Browsing by Author "Hernández Pérez, María del Pilar"

This study was conducted on two rabbit lines divergently selected for intramuscular fat (IMF) content in the Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscle. The aim was to estimate the direct response to selection for IMF after 10 generations, and the correlated responses in carcass quality traits, meat fatty acid content, liver fat and its fatty acid content, and in plasma metabolic markers related to liver metabolism. Selection for IMF content was successful, showing a direct response equivalent to 3.8 SD of the trait after 10 generations. The high-IMF line (H) showed a greater dissectible fat percentage than the low-IMF line (L), with a relevant difference (DH-L = 0.63%, Pr = 1). No difference was found in liver fat content (DH-L = 􀀀0.04, P0 = 0.62). The fatty acid content of both LTL muscle and liver was modified after selection. The LTL muscle had greater saturated (SFA; DH-L = 5.05, Pr = 1) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA; DH-L = 5.04, Pr = 1) contents in the H line than in the L line. No relevant difference was found in polyunsaturated fatty acids content (PUFA; Pr = 0.05); however, greater amounts of C18:2n6 (DH-L = 3.03, Pr = 1) and C18:3n3 (DH-L = 0.56, Pr = 1) were found in the H than in the L line. The liver presented greater MUFA (DH-L = 1.46) and lower PUFA (DH-L = 􀀀1.46) contents in the H than in the L line, but the difference was only relevant for MUFA (Pr = 0.86). The odd-chain saturated fatty acids C15:0 and C17:0 were more abundant in the liver of the L line than in the liver of the H line (DH-L = 􀀀0.04, Pr = 0.98 for C15:0; DH-L = 􀀀0.09, Pr = 0.92 for C17:0). Greater concentrations of plasma triglycerides (DH-L = 􀀀34) and cholesterol (DH-L = 􀀀3.85) were found in the L than in the H line, together with greater plasma concentration of bile acids (DH-L = 􀀀2.13). Nonetheless, the difference was only relevant for triglycerides (Pr = 0.98).

One of the key factors to improve swine production sustainability is the use of agro-industrial by-products in feeds, such as olive by-products. However, it is necessary to assess its effects on the overall production process, including the animal and the environment. With this aim, an experiment was conducted to determine the effects of including a partially defatted olive cake (PDOC) in pig diets on growth performance, faecal microbiota, carcass quality and gas emission from the slurry. Two finishing diets were formulated, a control (C) diet and a diet with PDOC included at 120 g/kg. Eighty finishing male pigs Duroc-Danbred × (Landrace × Large White) of 60.4 ± 7.00 kg BW were divided between these two treatments. During the finishing period (60 to 110 kg BW, 55 days) average daily gain, average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio were recorded. Faecal samples from the rectum of 16 animals per treatment were incubated for bacteria enumeration. At the end of finishing period, backfat thickness and loin depth (LD) were measured. Animals were slaughtered to obtain carcass weight and carcass composition parameters, and subcutaneous fat was sampled to analyse the fatty acid (FA) profile. In addition greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions were measured during pig slurry storage using the methodology of dynamic flux chambers. An initial slurry characterisation and biochemical methane potential (B0) were also determined. No significant differences between treatments were found in performance, carcass quality and microbial counts with the exception of LD, which was lower in PDOC compared with C animals (45.5 v. 47.5 mm, SEM: 0.62; P = 0.020). The FA profile of the subcutaneous fat did not differ between treatments, but the monounsaturated FA (MUFA) concentration was higher and the polyunsaturated FA was lower in the animals fed PDOC (50.9 v. 48.3, SEM: 0.48, P < 0.001; 17.6 v. 19.3, SEM: 0.30, P < 0.001 in mg/100 g of Total FA, for PDOC and C animals, respectively). The initial pig slurry characterisation only showed differences in ADF concentration that was higher ( P < 0.05) in the slurry from PDOC treatment. Regarding gas emission, slurries from both treatments emitted similar amounts of ammonia (NH3), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), as well as B0 values. The results obtained suggest that PDOC may be included in balanced pig diets at rates of up to 120 g/kg without negative effects on performance, carcass quality, gut microflora and slurry gas emission, while improving the MUFA concentration of subcutaneous fat.