Differences in growth, chemical body composition and visceral organ development were evaluated in three genetic stocks: Beltsville Highfat (HF) and Lowfat (LF) Duroc-Yorkshire composites and a Hampshire X Large White cross (CX). Ten sets of littermate barrows were used from each stock. One pig from each set was slaughtered at 10, 17 and 24 wk of age. After slaughter, each pig was dissected into three fractions: carcass, head and feet, viscera and blood. Backfat was measured at three locations and visceral organs were weighed separately. Each fraction was frozen, ground, sampled and analyzed in duplicate for protein, fat, water and ash. The CX pigs were heaviest at all ages and contained the most fat-free mass (FFM). The HF pigs were smallest and contained the most fat, while LF pigs tended to be intermediate. The LF pigs deposited a greater proportion of weight in head and feet and a greater proportion of total FFM in the carcass than HF and CX pigs. Estimated allometric growth coefficients for non-fat chemical components relative to empty body weight (EBWT) were lower for HF than LF and CX, which were similar. Coefficients for fat were similar among stocks yet intercepts differed widely. Relative to total FFM, water increased at a faster rate and ash a slower rate in CX pigs compared to HF and LF. Growth coefficients were calculated for internal organs relative to EBWT. Coefficients for organs of the digestive tract were not different among stocks. However, significant differences among stocks were found for heart, lung, spleen and liver that were not explained by differences in body composition.

An initial study was conducted to establish the presence in plasma of diurnal rhythms of immunoreactive porcine adrenocorticotropic hormone (pACTH) and cortisol in castrated male pigs (barrows). Fourteen barrows with jugular catheters were bled at 6-hr intervals for 24 hr. Significant changes in plasma pACTH were evident with peak levels (61 f 6 pg/ml) at 0100-0700 hr and a trough (38 f 4 pg/ml) at 1900 hr. Changes (P c 0.05) in plasma cortisol were also present in barrows with a peak (44 f 6 ng/ml) at 0700 hr and a trough (21 f 5 ng/ml) at 1900 hr. Plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine were measured at the same time intervals and did not differ among hours. In these unstressed pigs the ratio cortisol/logio pACTH at 0700 hr (25.3 f 3.0) was greater than the ratio at 1900 hr (12.9 2 2.7). Sequential blood samples were subsequently taken on four of the barrows 12 and 26 days later. Plasma pACTH was variable among pigs and did not differ among hours. Plasma cortisol on both dates was greater (P < 0.05) in the morning (0100 or 0700 hr) than at 1900 hr. The ratio cortisol/logio pACTH at 0700 hr was repeatedly greater than at 1900 hr. A second study was conducted to determine whether plasma pACTH and cortisol responses to mild (32OC for 2 hr) or strong (20-min restraint) stressors were dependent on the time of day of stressor application (0800 hr, AM; 1600 hr, PM). Response-associated parameters (maximum concentration, maximum incremental concentration, and integrated response) for pACTH and cortisol did not differ between AM and PM. However, a qualitative difference existed between the AM and PM plasma pACTH responses to restraint +32OC wherein the AM response consisted of a single prolonged surge, and the PM response of an initial major peak followed by a second significant minor peak. A suggested explanation is that the initial 20-min restraint stressor potentiated the hypothalamic-hypophyseal response to 32OC. These studies are the first direct measurements which suggest the presence of diurnal changes in plasma ACTH and cortisol in barrows. The studies also indicate for barrows an absence of diurnal changes in plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine. The responsiveness of the pituitary-adrenocortical axis to stressors did not exhibit quantitative diurnal changes at the time periods measured. However, it is hypothesized that the repeatable AM-PM difference in the ratio cortisol/logio ACTH reflects a diurnal change in adrenal responsiveness to ACTH in unstressed pigs.A including pigs (5-7). Measured circadian changes in corticosteroids are associated with similar

Effects of genetic changes in reproduction, growth, body composition or lactation on the efficiency of market lamb production depend partly on the associated changes in feed intake requirements for maintenance and for protein and fat deposition. To evaluate these relationships, feed intake and body weight changes were monitored for six pairs of open, dry, mature ewes from each of seven diverse breeds fed pelleted alfalfa (53% TDN) ad libitum (AL) or restricted (MN) to 64% of ad libitum levels, for an average of 41 d. After a 56-h fast, heat production (FHP) was measured calorimetrically for 16 h before slaughter and analysis of empty body composition. The estimated daily metabolizable energy intake/kg(.75) of body weight for no change in body energy (MEm) was 167 kcal for the AL vs 147 kcal for MN ewes, and ranged from 139 to 169 among breeds (P less than .05). Estimated above-maintenance ME requirements, kcal/g tissue deposited, were 30 to 50 for protein and 10 to 14 for fat deposition. Mean FHP/d, adjusted by regression to zero activity, was 72 kcal/kg(.75) weight and was nonsignificantly higher (3.3) for the leaner MN than for AL ewes. Thus, the lower total MEm for MN than for AL ewes was necessarily derived from reduced metabolic and physical activity and(or) higher digestibility. Genetic increases in lean vs fat deposition would reduce above-maintenance feed by one-third to one-fourth because of the high water content of lean, but more lean mass may increase maintenance costs.

Five sets of littermate gilts (8.2 +/- .19 kg average initial weight) were randomly assigned within litter to a 16% protein corn-soybean meal basal diet (B), B + .308% neomycin, or B + 55 ppm carbadox. Each set was equally-fed individually once daily for 16 d in metabolism cages and 5 d in calorimeters. The average daily feed intake for 21 d was 276 g. Oxygen consumption and CO2 production were measured during an 8- to 24-h postprandial period on d 16, 19, 20 and 21, and during a 32- to 48-h postprandial period after the d 21 feeding. Pigs were killed 50 h postprandially for gastrointestinal tract measurements. Dietary supplementation of antimicrobial agents (neomycin and carbadox) resulted in improvements (P less than .01) in daily gain and efficiency of feed utilization and lower (P less than .05) small intestinal mass in pigs. There was no difference (P greater than .05) in daily gain, feed efficiency or small intestinal mass between pigs fed neomycin- or carbadox-supplemented diets. Whole-animal fasting O2 consumption and CO2 production measured during the 8- to 24-h or 32- to 48-h postprandial period were not affected (P greater than .05) by the supplementation or the source of dietary antimicrobial agents. There were no differences (P greater than .05) in 8- to 24-h fasting O2 and CO2 measurements determined on d 16, 19, 20 and 21, indicating that adaptation to calorimeters was not needed by the pigs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)