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Zhao X, Liu Y, Ding H, Huang P, Yin Y, Deng J, Kong X. Effects of Different Dietary Protein Levels on the Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical Parameters, Fecal Nitrogen, and Carcass Traits of Huanjiang Mini-Pigs. Front Vet Sci 2022; 8:777671. [PMID: 34988141 PMCID: PMC8720777 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.777671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The Huanjiang mini-pig is a Chinese local breed and, the optimal dietary crude protein (CP) level for this breed is still unknown. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate its optimum dietary CP level upon the growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, fecal nitrogen content, and carcass traits. Three independent trials with 360 pigs were included. A total of 220 pigs (5.32 ± 0.46 kg) were fed ad libitum, either a 14, 16, 18, 20, or 22% CP diet from about 5- to 10-kg (trial 1); 84 pigs (11.27 ± 1.43 kg) were fed either a 12, 14, 16, 18, or 20% CP diet from about 10- to 20-kg (trial 2); and 56 pigs (18.80 ± 2.21 kg) were fed either a 10, 12, 14, 16, or 18% CP diet from about 20- to 30-kg (trial 3). In trial 1, as dietary CP levels increased, the feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) quadratically decreased (p < 0.05) and was minimal at the 18.42% CP level. The average daily feed intake (ADFI) and final body weight (BW) were not affected by dietary CP levels while the fat percentage decreased (p < 0.05). Besides, a linear decrease in slaughter rate (p = 0.06) and a linear increase in bone percentage (p < 0.05), serum urea nitrogen (UN) (P < 0.05), and fecal nitrogen content (p = 0.07) of pigs were observed. In trial 2, as dietary CP levels increased, the average daily gain quadratically increased (p < 0.05) and was maximum at the 16.70% CP level. The slaughter rate linearly decreased (p < 0.05) whereas the skin rate, serum UN, and NH3-N increased (p < 0.05) linearly, as well as fecal nitrogen content (p = 0.06). In trial 3, as dietary CP levels increased, the F/G increased (p < 0.05), while the ADFI and ADG quadratically decreased (p < 0.05) and was maximum at nearly 14.00% CP level. The bone percentage and serum UN increased (p < 0.05) linearly but the slaughter rate decreased (P < 0.05) linearly, and the fecal nitrogen content quadratically decreased (p = 0.07) whereas the albumin increased (p < 0.05) quadratically. Taken together, the optimal dietary CP levels for growth performance of Huanjiang mini-pigs from 5- to 10-kg, 10- to 20-kg, and 20- to 30-kg were 18.42, 16.70, and 14.00%, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xichen Zhao
- Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, and National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Physiology and Metabolism Process, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, China
| | - Yating Liu
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Physiology and Metabolism Process, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, China
| | - Hao Ding
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Physiology and Metabolism Process, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, China
| | - Pan Huang
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Physiology and Metabolism Process, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, China
| | - Yulong Yin
- Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, and National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Physiology and Metabolism Process, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, China.,National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Jinping Deng
- Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, and National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiangfeng Kong
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Physiology and Metabolism Process, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, China.,Research Center of Mini-Pig, Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang, China
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Pietrosemoli S, Green JT, Villamide MJ. A Comparison of Stocking Methods for Pasture-Based Growing-Finishing Pig Production Systems. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10101885. [PMID: 33076488 PMCID: PMC7602635 DOI: 10.3390/ani10101885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary A sustainable pasture-based production system should provide benefits to the vegetation, soil and animals while providing means of economic support for the household that operates the system. If best management practices are implemented, this would allow the development of resilience for the pasture system and ameliorate the natural resources for present and future generations. Pasture-based pig production represents a production alternative for small scale or limited-resources farmers, offering them the possibility to brand their products. The implementation of best management practices would allow managers to reach productive and conservation goals. This study was conducted to compare the effects of continuous, rotational and strip-grazing stocking methods for growing-finishing pigs on tall fescue pastures. Stocking methods had effect on soil bulk density and some soil nutrients, vegetative ground cover, animal weight gain and feed use efficiency. The rotational and strip grazing stocking methods offer potential to improve the sustainability of pasture-based pig systems. Abstract Two alternative stocking methods (rotational and strip-grazing) were compared to continuous stocking at a stocking rate of 47 pigs ha−1 in tall fescue pastures. The research was conducted during two twelve-weeks grazing periods in North Carolina (USA). In total 144 (females and castrated males, 17.5 and 29.1 kg initial body weight) crossbred Yorkshire X Berkshire, Yorkshire/Landrace X Hampshire and Yorkshire/Landrace X Duroc pigs without nose rings were used. Greater soil bulk density and soil concentrations of NO3−, P, K, Mn, Zn and Cu were observed in paddocks managed continuously, while greater final ground cover (+22%) was recorded in paddocks managed with rotational and strip-grazing stocking methods. No differences were detected in botanical composition of the paddocks. Greater weight gains (+8.5%) were registered for rotationally managed pigs. Feed efficiency was better (+8%) for rotationally than for continuously stocked pigs, while strip-grazed pigs presented intermediate values. The results indicated the potential of both alternative stocking methods to be implemented in sustainable pasture-based pig production systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvana Pietrosemoli
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
- Departamento de Producción Agraria, E.T.S.I. Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-919-515-0814
| | - James T. Green
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA;
| | - Maria Jesús Villamide
- Departamento de Producción Agraria, E.T.S.I. Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
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