Effect of limited feed intake on growth of subcutaneous adipose tissue layers and on carcass composition in swine
1991
Leymaster, K.A. | Mersmann, H.J.
Little is known about the function of individual backfat layers in swine. Our objective in this study was to evaluate differential growth of each backfat layer in pigs fed different amounts of the same diet. Relationships of growth of backfat layers to deposition of carcass protein and ether extract were also studied. Feed intake levels were ad libitum, 92.5% of ad libitum, and 85% of ad libitum for 36 barrows averaging 95 d of age and 37.8 kg of weight at the start of the study. Chemical composition of the carcass soft tissue was determined at the end of the 84-d study. Daily gain tended to decrease (P < .10) and conversion of feed to gain improved (P < .15) as feed intake decreased. The daily depositions (g/d) of protein and ether extract were 62.9 and 205 for the ad libitum group, 61.1 and 176 for the 92.5% intake group, and 59.3 and 153 for the 85% intake group, respectively. The compositional effect of limiting feed intake for 94 d was to produce less carcass soft tissue of greater lean content. Overall backfat depths were 31.5, 29.6, and 27.8 mm for the ad libitum, 92.5, and 85% intake groups, respectively. The outer backfat layer differed among groups; the 92.5 and 85% groups were thinner than the ad libitum group. Relative to the ad libitum group, the change in depth of the middle backfat layer was 86 and 75% for the 92.5 and 85% intake groups (P < .01). The inner backfat layer was not affected significantly by level of feed intake. Depths of the outer and middle layers and overall backfat depth were positively correlated with daily deposition of ether extract (P < .01) but insignificantly correlated with daily protein deposition. Changes in overall backfat depth due to level of feed intake were predominantly associated with the middle layer.
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by National Agricultural Library