L-Arginine Supplementation for Nulliparous Sows during the Last Third of Gestation.

We evaluated the effects of L-arginine supplementation during the last third of gestation on molecular mechanisms related to skeletal muscle development of piglets and litter traits at birth. Twenty-three nulliparous sows averaging 205.37 ± 11.50 kg of body weight were randomly assigned to the following experimental treatments: control (CON), where pregnant sows were fed diets to meet their nutritional requirements; arginine (ARG), where sows where fed CON + 1.0% L-arginine. Skeletal muscle from piglets born from sows from ARG group had greater mRNA expression of MYOD (p = 0.043) and MYOG (p ≤ 0.01), and tended to present greater mRNA expression (p = 0.06) of IGF-2 gene compared to those born from CON sows. However, there were no differences (p > 0.05) in the histomorphometric variables of fetuses' skeletal muscle. The total weight of born piglets, total weight of born alive piglets, piglet weight at birth, coefficient of variation of birth weight, and the incidence of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) piglets did not differ between groups. No stillborn piglets (p < 0.01) were verified in the ARG sows compared to CON group. The blood levels of estradiol (p = 0.035) and urea (p = 0.03) were higher in ARG sows compared to those from the CON group. In summary, our data show that arginine supplementation of nulliparous sows at late gestation enhance mRNA expression of key myogenic regulatory factors, which likely contribute to improve animal growth rates in later stages of development.

Dietary supplementation of chromium for finishing pigs / Suplementação de cromo na dieta de suínos em terminação

Increasing fat deposition and feed conversion ratio over the days in finishing phase directly influence pork quality and productive profitability. Nonetheless, the slaughter of heavier pigs can result in benefits for the slaughterhouse due to dilution of production and processing costs, as well as economic benefits for the pig producer resulting from the dilution of production costs. Therefore, dietary supplementation of chromium for finishing pigs of high lean-genotypes is a strategy to increase lean tissue accretion and minimize fat deposition, reflecting positively on growth performance. This review discussed recent studies results and mechanisms of action of this modifier of performance and carcass a traits in finishing pigs. Chromium increases the insulin action, facilitating insulin binding to the receptors on cell membrane. As a result, insulin-sensitive cells uptake more glucose, which will be later converted into energy. This additional energy is use to increase protein synthesis, thereby increasing the amount of lean tissue and reducing fat content in the carcass, without altering protein intake by pigs. Chromium also reduces lipid oxidation rate maintaining meat quality for longer period. In conclusion, dietary Cr supplementation for finishing pigs have shown that 0.2 mg/kg of organic Cr sources for pigs from ~60 kg until the slaughter can improve growth performance, lean gain and reduce fat content in carcass. However, the development of nanotechnology has allowed the use of inorganic Cr source at 0.2 mg/kg of inclusion, leading to improve the growth performance and carcass traits of finishing pigs.(AU)

O aumento na deposição de gordura e da conversão alimentar durante a fase de terminação são fatores que implicam diretamente na qualidade da carne e também na rentabilidade da cadeia produtiva. Apesar disso, o abate tardio dos suínos pode resultar em benefícios para o frigorífico, pela redução dos custos operacionais por suíno abatido e melhor utilização dos equipamentos, bem como vantagens econômicas para o produtor resultantes da diluição dos custos de produção. Portanto, a suplementação de cromo na ração de suínos de linhagens com maior potencial para deposição de músculo, é uma estratégia para aumentar a deposição de tecido magro e minimizar a deposição de gordura, refletindo positivamente no desempenho. Em vista disso, objetivou-se com este trabalho, apresentar e discutir os mecanismos de ação, finalidades e resultados recentes de estudos na literatura sobre a suplementação desse modificador de carcaça na ração de suínos em terminação. O principal papel do cromo é potencializar a ação da insulina, facilitando a ligação entre a insulina e os seus receptores na membrana celular. Com isso, as células sensíveis à insulina captam maior quantidade de glicose, que posteriormente serão convertidas em energia. Essa energia adicional pode ser utilizada para aumentar a síntese proteica, aumentando assim, a quantidade de carne magra e reduzindo o teor de gordura na carcaça, sem alterar o consumo de proteína pelos animais. O cromo também diminui a taxa de oxidação lipídica, mantendo a qualidade da carne por mais tempo. Em conclusão, a suplementação dietética de Cr para suínos em terminação mostra que 0,2 mg/kg de fontes orgânicas de Cr para suínos de ~ 60 kg até o abate podem melhorar o desempenho, ganho de massa magra e reduzir o teor de gordura na carcaça. No entanto, o desenvolvimento da nanotecnologia tem permitido o uso de fonte inorgânica de Cr na dose de 0,2 mg/kg de inclusão, melhorando o desempenho e as características de carcaça de suínos em terminação.(AU)

Dietary supplementation of chromium for finishing pigs / Suplementação de cromo na dieta de suínos em terminação

ABSTRACT: Increasing fat deposition and feed conversion ratio over the days in finishing phase directly influence pork quality and productive profitability. Nonetheless, the slaughter of heavier pigs can result in benefits for the slaughterhouse due to dilution of production and processing costs, as well as economic benefits for the pig producer resulting from the dilution of production costs. Therefore, dietary supplementation of chromium for finishing pigs of high lean-genotypes is a strategy to increase lean tissue accretion and minimize fat deposition, reflecting positively on growth performance. This review discussed recent studies results and mechanisms of action of this modifier of performance and carcass a traits in finishing pigs. Chromium increases the insulin action, facilitating insulin binding to the receptors on cell membrane. As a result, insulin-sensitive cells uptake more glucose, which will be later converted into energy. This additional energy is use to increase protein synthesis, thereby increasing the amount of lean tissue and reducing fat content in the carcass, without altering protein intake by pigs. Chromium also reduces lipid oxidation rate maintaining meat quality for longer period. In conclusion, dietary Cr supplementation for finishing pigs have shown that 0.2 mg/kg of organic Cr sources for pigs from ~60 kg until the slaughter can improve growth performance, lean gain and reduce fat content in carcass. However, the development of nanotechnology has allowed the use of inorganic Cr source at 0.2 mg/kg of inclusion, leading to improve the growth performance and carcass traits of finishing pigs.

RESUMO: O aumento na deposição de gordura e da conversão alimentar durante a fase de terminação são fatores que implicam diretamente na qualidade da carne e também na rentabilidade da cadeia produtiva. Apesar disso, o abate tardio dos suínos pode resultar em benefícios para o frigorífico, pela redução dos custos operacionais por suíno abatido e melhor utilização dos equipamentos, bem como vantagens econômicas para o produtor resultantes da diluição dos custos de produção. Portanto, a suplementação de cromo na ração de suínos de linhagens com maior potencial para deposição de músculo, é uma estratégia para aumentar a deposição de tecido magro e minimizar a deposição de gordura, refletindo positivamente no desempenho. Em vista disso, objetivou-se com este trabalho, apresentar e discutir os mecanismos de ação, finalidades e resultados recentes de estudos na literatura sobre a suplementação desse modificador de carcaça na ração de suínos em terminação. O principal papel do cromo é potencializar a ação da insulina, facilitando a ligação entre a insulina e os seus receptores na membrana celular. Com isso, as células sensíveis à insulina captam maior quantidade de glicose, que posteriormente serão convertidas em energia. Essa energia adicional pode ser utilizada para aumentar a síntese proteica, aumentando assim, a quantidade de carne magra e reduzindo o teor de gordura na carcaça, sem alterar o consumo de proteína pelos animais. O cromo também diminui a taxa de oxidação lipídica, mantendo a qualidade da carne por mais tempo. Em conclusão, a suplementação dietética de Cr para suínos em terminação mostra que 0,2 mg/kg de fontes orgânicas de Cr para suínos de ~ 60 kg até o abate podem melhorar o desempenho, ganho de massa magra e reduzir o teor de gordura na carcaça. No entanto, o desenvolvimento da nanotecnologia tem permitido o uso de fonte inorgânica de Cr na dose de 0,2 mg/kg de inclusão, melhorando o desempenho e as características de carcaça de suínos em terminação.

Effects of corn processing on piglet performance and intestinal parameters

The objective of the present study was to compare the effects of corn processing on performance and intestinal parameters of weanling piglets. To accomplish our goal, 42 piglets (21 days-old, 7.18±1.0 kg body weight) were randomly allocated (seven pens/treatment; three pigs/pen) to one of two treatments: ground corn ­ corn ground through a hammer mill with a 1.0-mm screen after being ground by a hammer mill with a 3.0-mm screen, and extruded corn ­ corn was wet extruded after being ground by a hammer mill with a 2.0-mm screen and, after extrusion, it was ground by a hammer mill with a 1.0-mm screen. In both methods, corn from the same batch was used. Results were considered statistically significant when P<0.05 and a tendency when P<0.10. Analyses were performed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. Pigs fed ground or extruded corn diet had similar growth performance. Duodenum and jejunum of pigs fed extruded corn had greater villus height compared with those of pigs fed ground corn. Crypt depth was not influenced by corn processing. Duodenum and jejunum of pigs fed extruded corn had greater villus:crypt ratio compared with those of pigs fed ground corn. In the duodenum, the expression of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) was greater, and the expression of Occludin-1 tended to be greater in pigs fed the extruded corn diets. There was no effect of corn processing on ZO-1 and Occludin-1 expression in the jejunum, nor TGF-ß1 expression in duodenum and jejunum. There was no effect of the type of corn processing on colonic total bacteria or Enterobacteriaceae and Lactobacillus abundance. Piglets fed diets with ground corn or extruded corn have similar growth performance. However, piglets fed diets with extruded corn present improved intestinal morphology and tight junction protein expression compared with those fed ground corn.(AU)