Ractopamine supplementation increases lean deposition in entire and immunocastrated male pigs

2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (12) ◽  
pp. 1113 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Moore ◽  
F. R. Dunshea ◽  
B. P. Mullan ◽  
D. P. Hennessy ◽  
D. N. D'Souza
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Pork Quality ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Large White ◽  
Feeding Program ◽  
Total Tissue ◽  
Daily Gain ◽  
Entire Male

Sixty entire male pigs (Large White × Landrace × Duroc crossbred) were individually reared from 45 to 114 kg liveweight in a 2 by 3 factorial experiment to determine the interactive effects of sex (entire male pigs v. male pigs immunologically castrated using Improvac with vaccinations administered at 13 weeks of age and 5 weeks before slaughter) and a ractopamine feeding program (constantly fed 0 or 5 ppm ractopamine for 26 days before slaughter v. a step-up program where 5 ppm of ractopamine was fed for 14 days followed by 10 ppm ractopamine for the final 12 days before slaughter) on growth performance, carcass composition and pork quality. Following the second vaccination, immunocastrated pigs ate more (P < 0.001) and grew faster (P < 0.05) than entire male pigs without affecting feed conversion efficiency. Dietary ractopamine supplementation for the last 26 days before slaughter improved feed conversion ratio (P = 0.024) and daily gain (P = 0.046). Dietary ractopamine supplementation also increased carcass total tissue (P = 0.023) and total lean (P = 0.027) content without affecting the objective meat quality (P > 0.05) in both entire and immunocastrated male pigs. The effects of dietary ractopamine and immunocastration were additive, such that pigs that were immunocastrated and received ractopamine grew 18% faster than control entire males. However, a step-up program of ractopamine supplementation did not provide further improvements in growth performance and carcass composition when compared with constant 5 ppm ractopamine supplementation. These findings indicate that ractopamine supplementation improved growth performance in entire and immunocastrated male pigs, thereby offering a means of improving growth performance of entire males without detrimental effects on pork quality.

Effect of xylanase supplementation of wheat-based liquid diets, for weaner pigs, steeped for 1 or 24 h before feeding

2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie A. l'Anson ◽  
Mingan Choct ◽  
Peter H. Brooks
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Large White ◽  
Available Lysine ◽  
Daily Gain ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Weaner Pigs ◽  
Entire Male

Seventy-two individually housed, entire male (Large White × Landrace) weaner pigs (28 days; 7.4 ± 0.4 kg) were used in a 26-day feeding trial. The pigs were allocated to one of six treatments in a 3 by 2 factorial design. The factors were (1) steeping duration of liquid feed [0 (dry control diet), 1 or 24 h], and (2) enzyme supplementation (0 or 300 ppm xylanase). The basal diet was wheat-based (65%) and was formulated to be marginally adequate for pigs of this age, containing 14.5 MJ digestible energy (DE)/kg and 0.85 g available lysine/MJ DE. Feeding pigs liquid diets steeped for 1 h increased feed intake (61 g/day; s.e.d. 17; P < 0.05) and daily gain (70 g/day; s.e.d. 17; P < 0.05) and improved feed conversion ratio (1.16 versus 1.22; s.e.d. 0.03; P < 0.05) compared with pigs fed dry diets. Performance was not further improved by steeping for 24 h. The addition of xylanase to the diets had no positive effect on any of the performance measures and was associated with a significant (40 g/day; s.e.d. 14; P < 0.05) reduction in feed intake. These results provide no support for supplementing liquid diets for weaner pig diets with xylanase.

scholarly journals Effects of immunocastration on growth performance, body composition, meat quality, and boar taint

2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (No. 6) ◽  
pp. 249-258
Author(s):  
R. Stupka ◽  
J. Čítek ◽  
K. Vehovský ◽  
K. Zadinová ◽  
M. Okrouhlá ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Meat Quality ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
The Other ◽  
Boar Taint ◽  
Large White ◽  
Study Objective ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Daily Gain

The study objective was to evaluate the effect of immunocastration in the period between the first and second vaccinations and subsequently between the second vaccination and slaughter on growth performance, carcass composition, meat quality, and boar taint, and compare results in immunocastrated males (IC), uncastrated boars (UCM), surgically castrated barrows (CM), and gilts (FE). The study included 70 pigs of the Duroc × (Large White × Landrace) crossbreed. Upon the overall assessment of the selected fattening indicators (average daily gain, feed intake), significant differences between CM and the other groups were demonstrated. Meanwhile, no significant differences were found between the IC, UCM, and FE groups. In this test, immunocastrates showed no negative effect from the second vaccination in relation to those carcass value indicators evaluated in comparison with UCM and FE. CM showed adversely lower carcass value parameters compared the other groups. No significant differences in pH, meat colour, drip loss, shear force, and intramuscular fat were found. The values of these indicators obtained for IC converged with those measured in UCM and FE. It was demonstrated that immunocastration prevented the occurrence of undesired boar taint. Androstenone decreased by 77% and skatole by 71% in IC as compared to UCM.

scholarly journals Dietary inclusion of ensiled avocado oil cake affects growth, nutrient digestion, and carcass characteristics of pigs

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
M.L. Seshoka ◽  
P.J. Fourie ◽  
A.T. Kanengoni ◽  
I.M.M. Malebana ◽  
R.S. Thomas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Carcass Characteristics ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Nutrient Digestibility ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Large White ◽  
Avocado Oil ◽  
Conversion Rates ◽  
Daily Gain

In this experiment, the effects were evaluated of various dietary inclusion levels of avocado oil cake (AOC) silage on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and carcass characteristics in pigs. A mixture of 70% AOC, 25% wheat bran, and 5% sugarcane molasses was ensiled in 200 L drums for 90 days. It was then incorporated at 0%, 3% and 5% in the experimental diets. Twenty-seven Large White cross Landrace (LW x LR) weaner pigs, with an average live weight of 22 kg, were stratified by weight and randomly allocated to the three experimental diets (9 pigs/diet). Pigs were weighed individually each week throughout the trial. Daily feed intake, average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion rates (FCRs) were recorded. A nutrient digestibility study was carried out on completion of the growth trial. At the end of the experiment, pigs were fasted for twelve hours and weighed to determine the final weight. The pigs were then slaughtered, and carcass samples were collected and analysed. The growth performance of pigs was not affected by diet, irrespective of fibre levels in the AOC silage. However, the addition of 3% AOC silage improved the digestibility of fibre fractions. The weights of the cold carcass, chops, and backfat thickness were reduced with AOC silage addition.

Effect of dietary lard on performance, fatty acid composition and susceptibility to lipid peroxidation in growing-finishing female and entire male pigs

1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 301-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Lopez-Bote ◽  
M. Sanz ◽  
B. Isabel ◽  
P. Perez de Ayala ◽  
A. Flores
Keyword(s):  
White Male ◽  
Dietary Treatment ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Energy Concentration ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Large White ◽  
Key Words Pig ◽  
Finishing Pig ◽  
Daily Gain ◽  
Entire Male

The effect of increasing the energy concentration of growing-finishing pig diets through inclusion of lard on performance, carcass and meat composition and lipid susceptibility to peroxidation was studied. A total of 720 Landrace × Large White male and female pigs (equal number of entire males and females) were used. Experimental diets were formulated to have a low (3000 kcal ME kg−1) or high (3200 kcal ME kg−1) energy level, but in all cases to have a constant lysine:ME ratio. This was achieved using a low (6.8 g kg−1) and a high (49.3 g kg−1) level of dietary lard inclusion. Gilts had lower daily gain (P < 0.0001) and worse feed conversion efficiency (P < 0.0001) than entire males. Susceptibility to oxidation was not affected by sex. Fat concentration in pig diets equilibrated in metabolizable energy and protein did not modify average gain, but reduced feed intake (P < 0.02), improved the gain:feed ratio (P < 0.0001), increased dressing percentage (P < 0.02) and produced higher carcass weight (P < 0.01). Carcass backfat and lean percentage were not affected by dietary treatment. A reduction in the proportion of (n-3) fatty acids in phospholipids (P < 0.03), a higher (n-6):(n-3) ratio (P < 0.01) and a lower susceptibility of muscle homogenates to oxidation was found in animals receiving higher levels of dietary lard (P < 0.01). Key words: Pig, boar, diet, lard, lipid oxidation

Blend-feeding or feeding a single diet to pigs has no impact on growth performance or carcass quality

2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 52 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Moore ◽  
B. P. Mullan ◽  
J. C. Kim
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Feeding Strategies ◽  
Carcass Quality ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Large White ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Feeding Program ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Feeding Diets

A completely randomised block experiment was conducted using 216 female pigs (Large White × Landrace, six pigs/pen and 12 replicate pens/treatment), at an average liveweight (LW) of 22.6 kg ± 0.56 (mean ± s.e.m.), to examine the effect of feeding strategies on performance during the grower–finisher phase. Pigs were blocked and randomly allocated to the following treatments on the basis of initial LW: (1) phase-feeding: diets changed when the average LW of pigs in the pen reached 20, 50 or 80 kg; (2) blend: diets changed weekly to meet the requirements of the average LW of pigs in the pen and; (3) single: the same diet fed throughout (formulated to meet the requirements of the pig at 60 kg LW). The experimental diets were fed from 22 to 102 kg LW. Between 68 and 98 days of age, pigs fed the single diet grew more slowly (P < 0.001) due to poorer feed conversion (P < 0.001) than did pigs fed the phase-feeding or blend diets. However, between 99 and 133 days of age, pigs fed the single diet utilised feed more efficiently (P < 0.001) than did pigs fed the phase-feeding and blend diets. Therefore, there was no significant effect of the feeding strategies on overall growth performance (P > 0.05) and there was no significant difference in carcass quality (P > 0.05) among treatment groups. However, it was 3.74% and 3.51% cheaper to use the blend- and single-diet feeding strategies, respectively, than it was to use a phase-feeding program (P = 0.002). The present experiment has shown that blend-feeding could be a strategy to reduce the cost of production. Feeding a single diet appears to have merit and may have appeal for certain circumstances; however, it would need to be investigated further before being implemented commercially.

Porcine somatotropin and cysteamine hydrochloride improve growth performance and reduce back fat in finisher gilts

2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (7) ◽  
pp. 796 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. R. Dunshea
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Conversion Ratio ◽  
Feed Conversion Ratio ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Large White ◽  
Porcine Somatotropin ◽  
Daily Gain ◽  
Sustained Increase

Porcine somatotropin (pST) treatment of pigs consistently improves daily gain and feed conversion ratio but the daily injections involved can be problematic. The sulfhydryl compound cysteamine hydrochloride (CSH) increases somatotropin secretion in several species, possibly through inhibition of somatostatin secretion. Therefore, it is possible that dietary CSH supplementation may provide a dietary means of increasing pST secretion and improving growth performance in finisher pigs. Eighteen female crossbred (Large white × Landrace) gilts (59.2 kg) were allocated to one of three treatments with the respective factors being a control diet, dietary CSH (0.7 g/kg) and intramuscular pST (5 mg/day) for 5 weeks. After slaughter the whole half carcass was cut into primal cuts which were then dissected to a retail level into lean, fat, bone and rind. Over the first 2 weeks of the study daily gain was increased by both pST (+46%, P < 0.001) and CSH (+12%, P < 0.05) while feed conversion ratio was decreased by pST (–30%, P < 0.001) and CSH (–9.4%, P = 0.08) over this period. Over the entire 5 weeks there was a large and sustained increase in daily gain in pigs treated with pST (+38%, P < 0.001), while dietary CSH tended to cause a more modest increase in daily gain (+7.4%, P = 0.06). As a result, final liveweight (+10.6 and +2.0 kg, respectively) and carcass weight (+5.8 and +1.6 kg, respectively) were increased by pST and CSH. Back fat was decreased by both pST and CSH (–1.7 and 1.0 mm, respectively). Total dissectible tissue was increased by pST (+9.1%, P < 0.001) and CSH (+3.3%, P < 0.05). In pigs treated with pST, the increased tissue was primarily as lean (+11.1%, P < 0.008) and bone (+17.8%, P = 0.017), whereas an accumulation of non significant increases in lean, rind and bone was responsible for the increased dissectible tissue in the carcass of pigs supplemented with CSH. In conclusion, dietary CSH increased daily gain and carcass weight and decreased FCR and P2 backfat, with responses being most pronounced over the first 2 weeks of dietary supplementation and not as great as those caused by exogenous pST treatment.

Growth performance, carcass composition and leg weakness in pigs exposed to different levels of physical activity

1998 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 725-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Petersen ◽  
N. Oksbjerg ◽  
B. Jørgensen ◽  
M. T. Sørensen
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
The Body ◽  
Treadmill Training ◽  
Individual Housing ◽  
Leg Weakness ◽  
Psoas Major ◽  
Daily Gain ◽  
Entire Male

AbstractIn order to evaluate the effect of exercise training and spontaneous physical activity on growth performance, carcass composition, and locomotory ability 48 female and 48 entire male pigs were subjected to one of three treatments: individual housing in pens of 2-5 m2 (confined; C), individual housing and treadmill training for 15 minlday at a speed of 4 km/h, 5 days/week for a period of 70 days (trained; T) and group-housing equal to 0·9 m2 per animal (free; F). Pigs in treatment C and T did not differ with regard to daily gain, food intake, kg food per kg gain and carcass lean content. Training did, however, induce significant cardiac hypertrophy (by a proportion of 0·06). In treatment F (i.e. large pens), daily gain was 135 g lower than in treatment C. Dissection of the carcasses showed that treatment F increased the weight of m. psoas major (by 30 g) and the total carcass bone mass (by 130 g) when compared with treatment C. Proportions of carcass lean and intramuscular fat were unaffected by treatment F. Likewise, leg weakness and osteochondrosis did not differ between treatments, whereas the locomotory ability was positively affected by rearing in large pens (treatment F) but not by treadmill training (treatment T). Thus, physical activity in large pens induced various adaptations throughout the body.

Porcine somatotropin (pST) administered using a commercial delivery system improves growth performance of rapidly growing, group-housed finisher pigs

2002 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 287 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. R. Dunshea ◽  
M. L. Cox ◽  
M. R. Borg ◽  
M. N. Sillence ◽  
D. R. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Large White ◽  
Plasma Urea ◽  
Porcine Somatotropin ◽  
Available Lysine ◽  
Veterinary Pathologist ◽  
Daily Gain ◽  
Stomach Ulceration

Porcine somatotropin (pST) treatment of pigs consistently improves average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). However, most studies have been conducted with individually housed pigs, of unimproved genotype and over a lighter finisher phase than current practice. The present study was designed to determine whether a commercial pST (Reporcin) treatment regime would improve growth performance in heavy boars and gilts (initial weight 79 kg) of an improved genotype and housed under commercial conditions. The 2 2 factorial experiment involved 160, 19-week-old Large White Landrace pigs (80 males and 80 females) in 20 pens of 8 pigs/pen. The respective factors were sex (boars and gilts) and dose of pST (0 and 5 mg/day). Pigs were fed a wheat-based diet formulated to contain 200 g crude protein, 10.2 g available lysine, and 14.6 MJ DE/kg to ensure that responses to pST and sex were expressed. Injections of pST were given daily for 28 days prior to slaughter using a commercial applicator designed for this purpose. Pigs were bled by venipuncture on days 7 and 28 of treatment and the plasma samples analysed for plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) and glucose. The degree of stomach ulceration at slaughter was assessed by a veterinary pathologist. Daily pST treatment increased ADG (P = 0.003), particularly in gilts, as indicated by the interaction (P = 0.015) between sex and pST. Thus, gilts treated with pST grew 23% faster than control gilts (1093 v. 1273 g/day), whereas the pST-treated boars grew only slightly faster (+2.5%) than control boars (1261 v. 1291 g/day). Feed intake was similar for boars and gilts and was decreased in both sexes by 10% during pST treatment. FCR was higher in control gilts than in boars and was improved by pST treatment. This was particularly evident in the gilts such that there was no difference in the FCR of pST-treated gilts and boars. Back fat at slaughter was reduced by 2.3 and 3.2 mm in boars and gilts treated with pST, respectively. The only stomach lesions observed were very minor in severity and there was no effect of pST on the proportion of pigs exhibiting stomach ulcers (7/80 and 9/79 for control and pST-treated pigs, respectively; χ2 = 0.31, P = 0.58) or visible possible injection site lesions (0/80 and 1/79; χ2 = 1.01, P = 0.31). The PUN response mirrored the effects of sex and pST on FCR. Indeed, there was a high correlation (R = +0.84, P < 0.001) between FCR and PUN. In conclusion, pST treatment of finisher pigs of an improved genotype and housed under simulated commercial conditions improved growth performance, decreased back fat, and negated sex differences.

Improving growth performance of finisher pigs with high fat diets

2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 262 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. L. Collins ◽  
A. C. Philpotts ◽  
D. J. Henman
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Dietary Fat ◽  
Feeding Strategy ◽  
Average Weight ◽  
Large White ◽  
Gain Ratio ◽  
Fat Diets ◽  
Supplemental Fat ◽  
Daily Gain ◽  
Entire Male

A total of 1296 pigs (Large White × Landrace) were selected at 16 weeks of age and used to investigate the effects of supplemental dietary fat concentration on finisher growth performance. Pigs were selected at an average weight of 64.0 kg and allocated to a 2 × 6 factorial experiment with the respective factors being sex (entire male and female) and supplemental dietary fat concentration (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6% added tallow). All pigs were offered the respective diets ad libitum from 16 weeks of age through to slaughter at 21 weeks of age. Over the entire 5-week period, feed : gain ratio improved linearly with increasing supplemental fat concentration (P < 0.001), reducing from 2.60 to 2.44 with an increase in dietary fat concentration from 1 to 6%. Improvements in daily gain were more pronounced during the initial 14-day feeding period, increasing linearly (P = 0.002) from 844 g/day (1% fat) to 942 g/day (6% fat). Carcass weight also improved linearly (P = 0.009), increasing from 74.1 kg (1% fat) to 75.8 kg (6% fat). A greater response was observed in the males, with an increase in supplemental fat concentration from 1 to 6% improving daily gain by 7%, reducing the feed: gain ratio from 2.55 to 2.31 and improving profit per pig by AU$4.17. The effects of increasing dietary fat concentration were more moderate in females, with potential profit increases of AU$1.47. These results suggest that adding up to 6% supplemental fat to finisher diets improves profit under Australian conditions, with the benefits greater in male than female pigs. The economic impact of such a feeding strategy will, however, depend on the pig’s genetic propensity for fat deposition and the pricing system in which the pigs are sold.

Insulin secretion, body composition and pig performance are altered by feeding pattern

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald E. Newman ◽  
Jeffery A. Downing ◽  
Peter C. Thomson ◽  
Cherie L. Collins ◽  
David J. Henman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Secretion ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Plasma Insulin ◽  
Feeding Strategy ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Production Performance ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Entire Male

Three studies investigated the effect of feeding strategy on production performance and endocrine status of growing pigs. For Experiment 1, 20 entire male pigs (70.0 ± 4.6 kg) were allocated randomly to individual pens in one of four climate-controlled rooms. Pigs were fed for 23 days either ad libitum or entrained to feed bi-phasically for two 90-min periods. For Experiment 2, 20 entire male pigs (41.2 ± 3.5 kg) were housed as per Experiment 1. Pigs were fed for 49 days either ad libitum or fed bi-phasically for two 60-min periods. For Experiment 3, 100 female pigs (66.1 ± 3.5 kg) were randomly allocated to individual pens within a commercial piggery and fed for 42 days either ad libitum or bi-phasically for two 60-min periods. Ear vein catheters were inserted into 10 pigs from each group and hourly blood samples were collected for 24 h in Experiments 1 and 2 and for 11 h in Experiment 3. Plasma insulin, non-esterified fatty acid and glucose concentrations were determined in Experiments 1 and 2, and glucose and insulin concentrations in Experiment 3. Feed intake and performance were recorded in all experiments and carcass composition was assessed by computed tomography for Experiment 2. There were no differences in final liveweight between the two treatment groups for all experiments. Pigs fed for two 90-min periods (Experiment 1) showed no difference in feed intake when compared with feeding ad libitum. Pigs in Experiment 2 fed for two 60-min intervals consumed 2.49 kg/pig.day compared with those fed ad libitum that consumed 2.68 kg/day (P = 0.057). In Experiment 3, pigs fed twice daily consumed 2.82 kg/pig.day compared with 2.91 kg/pig.day in ad libitum-fed pigs (P = 0.051). Bi-phasic fed pigs in Experiment 2 had improved (P < 0.05) feed conversion efficiency compared with pigs fed ad libitum. For all experiments, there was no difference in plasma glucose concentrations between the two treatments. In all three experiments, the circulating insulin concentrations for pigs fed ad libitum remained at a constant level throughout the sampling period. However, plasma insulin concentrations for the bi-phasic fed pigs significantly increased ~1 h after both feeding periods during all three experiments. Insulin secretion of pigs fed for two 90-min periods differed from that of pigs fed for two 60-min periods. Plasma insulin concentration increased five-fold following feeding for 60 min, compared with that in pigs fed for 90 min, which increased two-fold. Bi-phasic-fed pigs from Experiment 2 had reduced (P < 0.05) total carcass fat and significantly increased muscle when compared with pigs fed ad libitum. The data showed that feeding pigs at two succinct periods aligned insulin secretion to the time of feeding. Pigs fed for 60 min, unlike those fed for 90-min intervals, had reduced feed intake in comparison to those fed ad libitum. This may suggest that the duration of the feeding bout is important for this response and this may in turn influence both energy balance and the way energy is partitioned.

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