Effect of flaxseed oil, animal fat, and vitamin E supplementation on growth performance, serum metabolites, and carcass characteristics of finisher pigs, and physical characteristics of pork

The present study tested the effect of a dietary inclusion with vitamin E and pork lard on the apparent digestibility of the nutrients, the growth performance, the carcass traits, the physical meat quality, and the α-tocopherol content. A total of 60 hybrid rabbits were reared in individual cages from weaning (35 days of age) until slaughter (78 days of age). A control diet with no supplements, one diet supplemented with 2% pork lard, and two diets that used the aforementioned diets supplemented with an additional 200 mg/kg α-tocopheryl acetate were designed. The diets were isoprotein and isoenergy. The fat inclusion increased the crude protein (P < 0.05) and ether extract (P < 0.001) total tract apparent digestibility, and the same was observed for the vitamin E inclusion (P < 0.001 for both variables). This improved the dietary digestible protein content (P < 0.05), which increased the digestible protein to digestible energy ratio (P < 0.001). The fat × vitamin E interaction was observed for the total tract apparent digestibility of the ether extract (P < 0.001), the neutral detergent fibre (P < 0.05) and the acid detergent fibre (P < 0.01). The growth traits were unaffected, with the exception of the feed conversion ratio that improved with the vitamin E addition (P < 0.05). Similarly, the carcass traits remained unaffected, with the exception of the perirenal and total fat incidence that increased with the fat supplement (P < 0.05), and the scapular fat that was reduced with the vitamin E inclusion (P < 0.05). The meat L* (lightness), a* (redness), b* (yellowness) colour values and ultimate pH were unaffected by the experimental treatments, even though a fat × vitamin E interaction was observed for the a* and chroma values of the Longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle (P < 0.05). Both the fat (P < 0.05) and vitamin E (P < 0.001) dietary inclusion increased the meat α-tocopherol content. Based on the results, it was concluded that the 2% dietary inclusion of animal fat did not provide more benefits for the considered parameters than the sole α-tocopheryl acetate incorporation, but contributed to the increase in the vitamin E content in the meats.

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Growth performance and carcass characteristics of Australian prime lambs supplemented with pellets containing canola oil or flaxseed oil

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an16812 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 58 (11) ◽

pp. 2100 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Don V. Nguyen ◽

Bunmi S. Malau-Aduli ◽

Peter D. Nichols ◽

Aduli E. O. Malau-Aduli

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Canola Oil ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Carcass Characteristics ◽

Flaxseed Oil ◽

Free Access ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Body Conformation

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of enriched omega-3 oil supplemental pellets, breed and gender on lamb liveweight (LWT), body conformation and carcass characteristics, and to assess the relationships between body conformation and growth under an intensive finishing condition. Sixty ewe and wether prime lambs 7 months old were randomly allocated to one of five dietary treatments: no oil inclusion (Control); 2.5% canola oil; 5% canola oil; 2.5% flaxseed oil and 5% flaxseed oil, balanced by breed (purebred Merinos (M × M) and Corriedale × Merino (C × M) and White Suffolk × Corriedale (W × C) first crosses). Lambs were individually supplemented with 1 kg pellets per day and had free access to lucerne hay and water throughout the 7-week feeding trial, after a 3-week adaptation. Dietary oil inclusion did not cause significant differences in daily feed intake, growth performance and carcass characteristics (P > 0.05). However, first-cross W × C lambs had significantly higher feed intake, chest girth and body conformation score (P < 0.05) than M × M and C × M lambs. Carcass weight, dressing percentage and fat depth of crossbred lambs were significantly higher than those of M × M (P < 0.05). Significant interactions between oil inclusion and breed on average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio were observed. There were positive and highly significant correlations among LWT, ADG and body conformation measurements (P < 0.01). These findings suggest that prime lamb producers can better manage and match their breeding goals with feed resources by supplementing first-cross C × M lambs with pellets containing 5% canola oil or feeding first-cross W × C lambs with 5% flaxseed oil pellets during the 10-week intensive finishing period.

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