Effect of maternal administration of salbutamol to sows on post-natal growth and carcass characteristics in the progeny

Abstract

The effects of salbutamol administration to pregnant sows on post-natal growth and carcass characteristics of the progeny were investigated. Salbutamol (4 mg/kg diet) was fed to sows during the first (0 to 38 days, TI), second (39 to 78 days, T2) or third (79 days to term, T3) trimester of pregnancy. At birth, maternal administration of salbutamol had no effect on body weight, dressing percentage or weights of liver, heart, semimembranosus and semitendinosus muscle in proportion to body weight in the progeny. No significant effects of maternal treatment with salbutamol on body weight, dressing percentage, semitendinosus muscle weight in proportion to body weight and loin eye area were observed in the progeny at 21 days. P2 fat depth at 21 days was greater (P < 0-05) in TI than in controls. The percentage of type I fibres in the deep portion of semitendinosus muscle was higher (P < 0.05) in treatment groups as compared with controls: 27.4, 42.8, 36.9 and 36.0% in control, TI, T2 and T3 respectively. At slaughter (90 kg), carcass and meat parameters including length, P2 fat depth, meat colour and drip loss were not affected by maternal administration of salbutamol. However, loin eye areas were larger in T1 than in controls. Larger loin eye areas, coupled with numerically (but not statistically) significant heavier carcasses and lower backfats, resulted in greater estimates of carcass protein mass in TI pigs as compared with controls (P = 0.06).