Immunocastration in Gilts: A Preliminary Study of the Effect of the Second Dose Administration Time on Growth, Reproductive Tract Development, and Carcass and Meat Quality.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Perez-Ciria L
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7919812 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:It is desirable to increase fatness in gilts destined for Teruel dry-cured ham production. A total of 192 Duroc × (Landrace × Large White) gilts of 40.3 ± 4.80 kg body weight (BW) were used to assess the impact of immunocastration and feeding on growth performance, serum metabolites and sex hormones, reproductive organ development, and carcass quality. Six treatments were arranged factorially (2 × 3) with two types of gilt (entire gilts (EG) vs. immunocastrated gilts (IG)) and three experimental diets (control vs. high energy vs. low crude protein and amino acids) provided from 76 to 134 kg BW (n = 4 per treatment, being the replicate the pen with eight pigs). Immunocastration was carried out at 58 and 77 kg BW. The IG grew faster and showed lighter reproductive tracts and greater fatness than EG. The experimental feeds had limited effect on carcass quality, but the high-energy diet improved gain-to-feed ratio and the low-protein and -amino-acids diet did not impair growth performance. In conclusion, immunocastration was a better strategy than the tested diets to increase the fatness of gilts intended for Teruel dry-cured ham, although increasing energy or decreasing crude protein and amino acid levels in the diet could be beneficial strategies for pig farmers.
| S-EPMC8300150 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The present study investigated the effects of immunocastration and housing conditions on carcass, meat, and fat quality traits. Immunocastrates (IC, n = 48), entire (EM, n = 48), and surgical castrates (SC, n = 48) male pigs were reared under three different housing conditions. The conditions were standard (n = 36), enriched (n = 36, twice as much space as standard and additional outdoor access), or standard with repeated social mixing (n = 72). Pigs of the IC group were vaccinated at the age of 12 and 22 wk. The animals were slaughtered in four batches, balanced for sex category and housing, at the age of 27 wk reaching 124.7 ± 1.0 kg. Immunocastration led to increased fat deposition (i.e., thicker subcutaneous fat at different anatomical locations, more leaf fat, fatter belly in IC than EM, P < 0.05) but did not affect muscularity traits. As a result, EM exhibited higher and SC lower (P < 0.05) carcass leanness than IC. Fatty acids composition of either subcutaneous or intramuscular fat (IMF) agreed with general adiposity, that is, IC were intermediate between EM and SC exhibiting the lowest and highest fat saturation (P < 0.05), respectively. Compared to SC, EM exhibited higher (P < 0.05) levels of muscle oxidation and collagen content than SC, with IC taking an intermediate position in the case of the level of peroxidation and collagen content, or closer to SC as regards to oxidation of muscle proteins (i.e., carbonyl groups). Meat quality (including marbling score, cooking loss, subjective color redness, and chroma) of IC was similar to EM, and both differed (P < 0.05) from SC. However, IC and SC had less (P < 0.05) tough meat than EM, consistent with protein oxidation. The effect of housing was less evident. Mixing of pigs resulted in lower (P < 0.05) carcass weight and fatness in all sex categories with lower (P < 0.05) oleic and higher (P < 0.05) arachidonic acid in IMF of EM.
| S-EPMC7284115 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Abstract Objectives of this research were to compare carcass characteristics, carcass cutting yields, and meat quality for market barrows and market gilts. Commercially-sourced carcasses from 168 market barrows and 175 market gilts weighing an average of 107.44 ± 7.37 kg were selected from 17 different slaughter groups representing approximately 3,950 carcasses. Each group was sorted into percentiles based on hot carcass weight with an equal number of barrows and gilts selected from each quartile so that weight minimally confounded parameters of interest. Carcass lean yield was determined for carcasses following fabrication (i.e. dissection of lean, fat, and bone tissue components) and meat quality measurements were evaluated at the time of fabrication (24 to 72 h postmortem) and following 14-d of postmortem storage. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design with carcass serving as the experimental unit, sex (barrow or gilt), the three hot carcass weight quantiles (light [<104 kg]; average [104 to 110 kg]; heavy [>110 kg]), and the interaction between sex and hot carcass weight quantile serving as fixed effects, and producer nested within slaughter event serving as a random effect. Results from the study demonstrated that gilt carcasses were leaner (3 mm less backfat thickness; 3.5 cm2 greater loin muscle area, 1.52% greater merchandized-cut yield, and 2.92% greater dissected carcass lean yield; P < 0.01) than barrow carcasses, while loins from barrows were higher quality (0.43% more intramuscular fat and slightly less shear force; P < 0.01) than loins from gilts. While this study confirms the well-known biological principle that barrow carcasses have greater levels of fat deposition and lower levels of carcass leanness when compared with gilt carcasses, this study provides a much-needed quantification of these differences for the commercial industry that will undoubtedly be useful as new technologies emerge in upcoming years.
| S-EPMC10464715 | biostudies-literature
Project description:In swine the upper reproductive tract undergoes early postnatal development, however little is known about the lower reproductive tract. Our objective was to measure cytology and proteome of vaginal swab samples taken on postnatal day (PND) 2 and 16 in gilts to determine if temporal changes occurred in cell and protein profiles during the first two weeks after birth. The posterior vagina was swabbed using a cytology brush on PND 0, 2 and 16 and slides were prepared. The proportion of anuclear and superficial cells increased and parabasal decreased (P < 0.05) from PND 0 to 16. Proteins isolated from vaginal swabs taken on PND 2 and 16 from six gilts across three litters were measured using LC-MS/MS. Over 1500 proteins were identified, with 881 differentially expressed (P-adj < 0.05) between PND 2 and 16. One-third of proteins upregulated between days were categorized as secreted, including lipocalins. Categories enriched by downregulated proteins included cell-cell adherens junction, translation and ER to Golgi vesicle-mediated transport, and reflected increased cornification of stratified epithelium and thus mirrored changes in cytology. Changes in cytology and proteome over the first two weeks after birth support that the porcine vagina continues to develop postnatal.
| S-EPMC6744447 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Previous studies have shown positive outcomes associated with the incorporation of cloves into broiler chicken diets. This study aimed to evaluate carcass characteristics, meat quality, and sensory attributes of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with different clove seed levels. A total of 240 day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were fed 1 of seven dietary treatments. The control group diet contained 0% clove seeds, whereas the treatment group diets contained up to 6% clove seeds. The chickens' final BW was significantly different between the treatments, which decreased linearly with increasing levels of clove seed inclusion. Broiler chickens fortified with clove seeds did not significantly affect the chickens' carcass characteristics and body composition. However, an increment in weights of carcass components (liver, heart, and gizzard) was observed in low clove seed levels. In addition, water-holding capacity, cooking loss percentages, and tenderness of the meat were improved owing to clove seed inclusion (1 or 2%) compared with the control group. Further studies are warranted to optimize the outstanding use of cloves toward broiler chicken performance enhancement and to produce a high quality of meat.
| S-EPMC7936138 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundCurrently, meat cut traits are integrated in pig breeding objectives to gain extra profit. However, little is known about the heritability of meat cut proportions (MCP) and their correlations with other traits. The aims of this study were to assess the heritability and genetic correlation of MCP with carcass and meat quality traits using single nucleotide polymorphism chips and conduct a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify candidate genes for MCP.ResultsSeventeen MCP, 12 carcass, and seven meat quality traits were measured in 2012 pigs from four populations (Landrace; Yorkshire; Landrace and Yorkshire hybrid pigs; Duroc, and Landrace and Yorkshire hybrid pigs). Estimates of the heritability for MCP ranged from 0.10 to 0.55, with most estimates being moderate to high and highly consistent across populations. In the combined population, the heritability estimates for the proportions of scapula bone, loin, back fat, leg bones, and boneless picnic shoulder were 0.44 ± 0.04, 0.36 ± 0.04, 0.44 ± 0.04, 0.38 ± 0.04, and 0.39 ± 0.04, respectively. Proportion of middle cuts was genetically significantly positively correlated with intramuscular fat content and backfat depth. Proportion of ribs was genetically positively correlated with carcass oblique length and straight length (0.35 ± 0.08 to 0.45 ± 0.07) and negatively correlated with backfat depth (- 0.26 ± 0.10 to - 0.45 ± 0.10). However, weak or nonsignificant genetic correlations were observed between most MCP, indicating their independence. Twenty-eight quantitative trait loci (QTL) for MCP were detected by GWAS, and 24 new candidate genes related to MCP were identified, which are involved with growth, height, and skeletal development. Most importantly, we found that the development of the bones in different parts of the body may be regulated by different genes, among which HMGA1 may be the strongest candidate gene affecting forelimb bone development. Moreover, as previously shown, VRTN is a causal gene affecting vertebra number, and BMP2 may be the strongest candidate gene affecting hindlimb bone development.ConclusionsOur results indicate that breeding programs for MCP have the potential to enhance carcass composition by increasing the proportion of expensive cuts and decreasing the proportion of inexpensive cuts. Since MCP are post-slaughter traits, the QTL and candidate genes related to these traits can be used for marker-assisted and genomic selection.
| S-EPMC10311868 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The impact of gut microbiome composition was investigated at different stages of production (weaning, Mid-test and Off-test) on meat quality and carcass composition traits of 1,123 three-way crossbred pigs. Data were analysed using linear mixed models which included the fixed effects of dam line, contemporary group and gender as well as the random effects of pen, animal and microbiome information at different stages. The contribution of the microbiome to all traits was prominent although it varied over time, increasing from weaning to Off-test for most traits. Microbiability estimates of carcass composition traits were greater than that of meat quality traits. Among all of the traits analysed, belly weight (BEL) had a higher microbiability estimate (0.29 ± 0.04). Adding microbiome information did not affect the estimates of genomic heritability of meat quality traits but affected the estimates of carcass composition traits. Fat depth had a greater decrease (10%) in genomic heritability at Off-test. High microbial correlations were found among different traits, particularly with traits related to fat deposition with a decrease in the genomic correlation up to 20% for loin weight and BEL. This suggested that genomic correlation was partially contributed by genetic similarity of microbiome composition. The results indicated that better understanding of microbial composition could aid the improvement of complex traits, particularly the carcass composition traits in swine by inclusion of microbiome information in the genetic evaluation process.
| S-EPMC7891674 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The female reproductive tract (FRT) is the main site of entry of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Toll-like receptors (TLRs) that recognize pathogenic motifs are widely expressed in the FRT. TLR stimulation induces immune activation and local production of inflammatory mediators. In the FRT, this response should also be compatible with reproductive functions and symbiosis with host microbiota. With a view to develop efficient mucosal vaccines to prevent STI acquisition, the role of TLR ligands in the FRT needs to be explored. We have therefore investigated the cytokine profiles of the different compartments of the FRT (vagina, endocervix, ectocervix, and uterus) before and after stimulation of mononuclear cells from human tissue specimens. The comparison with PBMCs allowed us to highlight the FRT specificities. We first characterized the main immune cell populations in each compartment and observed that their distribution was different through the compartments. The CD45+ cells represented a maximum of 11% in the FRT in contrast to 96% in PBMCs. We identified two main populations among the CD45+ cells in the four compartments of the FRT: CD3+ T cells (CD4+ and CD8+) and CD14+ APCs. B cell populations (CD19+) were much less frequent than T cells in all the FRT regions and were equally distributed. NK CD56+ cells were detected in all compartments and were more abundant in the uterus. Stimulation of the mononuclear cells was then performed with TLR agonists: R848 for TLR7/8, Poly I:C for TLR3, LPS for TLR4 and ODN CpG for TLR9. Cytokine levels in unstimulated cultures of cells isolated from all FRT compartments were higher than in cultures of unstimulated PBMCs. In contrast, after stimulation with TLR agonists, cytokine responses induced by TLR agonists were moderate in the FRT and significantly lower than in PBMCs. These responses were varied with different TLR ligands and FRT compartments. The cytokine profile induced by TLR activation in the FRT supports the role of these tissues in genital anti-microbial immunity and in the control of inflammation while allowing maintenance of its reproductive function.
| S-EPMC7417306 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe aim of this study was to evaluate the reproductive performance of a new artificial insemination (AI) device specifically designed for gilts (Deep cervical AI, Dp-CAI) by means of which the sperm is deposited deeply in the cervix (8 cm more cranial than in traditional cervical insemination-CAI). New AI techniques have arisen in recent decades in the porcine industry, such as post-cervical artificial insemination (PCAI), which involves depositing the sperm in the body of the uterus [through a catheter (outer tube)-cannula (inner tube)] rather than by CAI. Although the PCAI method has been successfully applied in farm conditions to reduce sperm doses without impairing the reproductive performance, this technique has limitations in gilts mainly because of the difficulty involved in introducing the inner cannula through the cranial part of the cervix. For this reason, the Dp-CAI method described herein may be considered as an alternative to CAI and PCAI methods in gilts.ResultsGilts were divided in two experimental groups: 1) Dp-CAI: gilts (n = 1166) inseminated using 1.5 × 109 sperm/45 mL; 2) CAI (as a control group): gilts (n = 130) inseminated using 2.5 × 109 sperm/85 mL. The Dp-CAI method was successfully applied in 88.90% of the gilts, with no differences detected between gilts with 1 or 2 previous oestrus cycles, although the catheter could be introduced more deeply in 2 oestrus gilts (P < 0.05). As the length of the insemination device that could not be introduced increased (at the moment of insemination), so the success rate of the Dp-CAI device fell, as did the total number of piglets born. When the reproductive output in CAI and Dp-CAI was compared, none of the parameters analysed [pregnancy and farrowing rates (%), and number of piglets born (total and live)] showed significant differences.ConclusionsThe use of the Dp-CAI technique provides a new AI method as an alternative to CAI and PCAI for pigs. The device, especially designed for gilts, was used with a high degree of success reducing conventional sperm doses without impairing reproductive parameters.
| S-EPMC6364433 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The main goals of this study were to determine whether boars and gilts respond differently to the standardized ileal digestible lysine to net energy ratio (SID Lys:NE) and model the response to optimize growth performance. A total of 780 finishing pigs, 390 boars and 390 gilts [Pietrain NN × (Landrace × Large White)], with an initial individual body weight of 70.4 ± 9.2 for boars and 68.7 ± 8.0 kg for gilts, were used in a 41-d dose-response experiment. Pens (13 pigs per pen) were randomly allocated to a dietary treatment (2.64, 3.05, 3.46, 3.86, 4.27 g SID Lys/Mcal NE) by block and sex, with six replicates per treatment and sex. Two isoenergetic diets (2,460 kcal NE/kg), representing the extreme SID Lys:NE, were formulated and then mixed. Pigs were individually weighed at days 0, 22, and 41, when the experiment finished. The differential effect of SID Lys:NE on growth performance and carcass composition between sexes was analyzed with orthogonal polynomial contrasts to compare the linear and quadratic trends in each sex. In addition, broken-line linear (BLL) models to optimize average daily gain (ADG), including average daily feed intake (ADFI) as a covariate, were fitted when possible. As expected, boars had a greater ADG and feed efficiency (G:F; P < 0.001) than gilts, but there was no evidence of differences in ADFI (P = 0.470). Increasing SID Lys:NE had a greater linear impact on boars ADG (P = 0.087), G:F (P = 0.003), and carcass leanness (P = 0.032). In contrast, gilts showed a greater linear increase in SID Lys intake per kg gain (P < 0.001) and feed cost per kg gain (P = 0.005). The best fitting BLL models showed that boars maximized ADG at 3.63 g SID Lys/Mcal NE [95% confidence interval (CI): (3.32 to 3.94)], although another model with a similar fit, compared with the Bayesian information criterion, reported the optimum at 4.01 g SID Lys/Mcal NE [95% CI: (3.60, 4.42)]. The optimum to maximize ADG for gilts was estimated at 3.10 g SID Lys/Mcal NE [95% CI: (2.74, 3.47)]. Thus, the present study confirmed that boars and gilts have a different linear response to SID Lys:NE, explained by the greater protein deposition potential of boars. Likewise, BLL models indicated that boars require a higher SID Lys:NE to maximize ADG from 70 to 89 kg. These results suggest that split feeding of finishing boars and gilts could be beneficial in terms of both performance and cost return.
| S-EPMC7426025 | biostudies-literature