Dynamics of the mineral composition and deposition rates in the empty body of entire males, castrates and female pigs

Abstract

Mineral composition and relative deposition rates in the pig’s body are used to assess the mineral net requirements for growth and input–output balances. The study aimed to examine the dynamics of changes in mineral composition and deposition rates in the empty body (EB) from birth to 140 kg BW depending on dietary protein supply. In the experiment, 66 entire male, 58 castrated and 66 female Swiss Large White pigs were used to determine body composition at birth, 10, 20 kg and at 20 kg intervals from 40 to 140 kg BW. From 20 kg BW, they had either ad libitum access to a control grower and finisher diet or a grower and finisher diet containing 80% CP, lysine, methione+cystine, threonine and tryptophan of the control diet. Each EB fraction (carcass, organs and empty intestines, blood and bile) was weighed and analyzed for water, ash, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, potassium, sodium, copper, iron, manganese and zinc contents. Allometric relationships between the amount of each mineral in the EB and the EB weight (EBW) were fitted. The R2 of the allometric equations was above 0.92, except for copper and manganese (below 0.33), revealing the EBW as an excellent explanatory variable of the analyzed amounts. The copper and manganese composition in the EB were extremely low and variable which explain the low R2. Except for zinc, all mineral relative deposition rates decreased with increasing EBW. The amount of ash, calcium and phosphorus in the EB was not affected by the diet, but when expressed relative to body protein these minerals were increased when pigs were fed the low protein diet. This suggests an independent protein deposition and bone mineralization when animals are fed diets limiting in protein content. The diet also affected the amount of potassium in the EB which was greater when the low protein diet was fed. The gender only affected the amounts of potassium and sodium in the EB which were greater in entire males. Entire males had also greater amounts of water in the EB, which may explain the observed effect of gender on these two electrolytes. Finally, gender and dietary protein did not affect to a sufficient relevant way the body mineral composition and deposition rates in the EB, suggesting that their distinction may not be necessary to assess, on BW basis, the mineral net requirements for growth and the exported amount of minerals in input–output balances.

Impact of 100% organic diets on pig performance, carcass composition and carcass nutrient deposition efficiency

“…Similar to the results reported by Ruiz-Ascacibar et al (2017), the protein deposition rate in the present study was similar for both sexes, whereas the most extensive fat deposition-and, consequently, the greatest energy deposition rates-were observed in the castrated pigs. In agreement with the results of several previous studies (Rodriguez-Sanchez et al 2011;Ruiz-Ascacibar et al 2019), the castrates use their greater feed intake primarily for deposition of backfat and not for lean tissue deposition, whereas females use the ingested food more efficiently for protein deposition.…”

“…The nutrient and energy content of the carcasses at the start of the experiment were estimated using the BW and the protein and energy content of carcasses from female and castrated pigs weighing approximately 20 kg (Ruiz-Ascacibar et al 2019). These values, together with those obtained from the iDXA measurements at slaughter, were used to determine the nutrient and energy accretion rate.…”

Investigating the potential for genetic improvement of nitrogen and phosphorus efficiency in a Swiss large white pig population using chemical analysis

“…Different diets were fed to the pigs in the experimental runs that supplied the data for this study (details on exact contents can be found in Table S2). These experiments were designed to investigate the effects of a lower‐protein/lower essential amino acid diet on growth, N and fat deposition rate and ultimately N efficiency (Ruiz‐Ascacibar et al, 2017; Ruiz‐Ascacibar, Stoll, & Bee, 2019; Ruiz‐Ascacibar, Stoll, Bee, et al, 2019; Ruiz‐Ascacibar, Stoll, Kreuzer, & Bee, 2018). In brief, the effect of diet on efficiency and other traits is mediated by sex and live weight.…”

Dietary Calcium to Digestible Phosphorus Ratio for Optimal Growth Performance and Bone Mineralization in Growing and Finishing Pigs

“…Mineral phosphates are non-renewable resources and the market prices of quality phosphates, low in heavy metal concentrations, are expected to increase with increasing mining costs of the raw material [1]. The total P excretion (P intake -P gain in BW) from 23 to 103 kg BW, was estimated at 516 and at 303 g P per pig fed the P+ and P-diets, respectively when using a mean P retention of 5.32 g per kg BW gain, obtained from the allometric empty BW regression by Ruiz-Ascacibar et al [21]. The P-diets, thus permitted to reduce P excretion per pig by 213 g P (41%) compared to the P+ diets without detrimental effect on growth performance, blood serum mineral and urinary P content.…”