firmness problems, thereby enhancing the overall value of extremely lean carcasses.

Adipose Tissue↗

Evaluation of alternative measures of pork carcass composition.

Carcass and live measurements of 203 pigs representing seven genetic populations and four target live weights (100, 114, 128, and 152 kg) were used to evaluate alternative measures of carcass composition. Measures of carcass lean (fat tissue-free lean, FFLM; lipid-free soft tissue, LFSTIS; and dissected lean in the four lean cuts, DL), fat (total carcass fat tissue, TOFAT), and lipid mass (soft tissue lipid, STLIP) were evaluated. Overall, LFSTIS was 22.8% greater than FFLM (47.8 vs 38.9 kg) and TOFAT was 30% greater than STLIP (38.5 vs 29.6 kg). The allometric growth coefficients relative to carcass weight were different for the measures: b = 0.776, 0.828, 0.794, 1.37, and 1.49 for FFLM, LFSTIS, DL, TOFAT, and STLIP, respectively. At 90 kg carcass weight, the predicted growth of FFLM, LFSTIS, TOFAT, and STLIP was 0.314, 0.420, 0.553, and 0.446 kg/kg increase in carcass weight. The difference between FFLM and LFSTIS, representing nonlipid components of the carcass fat tissue, was greater for barrows than for gilts (9.2 vs 8.6 kg). Lipid-free soft tissue mass was predicted more accurately from carcass or live animal measurements than FFLM with smaller relative RSD (4.6 vs 6.5% of their mean values). The alternative measures of carcass composition were evaluated as predictors of empty body protein (MTPRO) and lipid (MTLIP) mass. Empty body protein was predicted with similar accuracy (R2 = 0.74 to 0.81) from either DL, FFLM, LFSTIS, or ribbed carcass measurements. Empty body lipid was predicted more accurately from TOFAT (R2 = 0.92) or STLIP (R2 = 0.93) than ribbed carcass measurements (R2 = 0.88). Although the alternative measures of lean mass (LFSTIS vs FFLM) and lipid mass (TOFAT vs STLIP) were highly related to each other (r = 0.93 to 0.98), they had different relative growth rates (allometric coefficients) and thus cannot be predicted as linear functions of the similar alternative variable without significant weight group biases. From the 100- to 152-kg target weight groups, gilts gained 12.9% greater FFLM and 12.1% greater MTPRO but only 4.4% greater LFSTIS than barrows. Fat-free lean mass is more precise as a measure of muscle growth and as a predictor of lysine requirements. Lipid-free soft tissue can be obtained more quickly and predicted more accurately from carcass or live animal measurements.

Animals↗

Physiological response to acute endotoxemia in swine: effect of genotype on energy metabolites and leptin.

Certain high lean gain swine genotypes have greater sensitivity to pathogen and nonpathogen stressors evident by reduced productivity and increased mortality during disease stress or in suboptimal production environments. Saline (control) and an immunologic challenge (LPS; 25 microg lipopolysaccharide/kg BW) were administered to three genetic populations (each pig used as its own control): high lean (H), moderate lean terminal cross (MT), and moderate lean maternal cross (MM). LPS induced anorexia, and significantly increased body temperature and circulating TNF-alpha, cortisol, and NEFA in all genotypes (P < 0.0004). LPS reduced circulating glucose, insulin, and IGF-1 in all genotypes (P < 0.05). The LPS-induced hypoglycemia was significantly greater in MM versus MT and H pigs (P < 0.03). The hypoinsulinemia was significantly greater in MM versus H pigs (P < 0.02). MM pigs recovered from hypoinsulinemia slower than MT pigs (P < 0.03). Control insulin was higher in H versus MT pigs (P < 0.08), but relative to basal, the insulin response to LPS was similar. Plasma haptoglobin response to LPS was lower for MM versus MT and H pigs (P < 0.02), and tended to be lower in MT versus H pigs (P < 0.09). LPS treatment caused similar decreases in plasma IGF-1 concentrations among genotypes. Ten hours after LPS treatment, leptin mRNA abundance in adipose tissue was significantly reduced (relative to control) in MM and H pigs (P < 0.02) but not in MT pigs (P > 0.05). Physiological differences in leptin, a potent regulator of food intake and energy metabolism, may be important factors in the genetic variation in sensitivity to environmental stress.

Adipose Tissue↗

Expression of porcine transcription factors and genes related to fatty acid metabolism in different tissues and genetic populations.

Several transcription factors are involved in regulating lipid metabolism in various tissues of animals. Adipocyte determination and differentiation-dependent factor 1 (ADD1), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPAR alpha), and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) regulate both lipogenesis and fatty acid oxidation. We determined the tissue distribution and genetic difference in mRNA concentrations of these transcription factors in two genetic populations of pigs (Newsham XL-sired Newsham Landrace x Large White Duroc and Duroc-sired US Yorkshire x Duroc-Landrace). We also determined the tissue distribution and genetic difference in the mRNA concentration of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO). Our data showed that ADD1 was highly expressed in adipose tissue and liver and that mRNA concentrations of ADD1 were similar between the two genotypes. The PPAR alpha mRNA concentration was high in adipose tissue and was similar between the two genotypes. In both populations, PPAR gamma mRNA was detected only in adipose tissue. There was no difference between the two genotypes in PPAR gamma mRNA concentration. The ACO mRNA was expressed in adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and liver with no difference between genotypes. The FAS mRNA concentration in adipose tissue was seven times higher than that in the liver. There was no detectable FAS mRNA in skeletal muscle. These data support the concept that pig adipose tissue has considerable capability for fatty acid oxidation and synthesis. The uniqueness of expression patterns for FAS and ADD1 mRNA further indicates that adipose tissue is significantly involved in fatty acid and triacylglycerol synthesis in pigs.

Acyl-CoA Oxidase↗

Analysis of body composition changes of swine during growth and development.

This study was conducted to model the growth of carcass, viscera, and empty body components and component composition of pigs. Quantitative tissue and chemical composition of 319 swine, representative of barrows and gilts from five commercial genetic populations, was determined at eight stages of growth between 25 and 152 kg. After whole body grinding and carcass dissection, proximate analyses were performed to calculate concentrations of protein, lipid, moisture, and ash of carcass, viscera, empty body, carcass lean, and carcass fat. Linear and nonlinear equations were developed to investigate the growth patterns of each component. Nonlinear growth functions accounted for the greatest amount of variation in empty body protein, lipid, moisture, and ash mass. Differences (P < .05) existed between barrows and gilts for nearly all components investigated. Carcass lean and fat tissues significantly increased in lipid percentage and decreased in moisture percentage as live weight increased. There were significant changes in the ratio and composition of the tissues of barrows and gilts during growth. Nonlinear models fitted the data better than allometric equations for nearly all of the components investigated.

Animal Feed↗

Biases associated with genotype and sex in prediction of fat-free lean mass and carcass value in hogs.

Carcass and live measurements of 165 market hogs that represented seven genotypes were used to investigate genotype and sex biases associated with the prediction of fat-free lean mass (FFLM) and carcass value. Carcass value was determined as the sum of the product of weight of individual cuts and their average unit prices adjusted for slaughter and processing costs. Independent variables used in the prediction equations included carcass measurements, such as optical probe, midline ruler, ribbed carcass measurements, and electromagnetic scanning (EMSCAN), and live animal ultrasonic scanning. The effect of including subpopulation mean values of independent variables in the prediction equations for FFLM and carcass value was also investigated. Genotype and sex biases were found in equations in which midline backfat, ribbed carcass, EMSCAN, and live ultrasonic scanning were used as single technology sets of measurements. The prediction equations generally undervalued genotypes with above-average carcass value. Biases were reduced when measurements of combined technologies and mean adjusted variables were used. The FFLM and carcass value of gilts were underestimated, and they were overestimated of barrows. Equations that combined OP and EMSCAN technologies were the most accurate and least biased for both FFLM and carcass value. Equations that included carcass weight and midline last-rib backfat thickness measurements were the least accurate and most biased. Genotype and sex biases must be considered when predicting FFLM and carcass value.

Adipose Tissue↗

Prediction of daily protein accretion rates of pigs from estimates of fat-free lean gain between 20 and 120 kilograms live weight.

The objective of this study was to evaluate a method for predicting daily protein accretion rates of various genotypes of pigs reared in different environmental conditions using easily obtained mean daily fat-free growth rates. Data were obtained for seven genotype-environment groups of gilts and nine groups of barrows. Daily empty body protein accretion rates were estimated at 1.0-kg intervals between 20 and 120 kg live weight. The estimates were fitted to a generalized exponential function, PA = A e(B x WT + C/WT + D x WT2), where WT is kilograms of live weight and A, B, C, and D are estimated parameters for each sex. Nonlinear least squares methods were used to estimate the intercept and regression coefficients expressing each parameter estimate (A, B, C, and D) as a linear function of the mean fat-free lean gain for each sex-genotype-environment group. The mean percentage absolute errors were 3.5% for gilts and 6.1% for barrows. The largest errors occurred between 110 and 120 kg live weight. From 20 to 110 kg, mean percentage errors averaged 2.7% for gilts vs 4.8% for barrows. These results offer encouraging evidence that a generalized equation can be used to predict daily protein accretion rates from mean fat-free lean growth data. Further research, with additional genotype-environment populations, is needed to increase accuracy of the generalized growth functions.

Animal Husbandry↗

Characterization of growth parameters needed as inputs for pig growth models.

Swine growth models have the potential to evaluate alternative management decisions and optimize production systems. However, the lack of economical, yet accurate methods to obtain the growth parameters required to characterize pig genotypes, and which are required by growth models, limits their widespread implementation. The four primary parameters required are 1) daily whole-body protein accretion potential, 2) partitioning of energy, intake over maintenance between protein and lipid accretion, 3) maintenance requirements for energy, and 4) daily feed intake. Estimation of daily protein accretion rates requires that serial estimates of composition and growth be fitted to flexible nonlinear functions. Serial dissection and chemical analysis are too expensive to be routinely conducted on an adequate number of pigs for precise daily protein accretion rates at different live weights. Three alternate methods include 1) serial slaughter and double sampling; 2) use of serial live measurements to estimate composition, i.e., serial ultrasonic measurements; and 3) use of generalized functions that estimate daily protein accretion as a function of mean daily fat-free lean gain over a specified weight interval. The energy partitioning between lipid and protein accretion can be expressed as two interchangeable measurements, either as the slope of protein accretion or the change in the lipid: protein gain ratio as a function of energy intake at each live weight. Both methods require serial estimates of composition and scale feeding of pigs to specified energy intake levels. Maintenance requirements for energy are better expressed as a function of protein mass than body weight. However, differences in body protein mass do not fully explain difference in maintenance requirements between various pig genotypes. Daily feed intakes at each live weight can be estimated by accurately collecting feed intake data at least three live weight ranges and fitting the data to nonlinear functions. An alternative method to estimate daily feed intake is to develop daily lipid and protein accretion curves. On the basis of their energetic costs of lipid and protein deposition and assumed maintenance requirements, daily energy intakes can be estimated. Genetic selection changes the underlying growth parameters. The selection criteria and testing environment direct the relative genetic change for each growth parameter. The different sexes may also be affected differently by selection. For this reason, each closed uniformly selected population must be evaluated for each parameter for each sex.

Animals↗