Effect of withholding feed from swine before slaughter on carcass and viscera weights and meat quality

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of feed withholding on carcass and viscera weights and meat quality in grow-finish swine. Experiment 1 included 528 pigs that were marketed from 24 pens and subjected to either 6 (control) or 24 h of feed withholding before marketing. Experiment 2 included 324 pigs that were marketed from 36 pens that were subjected to 6 (control), 16, or 24 h of feed withholding before marketing. In both experiments, pigs from each pen were marketed over a 14-d period in three groups, each 7 d apart. In Exp. 1, withholding feed for 24 h decreased viscera weight, carcass weight and yield, and feed intake during the 14-d marketing period compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Subjective measures of color, firmness, and marbling in fresh pork did not differ for the two treatment groups. In Exp. 2, withholding feed for 16 or 24 h decreased (P < 0.05) viscera weight compared with that of the control group. Withholding feed for 24 h decreased feed intake during the 14-d marketing period compared with intake of the control group. Withholding feed for 16 h did not decrease carcass weight, but carcass weights in the 24-h group were lower than those of the 16-h group in this Exp. 2 (P < 0.05). Color, firmness, marbling, and shear force did not differ among treatment groups in Exp. 2; however, cooking loss in pork from the control group exceeded that of the 24-h treatment. Gain:feed and ADG were not affected by treatment during the marketing period in either experiment. We conclude that withholding feed for either 16 or 24 h decreases viscera weight and feed intake during the marketing phase in finishing swine. These changes could potentially benefit both the producer and the processor with only minimal effects on carcass weight and pork quality.     

木豆杂种优势利用研究进展

自1974年发现木豆雄性不育株以来,国际上不断对木豆核雄性不育(GMS)和核质互作雄性不育(CGMS)基因及其种质资源进行研究和挖掘,最终实现了木豆杂种优势的成功利用。本文系统总结了过去30多年来,国际上木豆杂种优势机理、表现及授粉方式等基础研究,GMS、CGMS不育系及其配套制种体系研究,杂种优势强度研究,以及木豆杂交种生产技术研究进展。提出了木豆杂种优势利用的具体研究方向和展望。     

Performance and nutrient balance in growing swine fed low-protein diets supplemented with amino acids and potassium

Five experiments, using 216 barrows and gilts (initial weight 19.9 to 23.7 kg), were conducted to evaluate the effects of improving amino acid balance by supplementing low-protein corn-soybean meal diets with essential amino acids. Three experiments were growth studies lasting approximately 3 wk, and the other two were 4-d metabolism trials. The control diets in each of the experiments were formulated to contain .80% lysine and contained approximately 17% CP. The other diets were formulated from a basal diet containing a 10.9% CP, fortified corn-soybean meal mixture, which included crystalline L-lysine.HCI, L-tryptophan, L-threonine, L-isoleucine, DL-methionine and L-valine to correct amino acid deficiencies. Nonessential N (glutamic acid or urea) also was added to some of the diets to increase the CP equivalent to 12 or 13%. Supplemental K (as a salt of bicarbonate or glutamate) was included in selected diets to increase the K concentration to the same level as that of the control diet. Growth rate of pigs fed the basal diet was similar (P greater than .05) to that of the control diets in only one growth study. Added glutamic acid and urea did not improve either growth rate or N retention. Added K improved K digestibility but did not increase K retention, N retention or growth rate. Improving amino acid balance by adding essential amino acids to low-protein diets did not benefit performance beyond that of a typical corn-soybean meal diet. Under our conditions, K, N, and nonessential N were not limiting.     

Identification of Polymorphisms in the Osteopontin Gene and Their Associations with Certain Semen Production Traits of Water Buffaloes in the Brazilian Amazon

The osteopontin gene may influence the fertility of water buffaloes because it is a protein present in sperm. The aim of this work was to identify polymorphisms in this gene and associate them with fertility parameters of animals kept under extensive grazing. A total of 306 male buffaloes older than 18 months, from two farms, one in the state of Amapá and the other in the state of Pará, Brazil were used in the study. Seven SNPs were identified in the regions studied. The polymorphisms were in gene positions 1478, 1513 and 1611 in the region 5′upstrem and positions 6690, 6737, 6925 and 6952 in the region amplified in intron 5. The SNPs were associated with the traits, namely scrotal circumference, scrotal volume, sperm motility, sperm concentration and sperm pathology. There were significant SNPs (p < 0.05) for all the traits. The SNP 6690 was significant for scrotal circumference, sperm concentration, sperm motility and sperm pathology and the SNP 6737 for scrotal volume. The genotype AA of SNP 6690 presented the highest averages for scrotal circumference, sperm concentration and motility and the lowest total number of sperm pathologies. For the scrotal volume trait, the animals with the largest volume were correlated with the presence of the genotype GG of SNP 6737. These results indicate a significance of the osteopontin gene as it seems to exert a substantial influence on the semen production traits of male buffaloes.     

Deodorization of swine manure using minced horseradish roots and peroxides

Public concerns about offensive odors from livestock manures are on the rise and so is the pressure to develop practical ways to reduce the odors. The use of minced horseradish (Armoracia rusticanaL) roots (1:10 w/v plant tissue to swine slurry ratio), with calcium peroxide (CaO2 at 26 or 34 mM) or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2 at 34, 52, or 68 mM) for the deodorization of swine manure, was evaluated through a series of laboratory experiments. The principle underlying this deodorization method is the oxidation of odorants by the concerted action of horseradish peroxidase (present in the plant tissue) and peroxide that serves as an electron acceptor, followed by polymerization of phenolic odorants with a possible copolymerization or adsorption of other odorant compounds. The deodorization effect was assessed by a human panel and gas chromatography (GC). In the case of the GC method, 12 compounds commonly associated with malodor (7 volatile fatty acids or VFAs, 3 phenolic compounds, and 2 indolic compounds) were used as odor indicators. Malodor assessment of the treated slurry by a human panel indicated a 50% reduction in odor intensity. GC results showed 100% removal of all phenolic odorants without reoccurrence for at least 72 h. In view of these data, using plant materials as enzyme carriers and peroxides as electron acceptors emerges as an effective approach to phenolic odor control in animal manure.