With their considerable nutritive value, acorns have long been a natural feed source for pigs and, in recent years, fattening pigs with acorns has become very popular even in countries where it has ...not traditionally been customary. The meat of pigs finished with acorns has a unique flavour and fat profile as reflected by fatty acids content. We decided to determine the nutritional value of the most common species of acorns in Central Europe (Quercus robur) and examine the effects of this feed upon fattening performance, carcass value, and the composition of meat and fat produced by indoor finishing of pigs, as forest grazing is prohibited here. We conclude that the Prestice Black-Pied breed can be fattened utilizing a mixed feed containing acorns at the level of 10% under intensive conditions without significantly changing the performance parameters (average daily gain was 750 g versus 761 g in the control group). We found improvements in fatty acid profiles of intramuscular fat away from saturated toward monounsaturated. The improvements in the fatty acid profiles, similar to those seen in pigs raised in sylvan settings, create pork that may benefit human health. Acorns can constitute an alternative feedstuff even for pigs finished indoors and bring new benefits to agriculture in modern times.
The aim of the study was to test the effect of replacing soya beans with pea and yellow lupin seeds in the diet of pigs on meat quality. The meat for the tests was obtained from 60 fattening ...crossbred pigs F
(Polish Large White × Polish Landrace) × F1 (Pietrain × Duroc). The animals belonged to three feeding groups depending on the feed used with the total share of soybeans and its reduction. Water holding capacity, colour, and tenderness were measured and visual and tactile evaluation (colour, marbling and firmness) was performed for meat samples collected from the longissimus lumborum muscle. The chemical composition of the meat and the content of minerals were determined. The content of amino acids, fatty acids and cholesterol was determined.
There was no significant differences among the assessed physicochemical characteristics of the meat. The obtained meat was of good quality, regardless of the proportion of proteins from legumes in the diet of pigs. The results of the subjective evaluation of meat, its colour, and the content of muscle pigments were uniform in all food groups. Similarly, a uniform, high protein content was found in all tested groups (C-24.98%; E1-24.82%; E2-25.09%) and the content of macro- and micronutrients in the tested meat was equivalent. The profile of fatty acids was not significantly affected by dietary treatment. Palmitoleic acid content was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the E2 group compared to the E1 group (3.279% compared to 2.844%). The content of amino acids in meat samples was influenced by dietary treatment. Almost all the monitored essential amino acids (threonine, valine, leucine, phenylalanine and lysine) and some of nonessential amino acids' proportion was increased in the experimental groups (E1, E2).
Replacing soya bean protein in the pigs' diet with legume protein (peas and yellow lupin) did not adversely affect meat quality. This applies to both the physicochemical characteristics, the basic composition and the fatty acid profile. The meat of fattening pigs fed with the highest proportion of pea and lupin in the ration was characterized by more favourable proportion of essential amino acids.
The objective of the study was to analyse the fatty acid profile (FA) and amino acid profile (AA) in the musculus longissimus lumborum et thoracis (MLLT) in two contrast pig populations. The study ...was carried out on a total of 39 pigs (19 barrows and 20 gilts) of the indigenous Prestice Black-Pied Pig (PB) and 37 pigs (17 barrows and 20 gilts) of the three-breed commercial hybrid of Large White × Landrace × Large White
sireline
(CH). The pigs were kept in the same conditions of diet and management. The slaughter was carried out at the average weight of 95 kg. Sex of the evaluated pigs was also taken into account. The CH pigs showed lower contents of saturated FA (p < 0.01), monounsaturated FA (MUFA; p < 0.05) and a higher content of n-6 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA; p < 0.05), more favourable health indexes, expressed as lower values of atherogenic (p < 0.001), thrombogenic (p < 0.001) and saturation (saturated/unsaturated FA) index (p < 0.001) and positively higher values of hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic FA ratio (p < 0.01). The gilts showed lower content of MUFA (p < 0.05). Significant (p < 0.05) interaction effects between genotype and sex were recorded for the caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, tridecylic acid, myristic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, α-linolenic and γ-linolenic acid (p < 0.01), with the highest content found in PB barrows. Differences in the AA profiles in the MLLT muscle were only minimal. The PB pigs showed higher proportion (p < 0.05) of threonine, isoleucine and aspartic acid. Higher proportions of threonine and valine were observed in barrows (p < 0.05). The results indicate that the evaluated populations of pigs are characterised by significantly different composition of FA. The health indexes suggest more favourable values in the meat of CH pigs.
The aim of the study was comparison of fatty acid (FA) and amino acid (AA) composition in meat of two contrast pig genotypes.
Regarding the FA profile, the modern hybrid showed more favourable health indexes than the Prestice Black-Pied Pig (PB).
These two populations of pigs, kept in the same conditions, had similar composition of AAs in meat.
•Zinc nanoparticles supplementation of weaned piglets did not affect final carcasse quality.•Zinc bioaccumulation was not significantly affected in experimental groups compared to the control group.
...High doses of zinc have been used as a prevention against weaned piglets' diarrhea for many years. Nevertheless, since 2022 high doses of zinc oxide have been banned in EU. Currently, there are several studies about the potential of zinc nanoparticles in lower doses which could maintain a preventive effect. Several concerns about nanoparticles' toxicity and bioaccumulation have been raised in many other fields of research. The aim of this short follow-up study is focused on the impact of zinc nanoparticles used as a prevention of diarrhea for weaned piglets, on the classification of slaughtered pigs’ carcasses and on zinc retention in muscle tissue. Seventy piglets (10 groups of 7 piglets) were fed a standard diet. The treated groups’ diets were supplemented with zinc oxide (ZnO), and phosphate-based nanoparticles: spherical- shaped type A (ZnA) and irregular-shaped: type C (ZnC), at the doses of 500, 1000 and 2000 mg Zn equivalent per kilogram of diet. The control group´s diet was not treated with zinc in any form. The feed experiment started when the piglets were 28 days old and lasted for 10 days. Experimental animals were grown to the final weight 120 ± 10 kg and slaughtered in a slaughterhouse. The pig carcasses were evaluated according to S/EUROP standards: the pigs’ weight, back fat thickness and lean meat content were monitored. Moreover, zinc concentrations in M. longissimus dorsi et thoracis were analyzed. The results have not proved significant changes in S/EUROP standard classification and zinc bioaccumulation in muscle tissue. This follow-up experiment was carried out as part of maintaining a precautionary approach to the use the nanoparticles in piglet fattening. In our study we did not confirm their effect on the assessment of carcass classification and their bioaccumulation in muscle tissue.
The aim of the experiment was to analyze the reproductive performance of sows and the losses and growth of piglets in three different systems of farrowing houses. A total of 120 sows of the Prestice ...Black-Pied breed were included in the study with 40 litters evaluated in each of the systems. The housing systems compared were conventional farrowing cages, pens with temporary fixation, and free farrowing pens. The housing system significantly affected the length of pregnancy (p < 0.05). Its effect was 0.35 days shorter in the sows in the free-farrowing system than in the cage technology and 0.6 days shorter than in the temporary fixation. Housing also influenced the onset of post-weaning oestrus (p < 0.01), which occurred 0.31 days earlier in the sows in a free-farrowing system and in those in pens with temporary fixation. A significant effect of housing on the overall losses of piglets (p < 0.05) was also found. The crushing of piglets by sows was also significantly affected by the housing system (p < 0.05), with the highest incidence found in the free-farrowing system. The effect of the housing system on the individual weaning weight of piglets was also found to be significant (p < 0.001). The piglets of the sows in the free housing system showed higher growth intensity when compared to piglets in the other housing systems. In conclusion, it can be stated that the lowest losses caused by the crushing of piglets were found in the cage systems. However, the combined system seems to be very perspective in terms of losses of piglets. The free-farrowing system has positive effects on the growth of piglets.
The global demand for protein is on the rise owing to the exponential increase in the world population and to meet the global protein requirements, it is imperative to seek alternative sources of ...proteins in farm animal feeding. Recognizing the importance of proteins and the fact that a major portion of human protein requirements is derived from livestock in the form of meat, milk, and eggs, the available protein-feeding stuff in the form of soybean meal cannot be regarded as sufficient for feeding to livestock. Oil seeds such as rapeseed meal and canola meal have a crude protein content of 30%-40% and are widely used and hence a potential alternative protein source to soybean meal. Going forward, Grain legumes such as peas, faba beans, and lupins, another alternative source of proteins have the potential to replace traditional protein feeds completely or partially such as bone and fish meals. Duckweed with a protein content of 20%-45% is another plant-based potential protein source that can be employed in livestock feeding particularly pigs owing to its huge potential as a growth promoter as evidenced by studies in pigs and piglets. Because of their nutritional qualities and possible environmental advantages, insects represent another class of alternative protein sources that have enormous potential to function as sustainable protein sources. Several insect species have been assessed for use as animal feeds; the most promising ones include the yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor, TM), the common house fly (MD), and the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens, HI). Byproducts from aquaculture and fisheries are abundant in macro- and micronutrients, and their utilisation can provide fishmeal and fish oil, which can then be further adapted for use as a source of protein in animal nutrition. Employing microalgae as an alternative source of protein in animal feeding is somehow a new concept. Many nutritional and toxicological studies have demonstrated the potential of algae biomass as a valued feed supplement or substitute for conventional protein sources such as soybean meal. While these alternative protein sources in livestock feeding may serve as useful tools, parameters such as feed safety and acceptability should be monitored based on feed safety regulations.
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