Effect of Italian heavy pig diets based on different barley varieties with or without non-starch polysaccharides degrading enzymes on growth performance, carcass characteristics and fresh thigh quality

The effect of diets based on two different barley varieties, with or without non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) degrading enzymes was evaluated on growth performance, carcass characteristics and fresh thigh quality in Italian heavy growing-finishing pigs. Pigs (64) were assigned to four diets: two diets based on 85% of hulled normal-amylose barley (Cometa, with or without NSP enzyme complex) and two diets based on 85% of hulless low-amylose barley (Alamo, with or without NSP enzyme complex). The diets were formulated according to three growth phases with same lisyne:digestible energy ratio. The NSP enzyme complex did not improve the Cometa and Alamo diets in terms of pig growth performance, carcass characteristics and fresh thigh quality. Throughout the study, the Alamo group had greater (p < 0.05) final body weight, average daily gain and gain per megacalorie of digestible energy than the Cometa group. Higher (p < 0.05) carcass and thigh weights, and lower (p < 0.01) thigh chilling losses were observed for the Alamo group compared with the Cometa group. The Cometa diet decreased (p < 0.01) polyunsaturated fatty acids level, and increased (p < 0.01) monounsaturated fatty acid content and saturated fatty acids/polyunsaturated fatty acids ratio in subcutaneous fat of fresh thighs. No appreciable differences were observed in the color of subcutaneous fat and biceps femoris of pigs fed the Cometa and Alamo diets. Feeding hulless low-amylose barley to growing-finishing pigs can be valuable to promote growth performance and carcass characteristics. No NSP enzyme complex is needed when hulled normal-amylose barley or hulless low-amylose barley are used in diets for heavy pigs

Protein content in the diet influences growth and diarrhea in weaning piglets

The aim of this research has been to assess the effect of the dietary protein level on piglet growth and post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) incidence. Piglet fecal microbiota and feces composition were also assessed. The experiment was carried out on 144 weaned piglets (Duroc × Large White; 72 piglets per treatment) and lasted from weaning (at 25 days of age) until the end of the post-weaning phase (at 95 days). Two dietary protein levels were compared: high (HP; 17.5% crude protein on average, during the experiment) and low (LP; 15.5% on average). Lower (p &lt; 0.01) average daily gain and feed conversion ratio were observed in LP piglets in the first growth phase. However, at the end of the post-weaning period, the growth parameters were not significantly different in the two diets. Diarrhea scores were lower in piglets fed LP diets than in piglets fed HP diets (28.6% of the total vs. 71.4% in the HP piglets). Fibrobacteres, Proteobacteria, and Spirochaetes were more abundant in the feces of the piglets fed LP diets. Feces nitrogen content was lower in piglets fed LP diets. In conclusion, low protein levels in the diet can reduce the incidence of PWD while only marginally affecting growth parameters

Effect of feeding maltodextrins and dextrose on rearing and slaughtering performance of immunocastrated male pigs.

This study aimed to verify previous research findings showing that feeding maltodextrins (M) and dextrose (D) leads to a reduction of voluntary feed intake in the Italian heavy pig. This may be interesting for immunocastrated pigs fed ad libitum (ad lib.), whose feed intake skyrockets after the 2nd vaccination, causing too fatty carcasses at slaughtering. Thirty-six male pigs (Italian Duroc x Italian Large White crossbred) received a double immunocastrating injection at 90 and 162 days of age. At 120 days, weighing 51.84+4.38 kg, the subjects were evenly housed in 9 boxes, fed ad lib. till the 2nd injection and then given, until slaughtering (197 days of age; 144.51±9.70 kg), one of the experimental diets: control diet, ad lib. (CL); control diet, restricted at 7.5% l.w.0.75 (CR); with MD (3.5 + 3.5%; adjusted for energy and protein), ad lib. (MD). The CR diet was introduced as the alternative choice to avoid too fatty carcasses. Compared to the restricted ones, pigs fed ad lib. (with or without MD) showed statistically higher (P&lt;.01) ADG (1325 and 1325 vs 905 g/d), ADFI (4630 and 4637 vs 2760 g/d), feed:gain ratio (3.53 and 3.52 vs 3.11), and heavier carcasses (125.1 and 124.4 vs 113.2 kg; P&lt;.01) with lower lean meat content (52.21 and 52.09 vs 55.83 %; P&lt;.01). The results point out how immunocastrated pigs fed ad lib. showed similar rearing and slaughtering performance regardless of the inclusion of M and D in the diet

Origanum vulgare L. and Rosmarinus officinalis L. Aqueous Extracts in Growing-finishing Pig Nutrition: Effects on Antioxidant Status, Immune Responses, Polyphenolic Content and Sensorial Properties

The effects of an oregano and/or rosemary (Origanum vulgare L. and/or Rosmarinus officinalis L.) dietary supplementation to the diet of fattening pigs were investigated. Thirty-two grower-finisher pigs (45 kg) were divided into four dietary groups identified as: control diet (CTR); CTR+ 0.2% oregano (O); CTR + 0.2% rosemary(R), and CTR+ 0.1% oregano + 0.1% rosemary (OR). During the finishing period, all groups received a further supplementation of 0.5% of conjugated linoleic acids (CLA). Blood samples were collected after an adaptation period of 15 days to the new diet (T1) and at the end of the finishing period (T2) to evaluate antioxidant status (total antioxidant power and reactive oxygen metabolites) and immune responses (lymphocytic phenotyping and IgG levels). Pork meat samples were evaluated for glutathione peroxidase activity (GSHPx), total phenolic content and preference rating. A significant increase in B lymphocytes (CD79+) and a higher IgG level was observed in the R and O groups (P&lt;0.05). Furthermore, there were significant effects of dietary supplementation on meat GSHPx activity and total phenolic contents (P&lt;0.001 and P&lt;0.005, respectively). Preference rating showed that pork derived from group R was the most preferred by the consumers

Effect of feeding maltodextrins and dextrose on rearing and slaughtering performance of immunocastrated male pigs.

This study aimed to verify previous research findings showing that feeding maltodextrins (M) and dextrose (D) leads to a reduction of voluntary feed intake in the Italian heavy pig; this may be interesting for immunocastrated pigs fed ad libitum, whose feed intake skyrockets after the 2nd vaccination, causing too fatty carcasses at slaughtering. Thirty-six male pigs (Italian Duroc x Italian Large White crossbred) received a double immunocastrating injection at 90 and 162 days of age. At 120 days, weighing 51.84+4.38 kg, the subjects were evenly housed in 9 boxes, fed ad libitum till the 2nd injection and then given, until slaughtering (197 days of age; 144.51±9.70 kg), one of the experimental diets: control diet, ad libitum (CL); control diet, restricted at 7.5% l.w.0.75 (CR); with MD (3.5 + 3.5%; adjusted for energy and protein by lowering corn meal while increasing barley, soybean meal, and wheat bran), ad libitum (MD). The CR diet was introduced as the alternative choice to avoid too fatty carcasses. Compared to the restricted ones, pigs fed ad libitum during the entire trial (with or without MD) showed higher ADG (1265 and 1260 vs 1085 g/d), ADFI (3780 and 3833 vs 2943 g/d), feed:gain ratio (3.00 and 3.05 vs 2.72) and heavier carcasses (125.13 and 124.40 vs 113.25 kg), with lower lean meat content (52.21 and 52.09 vs 55.83 %). The results point out how immunocastrated pigs fed ad libitum showed similar rearing and slaughtering performance regardless of the inclusion of maltodextrins and dextrose in the diet

Use of Monocereal diets based on barley in heavy pigs: the effects on performance

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