The benefits to the Australian Pig meat industry from an increase in demand for a hypothetical low cholesterol pork product

This is the third of a series of papers examining the potential economic effects from the introduction of a hypothetical low cholesterol pork product into the Australian market. Here, a newly updated pig meat model reported by Griffith et al. (2010) is used to model the industry wide impacts of the Bellhouse et al. (2010) survey results on consumer willingness to pay for this new pork product. Six different scenarios are examined that are combinations of a 10, 20 or 30 per cent increase in consumer demand, with and without a 10 per cent increase in the costs of producing the more valuable pork. The simulation results for the various scenarios indicate total annual industry benefits of some $450m for an increase in aggregate willingness to pay of 30 per cent and no cost increase, down to$88m for an increase in aggregate willingness to pay of 10 per cent and a 10 per cent cost increase. Australian consumers receive about 80 per cent of total benefits, pork producers receive about 7-8 per cent and all other market participants together receive about 12-13 per cent. These values provide a guide to the size of the annual investment that could be justified by pork producers to produce a pig that is low in cholesterol.cholesterol, pork, Australia, consumer willingness to pay, demand, Agribusiness, Demand and Price Analysis, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Livestock Production/Industries, Production Economics,

Australian consumers' willingness to pay and willingness to purchase a hypothetical lower cholesterol pork product

This study investigated whether there would be an increase in consumer willingness to pay and purchase if reduced cholesterol pork was introduced to the Australian market. A stated choice analysis was used, with the following questions addressed. How are current purchases of fresh pork affected by concerns about cholesterol content? What financial premium, if any, would consumers place on reduced cholesterol pork? Would consumers buy more pork if a low cholesterol option were available? Is there a group of consumers, such as those with high cholesterol, who have an increased willingness to pay for or purchase reduced cholesterol pork when compared to consumers without this health problem? Results from this study indicated that at present the majority of consumers are relatively unconcerned about the cholesterol content of fresh pork and that there is a minimal effect of such concerns on fresh pork purchases. The results also predicted a significant financial premium for the reduced cholesterol product at the retail level, with increased willingness to pay for and consume reduced cholesterol pork by the average pork consuming family. However, as these results are the product of a stated choice analysis and not a revealed preference study, and therefore simply reasonable expectations, it is likely that the reported increase in demand in both quantity and price by potential consumers is overstated to some extent.pork, cholesterol, choice analysis, Australian pork, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Consumer/Household Economics, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Livestock Production/Industries, Risk and Uncertainty,

Evaluation of the Responsiveness of Swine Divergently Selected for Feed Efficiency to an Exogenous Adrenocorticotropin Hormone (ACTH) Challenge

The relationship between stress and feed efficiency in finisher swine was investigated through an adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) challenge. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of the ACTH-cortisol axis and the stress response in feed efficiency using pigs divergently selected for RFI. Gilts divergently selected for residual feed intake (RFI) were used as a model for feed efficiency and were challenged with 0.2 IU/kg BW of exogenous porcine ACTH. Serial blood samples were collected and plasma cortisol concentrations were determined. These results indicate that high-RFI pigs(lower feed efficiency) are more responsive to an ACTH challenge, but cope equally as well as pigs selected for low-RFI (higher feed efficiency)

Evaluation of legumes for fermentability and protein fractions using in vitro rumen fermentation

Diversifying feed with non-traditional options could minimize the dependency on traditional sources, maintain the feed supply throughout the year, and potentially reduce the cost of raising animals. A total of eight forage legumes including Peltophorum pterocarpum, Neptunia monosperma, Vachellia sutherlandii (Corkwood), Gliricidia sepium, Bauhinia hookeri and three Desmanthus species (JCU4, JCU5 and JCU9) were collected to assess their in vitro fermentability, degradable and undegradable protein fractions using in vitro gas production method. Soybean meal and lucerne hay were used as control. The total gas production ranged from 12.8 mL/g in P. pterocarpum to 127.3 mL/g in soybean meal. The total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration from G. sepium (117.7 mM/L) and V. sutherlandii (111.3 mM/L) were larger than other legumes except for soybean meal (157.1 mM/L) and lucerne hay (130.4 mM/L), P < 0.001. The methane gas produced from B. hookeri and P. pterocarpum (0.39 and 0.32 mL/g) was lower than other feeds, P < 0.001. The V. sutherlandii (720 g/kg crude protein (CP)) and G. sepium (745 g/kg CP) had the greatest effective CP degradation (EPD) than other legume species examined, P < 0.001, which was approaching that measured in the control samples. The amount of protein fraction ‘a’ (rapidly degradable) was larger in JCU9 (551 g/kg CP), and G. sepium (472 g/kg CP), and lower in B. hookeri (10.9 g/kg CP) and P. pterocarpum (14.8 g/kg CP), P < 0.001. The V. sutherlandii (386 g/kg CP) and G. sepium (272 g/kg CP) exceeded other legumes in the proportion of fraction ‘b’ (slowly degradable), P < 0.001, but not the controls. The undegradable fraction increased with increasing phenolic content and reached more than 940 g/kg CP for both B. hookeri and P. pterocarpum. The Desmanthus cultivars showed intermediate values among the tested legumes in fermentation characteristics and shows potential to provide slowly degradable protein while reducing methane. The findings indicate the possibility of using V. sutherlandii and G. sepium to substitute other forages for their greater slowly degradable protein content. Moreover, B. hookeri and P. pterocarpum plants emerged as candidates to assist protein protection in the rumen and reduce methane emissions. However, these legumes need to be evaluated in vivo before promoting for further use to confirm the variability reported here

Evaluation of the n-alkane technique for estimating herbage dry matter intake of dairy cows offered herbage harvested at two different stages of growth in summer and autumn

peer-reviewedThe n-alkane technique for estimating herbage dry matter intake (DMI) of dairy cows was investigated in this experiment. Eight Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were offered perennial ryegrass ad libitum that had been harvested at two different herbage masses and during two different seasons, in order to assess the effect of herbage mass and season on the accuracy of the n-alkane technique. Two pre-harvested herbage mass treatments (low, target 1500 kg DM/ha versus high, target 4000 kg DM/ha, measured above 4 cm), were investigated in a crossover factorial arrangement within each of two seasons (summer versus autumn), in Ireland. Each season consisted of two periods, each 12 days in length. Cows were housed in individual metabolism stalls to allow for accurate determination of measured DMI. Herbage DMI was estimated, with the n-alkane technique, by dosing cows twice daily with a C32 n-alkane. Pre-harvest herbage mass and season did not affect the n-alkane estimated DMI, although lack of season and herbage mass effects may have been masked by variation that occurred between swards within the same herbage mass and season. However, there were a number of differences between summer and autumn in the fecal recovery rates of a number of n-alkanes suggesting that the effect of season requires further investigation prior to the application of recovery rates from literature values when investigating diet selection and botanical composition. Overall, the n-alkane technique provided good estimates of DMI; the discrepancy had a standard deviation due to sward of 1.2 and 1.0 kg DM/cow per day, and hence potential bias of up to twice this, and a measurement error standard deviation of 1.3 and 1.0 kg DM/cow per day, for the C33/C32 and C31/C32 n-alkane pair methods respectively. Two n-alkane pairs were tested, and C33/C32 n-alkane provided the most precise estimates of DMI, compared with the C31/C32 n-alkane pair. This research provides some strong evidence for future use of the n-alkane technique including that the accuracy of the technique has not been influenced by contemporary changes to herbage management, is not affected by seasonal changes, and overall is an accurate and precise technique for estimating DMI.This research was funded by Teagasc Core Funding (Ireland) and the Irish Dairy Levy Research fund (Ireland). The Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (Australia), Dairy Australia (Australia) and The University of Melbourne (Australia) supported the travel costs in order to conduct this research

Meat tenderness: advances in biology, biochemistry, molecular mechanisms and new technologies

Meat tenderness is an important quality trait critical to consumer acceptance, and determines satisfaction, repeat purchase and willingness-to-pay premium prices. Recent advances in tenderness research from a variety of perspectives are presented. Our understanding of molecular factors influencing tenderization are discussed in relation to glycolysis, calcium release, protease activation, apoptosis and heat shock proteins, the use of proteomic analysis for monitoring changes, proteomic biomarkers and oxidative/nitrosative stress. Each of these structural, metabolic and molecular determinants of meat tenderness are then discussed in greater detail in relation to animal variation, postmortem influences, and changes during cooking, with a focus on recent advances. Innovations in postmortem technologies and enzymes for meat tenderization are discussed including their potential commercial application. Continued success of the meat industry relies on ongoing advances in our understanding, and in industry innovation. The recent advances in fundamental and applied research on meat tenderness in relation to the various sectors of the supply chain will enable such innovation

Selenium-enriched Agaricus bisporus mushroom protects against increase in gut permeability ex vivo and up-regulates glutathione peroxidase 1 and 2 in hyperthermally-induced oxidative stress in rats

Dietary effects of organic Se supplementation in the form of Se-enriched Agaricus bisporus mushroom on ileal mucosal permeability and antioxidant selenoenzymes status in heat induced oxidative stress in rats were evaluated. Acute heat stress (40 &deg;C, 21% relative humidity, 90 min exposure) increased ileum baseline short circuit current (Isc; 2.40-fold) and epithelial conductance (Ge; 2.74-fold). Dietary supplementation with Se-enriched A. bisporus (1 &micro;g Se/g feed) reduced (p &lt; 0.05) ileum Isc and Ge during heat stress to 1.74 and 1.91 fold, respectively, indicating protection from heat stress-induced mucosal permeability increase. The expression of ileum glutathione peroxidase (GPx-) 1 and 2 mRNAs were up-regulated (p &lt; 0.05) by 1.90 and 1.87-fold, respectively, for non-heat stress rats on the Se-enriched diet relative to the control. The interplay between heat stress and dietary Se is complex. For rats on the control diet, heat stress alone increased ileum expression of GPx-1 (2.33-fold) and GPx-2 (2.23-fold) relative to thermoneutral conditions. For rats on the Se-enriched diet, heat stress increased (p &lt; 0.05) GPx-1 expression only. Rats on Se-enriched + &alpha;-tocopherol diet exhibited increased expression of both genes (p &lt; 0.05). Thus, dietary Se-enriched A. bisporus protected against increase in ileum permeability and up-regulated GPx-1 and GPx-2 expression, selenoenzymes relevant to mitigating oxidative stress

Differential effects of natural palm oil, chemically- and enzymatically-modified palm oil on weight gain, blood lipid metabolites and fat deposition in a pediatric pig model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Increasing prevalence of obesity and overweight in the Western world, continue to be a major health threat and is responsible for increased health care costs. Dietary intervention studies show a strong positive association between saturated fat intake and the development of obesity and cardiovascular disease. This study investigated the effect of positional distribution of palmitic acid (Sn-1, 2 & 3) of palm oil on cardiovascular health and development of obesity, using weaner pigs as a model for young children.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Male and female weaner piglets were randomly allocated to 4 dietary treatment groups: 1) pork lard (LRD); 2) natural palm olein (NPO); 3) chemically inter-esterified PO (CPO) and 4) enzymatically inter-esterified PO (EnPO) as the fat source. Diets were formulated with 11% lard or with palm olein in order to provide 31% of digestible energy from fat in the diet and were balanced for cholesterol, protein and energy across treatments.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>From 8 weeks onwards, pigs on EnPO diet gained (P < 0.05) more weight than all other groups. Feed conversion efficiency (feed to gain) over the 12 week experimental period did not vary between treatment groups. Plasma LDL-C content and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio in pigs fed natural PO tended to be lower compared to all other diets. The natural PO lowered (P < 0.02) the plasma triglyceride (TG) content relative to the lard or EnPO diets, but was not different from the CPO diet. The natural PO diet was associated with lower (P < 0.05) saturated fat levels in subcutaneous adipose tissue than the CPO and EnPO diets that had lower saturated fat levels than the lard diet. Female pigs had lower lean and higher fat and fat:lean ratio in the body compared with male pigs. No difference in weight gain or blood lipid parameters was observed between sexes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The observations on plasma TG, muscle and adipose tissue saturated fatty acid contents and back fat (subcutaneous) thickness suggest that natural palm oil may reduce deposition of body fat. In addition, dietary supplementation with natural palm oil containing palmitic acid at different positions in meat producing animals may lead to the production of meat and meat products with lower saturated fats. An increase in fat content and a decrease in lean content in female pigs resulted in an increased body fat:lean ratio but gender had no effect on blood lipid parameters or insulin concentrations.</p

Adaptation strategies: ruminants

Growing populations and reduced access to arable land mean that animal production systems will either need to intensify and/or produce more from a reducing land and other resource base. Variable and unpredictable environmental conditions mean that animal production faces numerous challenges. In add- ition to climate, these challenges include increased disease risk, increased nutritional deficiencies, and lack of capital to support diversification. Predicted changes in climate will impose selection pressures on traits important for biological fitness (and production). Genetic adaptation is important for the future of livestock systems. Animal adaptation involves trade-offs, which must be considered when selecting animals for use in breeding programs

Effect of dietary protein on body composition and insulin resistance using a pig model of the child and adolescent

Abstract There has been an increase in the incidence of obesity and related metabolic disorders in children and adolescents, so effective dietary and exercise interventions are needed. Over the past decade, there has been growing scientific evidence and public acceptance of the role that dietary protein plays in regulation of satiety, feed intake and obesity-related disorders. Dietary protein appears to suppress food intake and delay the return of hunger more than fats or carbohydrates in a manner not due to energy content alone. Some protein sources, particularly dairy, contain specific peptides or proteins that may elicit direct effects upon satiety. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the role of level and type of dietary protein using the pig to model the important growth and developmental stages of human life. Increasing dietary protein intake reduced feed intake and fat and weight gain with the response being most pronounced in pigs consuming diets containing soy protein isolate (SPI) rather than whey protein isolate (WPI). However, in female pigs consuming diets rich in SPI from infancy to adolescence, there was a catch-up growth that resulted in increased food intake and weight and fat gain. Insulin sensitivity was negatively related to the rate of fat deposition and was improved in pigs consuming WPI compared with SPI. While high-protein diets may decrease calcium balance and bone strength, it appears that these effects are attenuated by WPI. These findings suggest that high-protein diets may reduce hunger and food intake, thereby reducing fat deposition and improving insulin sensitivity