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PubMed1999

[Moisture, total lipids and fatty acids in raw longissimus muscle from Venezuelan cattle].

Randomly selected groups of slaughter cattle, crossbreds of dairy (n = 14) and zebu (n = 131) types were classified by age (2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 yr., estimated by dentition), and carcass fatness (as described by different criterion, including marbling levels) to study variation in moisture (M), lipid (L), and fatty acid (FA) contents (g/100 g of fresh tissue) of longissimus muscle trimmed to zero fat cover. Overall means +/- standard deviations per 100 g of raw product for M and L were 73.9 +/- 1.36 and 2.9 +/- 1.04, respectively. Analyses of variance by the least squares (LS) method showed age, breed type, marbling, backfat thickness and carcass finish affected (p < 0.05) fatty acid (FA) profiles. The oldest cattle group (4 yr. or older) trended to present a lower intramuscular lipid content (2.72 g/100 g) and showed the highest (2.04) unsaturation (unsaturated/saturated FA) index (p < 0.05). Breed type had little effect on the FA profile. Comparison of LS means showed intramuscular concentrations of myristic and linolenic acids were slightly higher in samples from dairy types (p < 0.05). Carcasses with poor, "patch-like" fat distribution, showed muscles with the highest (0.16) polyunsaturated/saturated FA index (p < 0.05). Unsaturation indexes for trimmed beef samples with the prevailing marbling levels (1.76 for "Traces" to 1.92 for "Devoid") show a clear predominance of unsaturates, relatively larger than that estimated from compositional FA data reported for the same cut in the United States.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

[Association of parameters of crossbreeding effect for traits of growth and meat-production with average band-sharing of RAPD markers in commercial crosses of Duroc, Landrace and large white pigs].

Parameters of crossbreeding effect have been estimated for average daily gain (ADG), dressing percentage (DRP), backfat thickness (BFT), percent of hind legs (HLP), and average band-sharing of RAPD markers, by using individual records of growth and meatproduction and genotypes of RAPD analysis in crosses of Duroc, Landrace and Large White pigs from 1996 through 1998. The results indicate that significant individual and maternal genetic effects exist for all the 4 traits of growth and meat-production (P < 0.05). Effects of individual heterosis and maternal heterosis have also been found to be significant for ADG (P < 0.05), but not significant for DRP, BFT, and HLP (P > 0.05). Maternal genetic effect is positive and the effects of individual heterosis and maternal heterosis are negative for RAPD-marker ABS. Correlation analysis reveals that the total correlation, which includes all parameters at a time, is low and not significant. The partial correlation, however, is more reasonable than total correlation, which consider 1 parameter each time, or 2 in case of heterosis. All 3 partial correlations between ADG and RAPD-marker ABS are significantly greater or smaller than zero (P < 0.05), among which the correlation for individual genetic effect is very significant (P < 0.01). It is therefore concluded that the efficiency of predicting heterosis is low by simply applying total correlation. Alternatively, estimation of parameters of crossbreeding effect for both economic traits and DNA markers provides a way of efficiently predicting heterosis for it dramatically increases the correlation between markers and traits of economical importance. Increasing QTL coverage (percent of markers linked to QTL) will as well contribute to improved accuracy of predicting heterosis. It is also implied from the partial correlations that, while genomic similarity of crosses increases, individual genetic effect would increase, but that of individual heterosis and maternal heterosis would decreases.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

[Mapping quantitative trait loci for fat deposition in carcass in pigs].

One of the major determining factors in the price of market hogs today is backfat depth. Therefore, identification of regions of the genome affecting this trait is necessary. Gene-mapping technologies have provided scientists the necessary reagents to conduct genomewide searches for genes affecting any phenotype determined in part by the genetic makeup of the animal. Over the past few years, several experimental crosses have been used to detect quantitative triat loci (QTL) for fatness and meat quality traits in pigs. In an intercross between Large White and Meishan pigs, 81 F2 progenies in 1998 were slaughtered and phenotyped for fat deposite traits. F2 animals, their parents, and their grandparents were typed for molecular markers covering chromosomes (SSC) 1,2,3,4,6 and 7, since previous studies had revealed QTL affecting fatness traits on these chromosomes. Linear model and least square analyses were used for mapping these traits. Furthermore, a QTL accounting for imprinting effects was used. A total of 14 QTL at chromosome-wide level were detected on SSC1, 3-4, 6 and 7 for 12 fatness traits. There were evidences for imprinting effects on SSC7 for four traits at 60 cM and nearby. There were QTL for average backfat thickness (BFT) on SSC1, 4 and 7. Among them, BFT QTL on SSC1 and 7 may be the common locus for Sus scrofa. QTL for internal fat percentage was on SSC7 and QTL for average sidefat on SSC6.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2002

A study of associations of the H-FABP genotypes with fat and meat production of pigs.

Although the content of intramuscular fat (IMF) influences significantly meat quality, it can be estimated only after the slaughter of animals. Variants of the H-FABP gene were suggested as candidate genes influencing the variability of IMF. The effect of H-FABP - HinfI polymorphism on the content of IMF, backfat thickness, the weight and percentages of major meat parts and of the leg in carcass weight was studied in a group of 97 pigs (46 gilts and 51 barrows) of Large White and Landrace breeds using the test of fattening capacity and carcass value. In the set of experimental animals, the frequencies of genes were H = 0.75 +/- 0.03 and h = 0.25 +/- 0.03. Biometric analyses did not corroborate differences among different H-FABP - HinfI genotypes and all the traits under study. Only in genotypes HH and Hh the differences between least-square means of phenotypic IMF values under study were close to the limit of significance (P = 0.06).

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Heritability estimates for carcass traits of cattle: a review.

We present estimates of heritability for carcass traits of cattle published in the scientific literature. Seventy-two papers published from 1962 to 2004, which reported estimates of heritability for carcass traits, were reviewed. The unweighted means of estimates of heritability for 14 carcass traits by slaughter end point (age, weight, and fat depth) were calculated. Among the three end points, carcass weight, backfat thickness, longissimus muscle area, and marbling score were the carcass traits with the most estimates of heritability (56 <or= n<or=66). The averages for these traits indicate that they are similarly and moderately heritable (0.40, 0.36, 0.40, and 0.37, respectively). However, heritability estimates for most traits varied greatly, which could be due to differences in breed groups, methods of estimation, effects in the model, number of records, measurement errors, sex, and management. Few studies have compared heritability estimates for carcass traits adjusted to different end points. Results from such studies have been inconsistent, although some studies revealed that heritability estimates for several carcass traits are sensitive to the covariate included in the model for the end point, implying that direct response to selection would be different for some traits depending on slaughter end point. The effect of different end points on estimates of heritability for many carcass traits has not been studied.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

[Using VCE4.0 package to estimate genetic parameters on growth traits in Landrace].

It is an accurate and quick methods to apply VCE4.0 to estimating genetic parameter. It makes full use of all information, analyzing selection and culling effects. The Genetic parameters for the age to 30kg(AGE30), age to 100kg (AGE100), and average daily gain from 30kg to 100kg (ADG) and backfat thickness at 100kg(probed,FAT) are estimated using VCE4.0 applied to REML with a multivariate individual animal model in Landrace pigs. Estimates of heritabilities for AGE30, AGE100,ADG and FAT are 0.207,0.396,0.304 and 0.493, respectively. Genetic correlations for FAT/ADG, FAT/AGE100, ADG/AGE100, ADG /AGE30 and AGE30/AGE100 are -0.343,0.180,-0.941,-0.48,and 0.745, respectively, its phenotypic correlations are -0.139,0.138,-0.82,-0.026, and 0.565, respectively. The common litter environment effects for AGE30,AGE100, ADG and FAT are 0.194,0.156,0.157 and 0.043, respectively.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

[Studies on carcass and meat quality performance of crossbred pigs with graded proportions of Laiwu Black genes].

Sixty pigs, including pure Laiwu Black (LL), pure Large Yorkshire (YY), 1/2 Laiwu (Ymale x Lfemale), 3/4 Laiwu (Lmale x YLfemale) and 1/4 Laiwu (Ymale x YLfemale), were housed in groups with the same diet until 90 kg for slaughter. The objectives were to investigate the effects of graded proportions of Laiwu Black genes on carcass and meat quality performance. Results indicated that different consanguinity had significant effect on carcass weight, carcass length (CL), ham percentage (HP) and backfat thickness (BT) (P<0.05), and had highly significant effect on eye muscle area (EMA) and lean percentage (LP) (P<0.01). Furthermore, CL, HP, EMA and LP tended to increased gradually, but BT tended to decreased gradually as Laiwu Black genes decreased. For meat quality properties, different consanguinity had significant effect on meat color, marbling score, dry matter and crude protein content of muscles (P<0.05), and had highly significant effect on water loss, drip loss and intramuscular fat content of muscles (P<0.01). Compared with the muscle of Large Yorkshire, that of Laiwu Black and its crossbred pigs were bright red in meat color, high in water holding capacity and abundant in intramuscular fat. Results implied that to give attention to both quantity and quality, Laiwu Black surely has usable precious value in superior pig production. Commercial crossbred pigs should have about 1/4 of Laiwu Black genes.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

[Effect of population size of performance test on short-term selection result of sire line].

The effects of the population size,boar to sow ratio,and the number of pigs tested per litter on the selection response and its coefficient of variation, inbreeding coefficient of sire line selection were studied. Pig populations of 100 to 500 sows were simulated with Monte Carlo method,and the ratios of boar to sow were 1:10 and 1:20. The number of pigs tested per litter were 2 and 4 composed equally of boars and gilts. The traits selected were average daily gain after weaning (ADG) and backfat thickness (BF) at 100 kg live weight. Breeding pigs were selected according to multiple-trait BLUP,and economic weight of BF was set as 2.5 times of that of ADG. After five generation selection, the results showed that the more the number of sows of the breeding population, the higher the cumulative selection response at 5th generation, and the slower the coefficient of inbreeding increment per generation, the smaller the coefficient of variation of the cumulative selection response at 5th generation. Increasing the number of pigs tested per litter and/or the boar to sow ratio increased the cumulative selection response at 5th generation, inbreeding coefficient increment per generation, and the coefficient of variation of the cumulative selection response at 5th generation. The cumulative selection response got higher and the increment of inbreeding coefficient slowed down significantly when the number of sows in the breeding population increased from 100 to 300,and the ratio of boar to sow and the number of pigs tested per litter were fixed. When the sow number of breeding population was increased from 300 to 400 above,the cumulative selection response only increased slightly,and the coefficient of inbreeding continued to decrease but at a diminished rate. In conclusion, for the short-term selection of sire line, it is recommended that the breeding population should be composed of 400 or above sows, 4 pigs tested per litter,and the ratio of boar to sow should be maintained at 1:20.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2006

Effects of dietary supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on some reproductive characteristics in gilts.

The main objective of this study was to determine the effects of dietary supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on ovulation rate and litter size at day 27 post-mating in gilts. Estrous cycles were synchronized in crossbred gilts (n=48) using a progestin (Matrix; Intervet America Inc., Millsboro, DE, USA), fed at a rate of 15 mg/day for 18 days. Following progestin withdrawal, gilts were checked for estrus twice daily and mated by artificial insemination. At 27 days post-mating, gilts were killed and reproductive tracts collected and examined. Beginning 17 days before the initiation of progestin therapy and continuing until slaughter, gilts were fed 2.27 kg of a basal diet (n=24) or the basal diet supplemented with 1% Fertilium (JBS United, Inc., Sheridan, IN) (n=24), a source of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. All gilts in the treatment and control groups were pregnant as evidenced after examination of dissected reproductive tracts at approximately 27 days post-mating. Ovulation rate (17.5 vs. 17.9; SEM=0.5; p=0.61), number of embryos (14.5 vs. 14.3; SEM=0.6; p=0.77), embryo weight (1.11 vs. 1.14 g; SEM=0.02; p=0.45), and crown-rump length (26.4 vs. 26.9 mm; SEM=0.27; p=0.28), were similar for control and Fertilium-fed gilts, respectively. Backfat thickness at day 27 post-mating was greater (p<0.01) for Fertilium-fed gilts (14.0+/-0.5 mm) compared with controls (12.3+/-0.5 mm). The present treatment with Fertilium for the period of approximately 61 days did not alter ovulation rate and litter size at day 27 post-mating in gilts.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1990

Supplementing salinomycin to diets for growing-finishing pigs.

Feeding experiments with growing-finishing pigs were carried out to study the effect of different dietary salinomycin concentrations upon animal performance. Besides a dietary treatment without antibiotic, three treatments consisted of 20/10 mg/kg, 40/20 mg/kg and 60/30 mg/kg salinomycin (the first and second number refer to the salinomycin content in grower and finisher diet, respectively). Compared to the control group, feeding diets with 20 or 40 mg/kg salinomycin resulted in significantly higher weight gain in the grower period (25-45 kg body weight), while also feed conversion was lower (although not statistically significant). In the finisher period (45-100 kg body weight) salinomycin had no significant effect upon weight gain or feed conversion efficiency, but the 20 and 30 mg/kg treatments yielded the best results. Considering the grower and finisher period together the dietary treatments 40/20 mg/kg and 60/30 mg/kg showed highest growth rate and most favourable feed conversion, although not statistically significant. Carcass characteristics (dressing percentage, carcass length, backfat thickness, percent meat) were not affected by dietary salinomycin supplementation.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Selection of breeds, strains and individual pigs for prolificacy.

Prolificacy, defined as litter size at birth, is currently considered to be the most important component of sow productivity. However, in spite of a spectacular increase in productivity due to management advances, litter size at birth has remained constant for the past 20 years. This situation seems to question the long-term efficiency of the classical methods of genetic improvement such as within-herd selection and crossbreeding between European or American breeds. Some recent developments and research results suggest that one can be optimistic about the possibilities of increasing litter size in the near future. A survey of available breeds world-wide illustrates the important differences in average litter size (5-15 piglets), embryo mortality (15-40%) and heterosis (ranging from 5 to over 30%) on litter size. In particular the high prolificacy of some Chinese breeds can be used to speed up gentic progress in improving litter size either through systematic 3-way (3-4 additional piglets per litter in the F1 compared with European breeds) or 4-way crosses with Western breeds, or by developing composite lines selected for heritable traits such as growth rate and backfat thickness. The efficiency of this system might be improved by combining Chinese breeds with 'hyperprolific' western strains. When using Chinese breeds, special attention should be paid to the choice of the terminal boar, which should be as lean as possible, in order to produce acceptable carcasses for sale. Another potential solution would be to use modern computerized recording systems to detect extreme individuals and then to apply a strong selection intensity. Using this approach, it is then possible to develop a gene pool for prolificacy. Results obtained in France, Great Britain and Australia are encouraging. The expected progress is about 0.5 piglets per litter when strain selection is limited to one sex and about 1 piglet when it includes both sexes. Moreover, using crossbreeding, the heterosis effect seems to be cumulated with the genetic changes mentioned above. The computer can also be an aid in eliminating chromosomal translocations responsible for a reduction in prolificacy ranging from 5 to 50%.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Culling of gilts with special reference to reproductive failure.

The present investigation comprised 2041 gilts (Swedish Landrase + Swedish Yorkshire) selected for breeding purposes at 10 weeks of age belonging to one large herd in Sweden. Of all selected gilts 54.5% were culled without farrowing any litter. The reproductive disturbances represented 21.7% of the cullings and together with slow growth rate, high backfat thickness and inverted teats, constituted the main reason for culling. In gilts above 9 months of age 66.9% of the cullings were caused by reproductive disturbances, anoestrus being the dominating reason. Only 2.8% of gilts born during July-September were culled because of oestrous failure, while the corresponding figure for gilts born during January-March was 9.6% (p less than 0.001). Furthermore a highly significant annual variation was found among gilts culled because of anoestrus (p less than 0.001). Among expected pregnant gilts 6.6% were culled because of failure to farrow.

Abortion, Veterinary↗
PubMed1980

Subcutaneous adipose tissue cellularity of swine with different propensities for adipose tissue growth.

Middle subcutaneous adipose tissue samples were excised dorsal to the first rib, lat rib, and last lumbar vertebrae of lean and obese swine (Yorkshire and Ossabaw gilts) one year of age. Average backfat thickness per 100 kg body weight was approximately five fold greater for obese swine (6.8 versus 1.5 cm, respectively). Adipocyte diameter and volume distributions were determined after fixation with OsO4 with a Coulter Counter. To preclude connective tissue debris contribution to adipocyte number determinations, 8 M urea was used to solubilize connective tissue. Within a breed among tissue sites no differences in adipocyte size distributions were observed. Adipocyte diameter distributions for first rib, last rib, and last lumbar were significantly biphasic for lean and obese swine. However, the diameter distributions were markedly different between lean and obese swine. Twice as many small cells (20-30 micrometer diameter) were present in distributions from obese swine. Maximum cell diameter for lean and obese swine was 140 and 190 micrometer, respectively. The appearance of biphasic diameter distributions in lean and obese swine one year old suggests that adipocyte hyperplasia is continuing long after the time earlier work had suggested that hyperplasia had ceased.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1995

A field study on group housing of lactating sows with special reference to sow health at weaning.

Four farms that group-housed sows from 2 weeks of lactation until weaning (G-farms) and 3 farms that kept the sows individually penned throughout the 5 to 6-week-long lactation period (C-farms), were compared in terms of sow health. All sows were crossbred Swedish Yorkshire x Swedish Landrace. The daily food ration was similar on all farms except during the group-housing period, when G-farm sows were fed ad libitum. Sows were grouped in the breeding section and kept grouped on deep litter in the dry sow section on all farms. Individual health examinations were performed at the time of weaning (+/- 4 days) on 179 G-farm sows and on 167 C-farm sows. Teat- and udder skin wounds occurred less frequently (p < 0.001) in G-farm sows than in C-farm sows. In addition, preweaning atrophy of all mammary glands occurred in 6.6% of the G-farm-sows but not in a single C-farm sow (p < 0.001). This indicates that sow-piglet interactions decrease when sows are group housed. However, these differences did not occur in primiparous sows, suggesting that the relation between the primiparous sow and her litter is not affected. Mastitis frequency was the same in the 2 systems. Moreover, the frequency of locomotor disorders was the same in the 2 groups, and hoof overgrowth was common in both systems. These similarities could be due to the fact that all farms group housed dry sows on deep litter. A strong relation (p < 0.001) between hoof overgrowth and locomotor disorders was evident. Low access to food due to low rank among primiparous group-housed sows was indicated by a lower (p < 0.05) backfat thickness compared with multiparous sows, and a higher (p < 0.001) frequency of skin wounds compared with individually housed primiparous sows.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed1993

Effects of porcine somatotropin on growth and carcass composition of Meishan and Yorkshire barrows.

Effects of porcine somatotropin (pST) on growth and carcass characteristics of Meishan (Ms) and Yorkshire (Y) barrows given 3 mg of pST or saline daily were determined for two end points. First, 26 Ms and 26 Y barrows were treated from 119 d of age until the Y barrows reached 108 kg. Second, another 18 Ms barrows were treated to 108 kg BW. Age- and weight-matched treatments were analyzed. Results for both groups indicated pST effects (P < .05) for feed conversion (+) and intake (-), dressing percentage (-), percentage of carcass fat (-) and protein and water (+), leaf fat (-), backfat (BF) thickness (-), longissimus muscle area (LMA; +), skin thickness (+), muscle firmness and marbling scores (-), organ weights (+), belly (-), clear plate (-), ham (+), and total boneless cuts (BC; +). Somatotropin effects were also present for loin (-) and boneless Boston butt (BBB; +) in the age-matched group and for ADG (+), carcass weight (-), loin (-), jowl (-), and tenderloin (+) in the weight-matched group. Breed effects (P < .05), in favor of Y barrows, in both treatments existed for ADG (+) and feed intake (+), carcass weight (+), dressing percentage (+), LMA (+), skin thickness (-), muscle color and firmness scores (-), muscling score (+), all wholesale cuts (WC; +) except clear plate (age-matched), all trimmed cuts (TC; +) except picnic shoulder (weight-matched), and all BC (+). Breed effects, in favor of Y barrows, were also determined for carcass length (+), percentage of carcass ash (-), leaf fat (+), average BF thickness (+), and heart (-) and liver (-) weights in age-matched animals and percentage of carcass fat (-), protein (+), water (+), leaf fat (-), 10th rib, average, and P2 BF thicknesses (-), marbling score (-), femur length (-), and liver weights (+) in weight-matched animals. A higher response to pST (P < .05) was determined in Ms barrows than in Y barrows for percentage of carcass protein (+), liver (+), and heart (+) in the age-matched treatment and 10th rib BF thickness (-) and heart weight (+) in the weight-matched treatment. Yorkshire barrows treated with pST had more improved values for color score (+; age-matched) and BBB (+; weight-matched).

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1995

Growth and body composition of Meishan and Yorkshire barrows and gilts.

Five barrows and five gilts of each of two breeds (Meishan [Ms] and Yorkshire [Y]) were slaughtered at birth and at 41, 71, 123, and 171 d of age and five gilts of each breed were slaughtered at 260 d of age. Major organ and visceral weights were obtained immediately postmortem (PM), whereas carcass characteristics, carcass composition, femur measurements, and two individual muscle weights were obtained 24 h PM. Linear and quadratic regression coefficients on age differed between the two breeds, in favor of Y barrows and gilts, for live weight, carcass weight, longissimus muscle area (LMA), liver, heart, spleen, and kidney weights, and femur cross-sectional, medullary, and cortical areas (P < .001), leaf fat weight, and percentage of body fat and protein. In contrast to somatic tissue, Ms gilts had uteri and ovaries that grew faster than those of Y gilts from birth to 260 d of age (P < .05), although the uterus and ovary weights were similar for both breeds by 260 d of age (P < .05). Regression coefficients differed (P < .05) between the two sexes for live, carcass, liver, lung and trachea, stomach and esophagus and leaf fat weights, dressing percentage, percentage of body protein, 10th rib backfat (TRBF) thickness (P < .001), and small intestine, kidney (P < .01), heart, and spleen weights (P < .05). Breed differences in regression coefficients differed between the two sexes for percentage of body protein and leaf fat weights (P < .05). Yorkshire pigs were larger, later-maturing pigs that grew faster from birth to 171 d of age. Yorkshire pigs slaughtered at 171 d of age had heavier total wholesale cut (WC), trimmed cut (TC), and boneless cut (BC) weights than did Ms pigs of the same age (P < .001).

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Characteristics of Lacha and Rasa Aragonesa lambs slaughtered at three live weights.

A study was made of differences in the quality of meat from Lacha (L) and Rasa Aragonesa (RA) lambs slaughtered at 12, 24, or 36 kg live weight. Lambs from both breeds were weaned at 25 to 57 d, approximately 11.5 to 18.5 kg live weight, and fed concentrate and barley straw until slaughter at 24 and 36 kg live weight. Hot carcass weight, cold carcass weight, conformation, color, firmness, and thickness of backfat and color of rectus abdominis muscle were recorded on the carcass. Final pH (pHu), instrumental color (L*, a*, b*), myoglobin concentration, chemical composition, and water-holding capacity (WHC) of the longissimus muscle, shear force of the biceps femoris muscle, and iodine values and fatty acid composition of the i.m. and s.c. fat depots were determined. The percentage of fat in the longissimus muscle increased with live weight, and values for RA lambs were higher than those for L lambs. The WHC of meat from RA lambs was lower at 24 kg than at 12 or 36 kg slaughter weight. Live weight and breed had no effect on the shear force of the biceps femoris muscle. There was an increase in myoglobin concentration in the longissimus muscle with increased live weight in both breeds. The fatty acid content of s.c. and i.m. fat, which was not affected by breed, declined with the increase in slaughter weight. The polyunsaturated fatty acid content of the s.c. fat depot increased, whereas that of the i.m. fat depot decreased, with the increase in slaughter weight in both breeds. Subcutaneous fat had a higher content of heptadecanoic acid (17:0) than i.m. fat, and this increased with the increase in slaughter weight. In both depots, there was an increase in oleic acid (18:1) at 12 kg in RA lambs and at 24 kg in L lambs. In the s.c. fat depot, there was a progressive increase in linoleic acid (18:2) content with the increase in live weight in both breeds. There was a higher degree of unsaturation in the s.c. fat of RA lambs than in that of L lambs, which was reflected in the iodine value.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Adipose tissue cellularity and histochemistry in fetal swine as affected by genetic selection for high or low backfat.

Adipose tissue development was studied histochemically and histologically in fetuses from lean and obese sows. At 110 days of gestation, fetuses were removed from Ossabaw (obese-feral) sows and from sows selected for high backfat (obese-domestic) and for low backfat (lean) thickness. Body weights were similar for lean (916 +/- 225 g) and obese (822 +/- 167 g) domestic fetuses, whereas obese feral fetuses were smaller (631 +/- 70 g). Histological and histochemical analysis was conducted on subcutaneous tissue from over the shoulder. Staining for lipid-containing fat cells indicated similar concentrations of fat cells throughout the depth of the subcutaneous tissue from obese (domestic and feral) and lean fetuses. Adipocytes from obese fetuses were slightly larger (domestic 23 +/- 0.22 microns, feral 21.8 +/- 0.26 microns) than cells from lean fetuses (20.7 +/- 0.42 microns). The percentage glycogen positive (PAS) adipocytes was low and similar from all three fetal strains. Less than 10% of adipocytes from lean and obese domestic fetuses were esterase-positive, whereas 42% of adipocytes from obese feral fetuses were esterase-positive. All adipocytes from obese fetuses (domestic and feral) were lipoprotein lipase (LPL)-positive whereas all cells from lean fetuses were negative for LPL activity. Therefore, cellular and metabolic differences exist in adipose tissue of lean and obese pigs during the prenatal period of growth and development.

Adipose Tissue↗