Composición corporal y parámetros sanguíneos de lechones Alentejanos y Large White × Landrace recién nacidos

This study aimed to compare the body composition and some blood parameters [(glucose, albumin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)] of newborn piglets farrowed by unselected Alentejano (AL) or conventional genotype [(Large-White × Landrace (LL)]. Carcasses (12 of each genotype) and blood samples were obtained from a total of 34 litters (18 AL, 16 LL). Gestation length was 4d shorter in AL sows compared with LL sows. When adjusted for birth weight, carcasses of AL piglets showed higher percentages of dry matter (PEl objetivo de este estudio fue comparar la composición corporal y los parámetros sanguíneos [albúmina, glucosa y factor de crecimiento insulínico tipo 1 (IGF-1)] de lechones recién nacidos procedentes de cerdas de raza no seleccionada Alentejana (AL) y de genotipo convencional [(Large-White × Landrace (LL)]). Se analizaron muestras de sangre y canal (12 de cada genotipo) de un total de 34 camadas (18 AL y 16 LL). Las cerdas AL presentaron gestaciones 4 días más cortas que las cerdas LL. Cuando se ajustaron para el peso al nacimiento, las canales de los lechones AL presentaron mayores porcentajes de materia seca (

Fat area and lipid droplet morphology of porcine oocytes during in vitro maturation with trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid and forskolin

Lipid droplets (LD) in porcine oocytes form a dark mass reaching almost all cytoplasm. Herein we investigated changes in fat areas, cytoplasmic tone and LD morphology during in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes cultured with 100mM trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (t10,c12 CLA) or 10mM forskolin at different time periods. Four groups were constituted: control, excipient, t10,c12 CLA and forskolin, with drugs being supplemented during 44 to 48h and the initial 22 to 24h in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. In Experiment 3, forskolin was supplemented for the first 2 h. Matured oocytes were inseminated with frozen-thawed boar semen and cleavage rate recorded. Before and during IVM, samples of oocytes were evaluated for LD, total and fat areas and fat gray value or for meiotic progression. Results showed that forskolin supplementation during 44 to 48 h or 22 to 24 h inhibits oocyte maturation (exp. 1: forskolin = 5.1±8.0%, control = 72.6±5.0%; exp. 2: forskolin =24.3±7.4%, control =71.6±5.6%) and cleavage (exp. 1: forskolin=0.0±0.0%, control=55.4±4.1%; exp. 2: forskolin=8.3±3.3%, control=54.5±3.0%). Forskolin also reduced oocyte and fat areas. In Experiment 3, forskolin negative effect on oocyte maturation and cleavage disappeared, although minor (P<0.03) LD and oocyte fat areas were identified at 22 to 24 h of IVM. Oocytes supplemented with t10,c12 CLA during 44 to 48h presented a lighter (P<0.04) colour tone cytoplasm than those of control and forskolin. In conclusion, t10,c12 CLA and forskolin were capable of modifying the distribution and morphology of cytoplasmic LD during porcine oocyte maturation, thus reducing its lipid content in a time-dependent manner

Desenvolvimento do tecido adiposo e muscular em suínos de raça Alentejana

To study the effects of slaughter weight on adipose and muscular tissues development of Alentejano hogs thirty animals were used. With an average live weight of 35 kg, pigs were allocated in individual pens at outdoor and fed a commercial diet (15% CP and 3100 Kcal ED/kg) offered at 85% Ad Libitum. Pigs were sequentially slaughtered in groups (n=5) with an average live weight of 40, 70,80, 90, 100 and 110 kg. After carcass chilling at 5º C for 24 h flare fat was weighed and subcutaneous backfat thickness and loin eye area were recorded at 10-11 ribs, last rib and 3-4 lombar vertebras. Flare fat increased significantly (P<0,01) with the increase of slaughter weight: 1,26, 2,08, 3,22, 3,36, 3,68 e 4,02 Kg, respectively at 40, 70, 80, 90, 100 e 110 Kg. Subcutaneous back fat thickness also increased strongly with the increase of slaughter weight: 1,56, 3,21, 4,12, 5,10, 5,41 and 5,38 cm, respectively at 40, 70, 80, 90, 100 e 110 Kg. Between 90 and 110 kg averages were similar. The area of Longissimus dorsi increased slightly (15,49 to 20,36 cm2) with the increase of slaughter weight. The results suggested that Alentejano pig breed have a limited genetic potential for lean gain and a high capacity for fat deposition

Differentially expressed genes involved in lipid metabolism in the muscle tissue of Alentejano and Bísaro pig breeds

The Alentejano (AL) and Bísaro (BI) pigs stand as the predominant local breeds raised in Portugal. AL pigs are characterized by lower growth rates and precocious and higher lipid deposition, particularly of monounsaturated fatty acids, when compared to BI pigs. Lipid and fatty acids composition of meat and meat products are important features for consumers health, and gene expression is a decisive process determining fatty acid composition and deposition rates in the muscle tissue of every mammal. This study investigates the transcriptomic fundamentals associated to the phenotypical differences through a real-time qPCR approach on a set of candidate genes responsible for regulating lipid metabolism processes. Longissimus lumborum samples were collected at slaughter from five animals of each breed raised under similar conditions until ~150kg BW. Total RNA was extracted, and target cDNA was amplified to estimate expression levels when compared to endogenous control genes. Several lipogenic related genes were found to be overexpressed in the AL breed including ACLY (log2FC=0.50, p<0.05), ELOVL6 (log2FC=0.67, p<0.01), ME1 (log2FC=0.78, p<0.05), while other major lipogenic markers, such as FASN (log2FC=0.45, p=0.09) and ACACA (log2FC=0.28, p=0.17) did not attain statistical significancy, but indicate a tendency towards AL. The gene coding for the central appetite regulation hormone (LEP) was detected as significantly overexpressed in AL (log2FC=1.60, p<0.05), which may suggest the occurrence of leptin resistance in this breed, comparable to what happens with the genetically similar Iberian pig, failing to decrease feeding and increase stored energy expenditure. Similarly, adiponectin resistance is predicted to have developed in AL pigs since higher ADIPOQ levels (log2FC=0.90, p<0.01) are associated with leaner animals due to the activation of fatty acid oxidation pathways by this regulator. These results agree with the previously described high intramuscular fat content profile of the AL breed, essential in enhancing the overall sensory quality of its meat and meat products

Growth, blood, carcass and meat quality traits from local pig breeds and their crosses

Contrary to intensive pig production, local pig breeds and their production systems are able to respond to the high criteria and expectations of modern society in regard to some environmental aspects, animal welfare, food quality and healthiness. This study proposes the recovery, study and use of a cross between two local breeds, contributing to animal biodiversity conservation and to the income of local pig producers. This work studied the growth performance and blood, carcass and meat quality traits of Alentejano (AL), Bísaro (BI) and Ribatejano (RI) (AL × BI, BI × AL) castrated male pigs. Raised outdoors, pigs were fed commercial diets ad libitum and killed at ~65 kg (trial 1, n = 10 from each genotype) and ~150 kg BW (trial 2, n = 9 from each genotype). In trial 1, AL and AL × BI attained slaughter weight later than BI and BI × AL pigs, with AL presenting lower average daily gains than the other genotypes ( P < 0.001). Alentejano and RI pigs presented higher ( P < 0.01) levels of plasma total protein than BI. Overall, carcass traits were affected by genotype, with length ( P < 0.01), yield ( P = 0.07) and lean cut proportions ( P < 0.01) lower in AL than BI, and intermediate values for crossed pigs. Conversely, AL pigs presented higher fat cut proportion ( P < 0.01), average backfat thickness ( P < 0.001) and ‘zwei punkte’ fat depth ( P < 0.01) than BI and RI pigs. Alentejano pigs also presented higher Longissimus lumborum (LL) intramuscular fat ( P < 0.05), myoglobin content and ultimate pH ( P < 0.01), but lower total collagen ( P < 0.05), drip ( P < 0.001) and cooking losses ( P < 0.01), and shear force ( P < 0.001) than all other genotypes. Finally, LL showed a more intense red colour in AL than in BI pigs. In trial 2, AL pigs confirmed to be a slow-growing obese breed with lower bone and lean cut proportions than BI, and higher LL intramuscular fat, richer colour, lower water loss and higher tenderness. In both trials, RI pigs grew faster, with higher lean and lower fat cut proportions and backfat thickness, and with overall LL characteristics comparable to those observed in AL pigs. This work demonstrates some clear differences between AL and BI breeds while showing that their crosses present intermediate characteristics in most studied traits. These data on RI pigs can be useful to breeders’ associations and farmers in order to consider the use of these crosses as an option or complement to pure line breeding

Portuguese Local pig breeds: genotype effects on meat and fat quality traits

This work investigated the contribution of cross‐breeding between two local Portuguese pig breeds to the conservation of animal biodiversity and income of local pig producers. Quality traits of semimembranosus (SM), gluteus medius (GM) and dorsal subcutaneous fat (DSF) were studied in Alentejano (AL), Bísaro (BI), AL × BI, and BI × AL (Ribatejano—RI) castrated male pigs. Pigs were reared outdoors, fed ad libitum, and slaughtered at ~65 (trial 1) and 150 kg BW (trial 2). In trial 1, AL pigs showed higher SM intramuscular fat, lower total collagen, and higher soluble collagen than BI pigs, while AL × BI and BI × AL pigs showed intermediate (NS) values. AL, AL × BI, and BI × AL pigs showed higher SM myoglobin content, and AL a more intense red colour than BI pigs. Finally, AL, AL × BI, and BI × AL showed higher total lipids in DSF than BI pigs. In trial 2, SM and DSF results were similar to those obtained in trial 1. In GM, AL and BI × AL showed higher intramuscular fat than BI and AL × BI pigs, while AL, AL × BI and BI × AL showed lower total collagen content than BI pigs. In conclusion, these results suggest that RI crosses are a productive alternative, with overall muscle and DSF traits statistically not different between AL × BI and BI × AL, and similar to those observed in AL pigs

The Ribatejano pig: Rebirth of a local population? First results on growth, and carcass parameters

In order to assess the productive performance of the Ribatejano (RI) pig, resulting from a cross between Alentejano (AL) and Bísaro (BI) breeds, castrated male pigs AL, BI, ALxBI and BIxAL were studied within the framework of the TREASURE project. Ten pigs from each genotype, raised in traditional free-range system and fed commercial diets ad libitum, were slaughtered at ~65 kg live weight (LW). Data obtained show that BI, ALxBI and BIxAL attained slaughter weight faster (P<0.001) than AL pigs. Overall, carcass length (P<0.001), carcass yield (P=0.06), and lean cuts weight (P<0.01) were higher in BI than AL pigs, with intermediate values for both crosses. Conversely, fat cuts weight, ZP fat depth (P<0.01) and average backfat thickness (P<0.001) were higher in AL than in BI, and ALxBI and BIxAL pigs. At 65kg LW, RI crosses presented intermediate characteristics between fatter (AL) and leaner (BI) genotypes. This cross could therefore be an alternative to the use of other (modern) breeds for crossing, helping to increase the revenue of autochthonous pig producers, and also maintain or increase the pure breed populations, contributing to animal biodiversity

Genetic diversity of Alentejano and Iberian breeds assessed by polymorphisms of major genes

Alentejano and Iberian breeds are biogeographically located in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. These breeds shared a set of common characteristics. Both are phenotypically very similar showing a low growth rate and a high intramuscular fat content and are reared under extensive systems in open range fields. The aim of the current study, carried out within the framework of the TREASURE project, intends to characterize of the genetic diversity of Alentejano and Iberian breeds using the genotyping data of 32 polymorphisms located on 26 major genes. These polymorphisms were genotyped in a total of 950 animals belonging to Alentejano, Iberian and 18 additional European breeds. The low mean values of observed (Ho) and expected (Hs) heterozygosity and FIS point out a low genetic diversity in the analyzed breeds. The genetic distances estimated using Ds and FST revealed values were close to 0 (0.005 and 0.030, respectively), suggesting that these breeds are genetically similar. The population structure analyzed with multivariate methods such as Discriminant Analysis of Principal Component and admixture analyses showed that both breeds were grouped within the same cluster. These results are supported by other authors based on mitochondrial sequences who reported short genetic distances between these breeds. Although complementary analyses using a larger number of markers should be performed, the results of the current analyses support the hypothesis of Alentejano and Iberian could be different strains of the same breed

Diversidad genética de las razas porcinas ibérica y alentejana mediante el genotipado de variantes genéticas en genes mayores y genes candidatos

Las razas porcinas ibérica y alentejana se encuentran biogeográficamente localizadas en el suroeste de la península Ibérica. Estas razas comparten un conjunto de características comunes. Ambas son fenotípicamente muy similares; muestran un bajo índice de crecimiento y una elevada deposición grasa y tienen un sistema común de producción al aire libre en el que se explotan los recursos de la Dehesa. El objetivo del presente trabajo, dentro del marco del proyecto TREASURE, consistió en caracterizar la diversidad genética de ambas razas usando los datos de genotipado de 39 polimorfismos localizados en 34 genes previamente asociados a distintos caracteres de interés económico. Estos polimorfismos fueron genotipados en 950 cerdos pertenecientes a las razas ibérica y alentejana y a 18 razas europeas autóctonas adicionales. Los bajos valores para heterozigosidad observada y esperada indican una baja diversidad genética en ibéricos y alentejanos. Las distancias genéticas estimadas usando DS y FST fueron cercanas a 0 (0.007 y 0.039, respectivamente), sugieren que estas razas son genéticamente muy similares. Asimismo, las técnicas de análisis multivariante utilizadas como análisis de componentes principales y asignación a grupos mostraron que los individuos de estas razas están muy próximos formando clusters diferenciados del resto de razas. Estos resultados concuerdan con los de otros autores que ya mostraron distancias genéticas cortas entre ambas razas usando secuencias de ADN mitocondrial

Transcriptomic profiling of skeletal muscle reveals candidate genes influencing muscle growth and associated lipid composition in Portuguese local pig breeds

Gene expression is one of the main factors to influence meat quality by modulating fatty acid metabolism, composition, and deposition rates in muscle tissue. This study aimed to explore the transcriptomics of the Longissimus lumborum muscle in two local pig breeds with distinct genetic background using next-generation sequencing technology and Real-Time qPCR. RNA-seq yielded 49 differentially expressed genes between breeds, 34 overexpressed in the Alentejano (AL) and 15 in the Bísaro (BI) breed. Specific slow type myosin heavy chain components were associated with AL (MYH7) and BI (MYH3) pigs, while an overexpression of MAP3K14 in AL may be associated with their lower loin proportion, induced insulin resistance, and increased inflammatory response via NFkB activation. Overexpression of RUFY1 in AL pigs may explain the higher intramuscular (IMF) content via higher GLUT4 recruitment and consequently higher glucose uptake that can be stored as fat. Several candidate genes for lipid metabolism, excluded in the RNA-seq analysis due to low counts, such as ACLY, ADIPOQ, ELOVL6, LEP and ME1 were identified by qPCR as main gene factors defining the processes that influence meat composition and quality. These results agree with the fatter profile of the AL pig breed and adiponectin resistance can be postulated as responsible for the overexpression of MAP3K140s coding product NIK, failing to restore insulin sensitivity