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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Nutritional effects pre-weaning on growth performance, carcass traits and meat quality of pigs

Hong Chen A , Yan Liu B C , Hui Li D , Zhengfeng Fang B , Yan Lin B , Shengyu Xu B , Jian Li B , Bin Feng B , De Wu B and Lianqiang Che B E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A College of Food Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an, Sichuan 625014, China.

B Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.

C Nanchong Feed Station, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, China.

D Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan 610500, China.

E Corresponding author. Email: clianqiang@hotmail.com

Animal Production Science 60(7) 978-985 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN18368
Submitted: 12 June 2018  Accepted: 30 August 2019   Published: 30 March 2020

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of nutritional restriction during the suckling period on growth performance, carcass traits and meat quality of fattening pigs. A one-way experimental design was used. In total, 24 male pigs of normal birthweight (1.54 ± 0.05 kg) were randomly allocated at 7 days of age to three groups: control, fed ad libitum; 30% nutritional restriction (Re30%); and 60% nutritional restriction (Re60%). The Re30% and Re60% groups showed decreased average daily gain, average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio from Day 7 to Day 28. After Day 28, differences in these parameters were observed only in the Re60% group relative to the control. With regard to hormone levels, the Re60% group showed decreased serum concentration of insulin-like growth factor-1 at Day 28 and increased serum concentration of growth hormone at Day 147. Furthermore, the Re60% group had decreased carcass weight, ham weight and dressing percentage, and increased carcass lean percentage relative to the control, as well as lower cross-sectional area and myofibre diameter of muscle. The Re60% group had lower levels of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) IIx and MyHC IIb mRNA and a higher percentage of MyHC I and MyHC IIa mRNA in longissimus dorsi muscle than the Re30% group. In conclusion, nutritional restriction during the suckling period decreased weaning weight, with post-weaning growth performance, carcass traits and myofibre type affected in the Re60% group rather than Re30% group.

Additional keywords: IGF-1, nutrition restriction, formula milk, muscle development.


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