Aitchbone hanging and ageing period are additive factors influencing pork eating quality.

The effects of abattoir, carcase weight (60 or 80 kg HCW), hanging method (Achilles or aitchbone) and ageing period (2 or 7 day post-slaughter) on eating quality attributes of pork were investigated in this 3×2×2×2 factorial study. A total of 144 Large White×Landrace female pigs were slaughtered at one of three abattoirs and sides hung from either the Achilles tendon or the aitchbone. After 24 h chilling, loin (M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum) and topside (M. semimembranosus) muscles were individually vacuum packaged and aged for 2 or 7 days post-slaughter. Consumers (n=852) evaluated eating quality. Neither abattoir nor carcase weight influenced tenderness, flavour or overall liking of pork. Improvements in tenderness, flavour and overall liking were found due to aitchbone hanging (P<0.001) and ageing (P<0.001) for 7 days compared with Achilles-hung carcases and pork aged for 2 days, respectively. This study demonstrated that aitchbone hanging and 7 day ageing can improve eating quality, but these effects were additive as the interaction term was not significant.

Growth hormone increases whole-body protein turnover in growing pigs.

Ten pigs with an average initial live weight of 65 kg were used to investigate the effects of daily exogenous porcine pituitary growth hormone (pGH; .1 mg.kg-1.d-1) for a 13-d period on N retention and whole-body protein turnover. Feed intake was restricted to both the control (treated with excipient) and pGH-treated groups to ensure that animals in each group consumed equal amounts. Whole-body protein turnover was estimated from the excretion of 15N in urinary urea and ammonia after a single oral dose of [15N]glycine. Nitrogen balance and whole-body N flux were increased by 35 to 40% with pGH treatment (P less than .001). Protein synthesis and breakdown were increased by 56 and 59% (P less than .001), respectively, in pGH-treated pigs relative to controls. These higher rates of protein turnover seemed to lower slightly the efficiency of the metabolic process for protein deposition. However, the absolute increment in protein synthesis rate was greater than that for breakdown, leading to the increased net N retention. Thus, pGH treatment improved the utilization of dietary amino acids for protein deposition.

Interrelationships between exogenous porcine somatotropin (PST) administration and dietary protein and energy intake on protein deposition capacity and energy metabolism of pigs.

Exogenous porcine somatotropin (PST) administration stimulates protein deposition and inhibits lipogenesis, resulting in dose-related improvements in growth performance and reduction of carcass fat content. However, the associated impacts of this technology on dietary nutrient requirements and energy partitioning between maintenance, protein, and fat remain unclear. Studies with pigs between 25 and 60 kg body weight indicate that, because of unknown improvements in amino acid utilization and(or) in the energy available for protein synthesis, only marginal increases in dietary protein percentage are required to support 20 to 25% improvements in protein deposition induced by PST administration. In contrast, an increased dietary protein concentration is required to support maximal protein deposition in pigs 60 to 100 kg. Exogenous PST administration increased the maintenance energy requirement and altered the relationship between energy intake and protein deposition, although the magnitude of these changes and the consequent effects on expression of dietary protein (amino acid) requirements was influenced by gender. Albeit limited, information suggests that PST alters nutrient demand at the tissue level. Information of this type will form the basis for rational decisions concerning the method for expression of dietary nutrient requirements (% vs g/d) for PST-treated pigs. Further quantitative information is required on the effects of PST dosage on the relationship of protein deposition to energy intake and on any underlying changes in amino acid utilization and metabolism.

A comparison of the availability and ileal digestibility of lysine in cottonseed and soya-bean meals for grower/finisher pigs.

The availability of lysine and the ileal digestibility of amino acids in three cottonseed meals and a soya-bean meal for grower/finisher pigs were determined. The usefulness of the availability estimates for formulating diets was assessed. The availability of lysine, as assessed with a slope-ratio assay, was (proportion of total): cottonseed meal no. 1, 0.27; no. 2, 0.30; no. 3, 0.29; soya-bean meal, 0.90. Ileal digestibility of lysine in the meals (proportion of total) was: cottonseed meal no. 1, 0.58; no. 2, 0.68; no. 3, 0.72; soya-bean meal, 0.89. Pigs given diets formulated to the same available lysine concentration grew at similar rates and retained the same amount of lysine in the carcasses. The results indicate that, for meals of high availability (soya-bean meal), reduced ileal digestibility appears to be the main reason for reduced availability. However, in meals of low availability (cottonseed meal), reduced ileal digestibility only accounts for part of the reduced availability. Thus, the ileal digestibility of lysine is not a reliable indicator of lysine availability.

Interaction of dietary protein content and exogenous porcine growth hormone administration on protein and lipid accretion rates in growing pigs.

Sixty-six intact male pigs were used to investigate the relationships between exogenous porcine growth (pGH) administration (0, excipient-treated, and .09 mg recombinant pGH.kg-1.d-1) and dietary protein content (8.3, 11.4, 14.5, 17.6, 20.7 and 23.8%) on protein and lipid accretion rates over the live weight range of 30 to 60 kg. Feed intakes were restricted (1.84 kg.pig-1.d-1) and pGH was administered daily by i.m. injection. Rate of protein deposition increased with increasing dietary protein up to 17.6 and 20.7%, respectively, for control and pGH-treated pigs; both growth and protein deposition were enhanced by pGH on the four higher protein diets but remained unaffected by pGH administration to pigs given the two lowest protein diets. Plasma IGF-I concentration was elevated by pGH administration in pigs given the four higher protein diets but unaffected by pGH with the two lowest protein diets. Rate of fat deposition was depressed on all dietary protein treatments by pGH administration; carcass fat content of control and pGH-treated pigs declined with each increase in dietary protein up to 17.6 and 23.8%, respectively. The results demonstrate that pGH acts independently on protein and lipid metabolism.

Effects of gender and genotype on the response of growing pigs to exogenous administration of porcine growth hormone.

Sixty crossbred pigs (Large White x Landrace) were used in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial experiment to investigate the effects of gender (intact males vs females) and strain (A vs B) on the response to exogenous porcine growth hormone (pGH) administration (0 [excipient-treated] vs .1 mg pGH.kg live weight-1.d-1). All pigs had ad libitum access to their diet; pGH was administered daily from 60 to 90 kg live weight. All aspects of growth performance and body composition were affected to different degrees by gender and pGH. Strain A pigs had a higher capacity for protein accretion, superior growth performance and contained less fat in the eviscerated carcass and empty body compared with Strain B pigs. Within each strain, intact males ate more feed, had a higher rate of protein deposition and exhibited faster and leaner growth than females. Exogenous pGH administration increased average protein deposition and growth rate by 84 and 34%, respectively, and reduced average feed intake, fat deposition rate, feed:gain and carcass fat content by 14, 59, 37 and 33%, respectively. The magnitude of the changes in growth performance, tissue accretion rates and body composition elicited by pGH were independent of strain. However, within each strain the improvement in feed:gain and reduction in carcass fat measurements elicited by pGH were proportionately larger for females than for intact males.

Genotype and sex effects on the relationship between energy intake and protein deposition in growing pigs.

Seventy-two crossbred (Large White X Landrace) pigs were used in a 3 X 7 factorial experiment to investigate the response of two strains of boars (strains A and B) and of castrated male pigs (strain B) to seven levels of intake of a single diet (ranging from 5.3 Mcal digestible energy [DE]/d to ad libitum) between 45 and 90 kg live weight. All aspects of growth performance and body composition were affected to different degrees by both strain and sex. At all levels of energy intake strain A boars grew faster, had a lower feed to gain ratio and contained less fat and more water in the empty body than strain B boars, which in turn exhibited faster live weight gain and more efficient and leaner growth than castrated males. The magnitude of the differences in growth performance between strain A and strain B boars and castrates increased with increased energy intake above 7.88 Mcal DE/d, and these differences were associated with concomitant strain differences in their respective capacity for protein growth and in the relationship between energy intake and protein deposition. For strain A boars the rate of protein deposition increased linearly from 92 to 188 g/d with increased energy intake from 5.3 Mcal DE/d to ad libitum. For strain B boars and castrates the rate of protein deposition increased linearly with increased energy intake up to 7.88 Mcal DE/d, but thereafter it remained constant at 128 and 85 g/d, respectively. For castrates protein deposition was depressed (P less than .01) when the diet was offered ad libitum. Strain A boars had a higher energy requirement for maintenance (3.55 Mcal DE/d) than strain B boars (2.77 Mcal DE/d) or castrates (2.60 Mcal DE/d). Strain A boars also contained less protein and more water in the fat free empty body than the other two pig types.

Availability to pigs of amino acids in cereal grains. 2. Apparent and true ileal availability.

1. Pigs prepared with re-entrant ileal cannulas were used to determine the ileal availability of amino acids in nine cereal grains including five wheats, sorghum (Sorghum vulgare Pers.), maize, barley and Triticale. 2. The average true availability of amino acids in these grains was 0.88 but there were consistent differences in availability among amino acids. Generally, lysine and threonine were among the least available amino acids while glutamic acid and arginine were among the most available amino acids in cereal protein. 3. There was much variation in amino acid availability within a grain species (wheat) as among the other grains.

Availability to pigs of amino acids in cereal grains. 3. A comparison of ileal availability values with faecal, chemical and enzymic estimates.

1. Availability values for amino acids in nine cereal grains determined by faecal analyses with pigs and by the Silcock available lysine test (Roach et al. 1967) and an in vitro digestibility assay were compared with ileal availability values for the same grains determined with pigs by Taverner et al. (1981 b). 2. There was a significant canonical correlation of ileal and faecal availability values. On average, apparent faecal availability of the indispensable amino acids was 4.2% greater than apparent ileal availability, but the difference was up to 12.6% for threonine. Furthermore, the difference appeared to increase as the digestibility of the grain decreased. 3. Silcock available-lysine values for the cereal grains were unrelated to the lysine truly absorbed by the pig. 4. There were close relationships of ileal protein and lysine availability values of nitrogen digestibility determined by an in vitro assay using pronase enzyme.

Availability to pigs of amino acids in cereal grains. 4. Factors influencing the availability of amino acids and energy in grains.

1. Protein digestibility and lysine availability were determined in a range of grain samples using an in vivo digestibility assay calibrated with ileal digestibility values. 2. Mean (+/- SE) values predicted for nitrogen digestibility were 0.92 +/- 0.011 in wheat and 0.88 +/- 0.021 in barely, and the predicted lysine availability in wheat was 0.86 +/- 0.021. 3. Chemical and physical characteristics of the grains were determined and those most closely associated with protein digestibility for wheat were the contents of hemicellulose, neutral-detergent fibre, the bulk density, and to a lesser extent, N and acid-detergent fibre content. These relationships were used to determine prediction equations for the availability lysine content of wheat.

Availability to pigs of amino acids in cereal grains. 1. Endogenous levels of amino acids in ileal digesta and faeces of pigs given cereal diets.

1. Endogenous levels of amino acids in ileal digesta were determined as the output from pigs given protein-free diets and by extrapolation to zero intake of linear regressions of ileal amino acid output v. dietary amino acid intake. The protein-free diets included 0 or 50 g cellulose/kg and extrapolations were made from two series of four diets which contained graded levels of wheat or barley as the only source of protein. Within each series, dietary fibre level (mg/g) was maintained at approximately 140 or 190 neutral-detergent fibre (NDF) respectively. Endogenous amino acid levels in faeces were also determined. 2. Endogenous amino acid output in faeces was linearly related to dietary fibre level; endogenous ileal output increased with dietary fibre up to approximately 100 mg NDF/g, after which endogenous output no longer increased. 3. The amino acid composition of endogenous ileal protein varied little among levels of output and among different experiments. The composition appears to be determined by the predominance of mucin protein, the slow absorption of some acids and the methods commonly used to measure output. The very high levels of proline and glycine in ileal digesta seemed characteristic only of protein-free and low-protein diets. 4. The amino acid composition of endogenous faecal protein also varied little among different estimates, but was considerably different from that of endogenous ileal protein. Furthermore, the similarity of bacterial and faecal proteins suggested that much of the endogenous faecal protein was of bacterial origin.