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Biomedical subjects

J Odle

Publications and source records attributed to J Odle.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Ontogeny and chain-length specificity of gastrointestinal lipases affect medium-chain triacylglycerol utilization by newborn pigs.

Ontogeny and fatty acid chain-length specificity of gastrointestinal lipases in neonatal piglets were examined to explore the basis for variations in postnatal use of medium-chain triacylglycerols (MCT). Twenty-four newborn pigs were studied at 4 ages: 0, 6, 18, and 48 h postpartum (n = 6 pigs/age). Piglets were gastrically intubated and given 3.0 mmol/kg of BW(0.75) each of emulsified tri-C6:0 and tri-C8:0. One hour after intubation, the plasma concentration of C6:0 was 7.5-fold greater than that of C8:0 (P < 0.001), with total plasma medium-chain fatty acid concentrations 3.7-fold greater at 48 h than at 6 h of age (P < 0.05). Pancreatic, gastric, and lingual tissues were analyzed for lipase activity using an equimolar mixture of tri-C6:0 and tri-C8:0 as substrate. Pancreatic lipase activity averaged 7.0 +/- 0.8 micromol of fatty acid released/min per mg of protein for the medium-chain fatty acid substrates. Hexanoate (C6:0) release was greater at 0 h than at 6, 18, or 48 h (P < 0.05); however, age did not affect C8:0 release (P > 0.05). The lowest lipase activity was observed at 18 h for both tri-C6:0 and tri-C8:0. Chain-length specificity of pancreatic lipase was measured with tri-C4:0, tri-C6:0, tri-C8:0, and tri-C10:0 as combined or separate substrates. As separate substrates, the lipase activity decreased progressively as chain length increased from tri-C4:0 to tri-C10:0. As combined substrates, tri-C6:0 was hydrolyzed fastest (P < 0.05), followed by C4:0, C8:0, and C10:0. Gastric and lingual lipase activities averaged 2.7 nmol/min per mg of protein for the medium-chain fatty acid substrates, with hydrolysis of C6:0 being 7-fold greater than that of C8:0. In conclusion, pancreatic lipase dominates the preduodenal lipases in the neonatal pig, and greater activity of the gastrointestinal lipases toward tri-C6:0 underlies its increased rate of use.

Animals↗

Descriptive flavor analysis of bacon and pork loin from lean-genotype gilts fed conjugated linoleic acid and supplemental fat.

This study evaluated the combined effects of dietary CLA and supplemental fat (SF) source on organoleptic characteristics of bacon and pork loin samples in lean-genotype gilts (n = 144). Gilts (49.3 kg of BW) were randomly assigned to a 3 x 2 factorial design, consisting of SF [0% SF, 4% yellow grease (YG), or 4% tallow] and linoleic acid (LA; 1% corn oil or 1% CLA). Animals were slaughtered (113 kg) after a feeding period of 47 d. A trained sensory panel (n = 6 members) developed a flavor profile on commercially cured bacon samples (12 descriptors) and center-cut, boneless, pork loin chops (18 descriptors, using a 14-point, universal intensity scale). Bacon samples from pigs fed 4% SF were considered to have a sweeter flavor (4.07 +/- 0.07) than those fed 0% SF (3.89 +/- 0.07; P < 0.04). The intensity of salty flavor was greater in bacon samples from pigs fed LA (6.18 +/- 0.09) compared with those fed CLA (5.86 +/- 0.10; P < 0.04). The intensity of salty aftertaste of bacon was greater when LA was combined with YG (5.21 +/- 0.14; P < 0.07) or tallow (5.44 +/- 0.14; P < 0.01) than for LA alone (4.85 +/- 0.14, but SF combined with CLA was not different from CLA alone (fat x LA; P < 0.02). Sour flavor intensity tended to be lower in loin samples from pigs fed CLA than for those fed LA (1.60 vs. 1.73 +/- 0.06; P < 0.09). Samples from animals fed 4% tallow tended to have lower (P < 0.09) notes of astringent aftertaste (1.42 +/- 0.08) compared with those fed 0% SF (1.62 +/- 0.09) or 4% YG (1.66 +/- 0.09). Overall, the flavor differences for bacon and loin samples were minimal, with most means differing by 1 point or less on the 14-point intensity scale. The sensory panel results indicate consumer acceptance of bacon and pork products from pigs fed CLA will not likely differ from commodity pork products.

Animal Feed↗

Conjugated linoleic acid evokes de-lipidation through the regulation of genes controlling lipid metabolism in adipose and liver tissue.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a unique lipid that elicits dramatic reductions in adiposity in several animal models when included at < or = 1% of the diet. Despite a flurry of investigations, the precise mechanisms by which conjugated linoleic acid elicits its dramatic effects in adipose tissue and liver are still largely unknown. In vivo and in vitro analyses of physiological modifications imparted by conjugated linoleic acid on protein and gene expression suggest that conjugated linoleic acid exerts its de-lipidating effects by modulating energy expenditure, apoptosis, fatty acid oxidation, lipolysis, stromal vascular cell differentiation and lipogenesis. The purpose of this review shall be to examine the recent advances and insights into conjugated linoleic acid's effects on obesity and lipid metabolism, specifically focused on changes in gene expression and physiology of liver and adipose tissue.

Adipose Tissue↗

Pigs weaned from the sow at 10 days of age respond to dietary energy source of manufactured liquid diets and exogenous porcine somatotropin.

Previous research indicates that the neonatal pig does not alter feed intake in response to changes in the energy density of manufactured liquid diets. Also, the limited response of IGF-I to exogenous porcine ST (pST) previously observed in young pigs may be influenced by the source of dietary energy. Our objectives were to 1) determine the effect of a high-fat (HF; 25% fat and 4,639 kcal/kg ME; DM basis) or low-fat (LF; 2% fat and 3,481 kcal/kg ME; DM basis) manufactured liquid diet on pig performance; and 2) determine whether the limited response to exogenous pST in young pigs depends on the source of dietary energy. Two replicates of 60 pigs (n = 120; barrows and gilts distributed evenly), with an initial BW of 4,207 +/- 51 g, were weaned from the sow at 10 d of age and used in a randomized complete block design. Pigs were assigned by BW to one of six pens. Diets were formulated to provide a constant lysine:ME ratio and were fed on a pen basis for a duration of 9 d. On d 5, barrows and gilts within a pen were assigned randomly to receive either 0 or 120 microg of pST.kg BW(-1).d(-1) for 4 d. Pigs gained 336 +/- 9 g/d, which resulted in an ending BW of 7,228 +/- 120 g, regardless of dietary treatment (P > 0.15). Pigs fed the LF diet consumed 17% more DM per pen daily than pigs fed the HF diet (2,777 +/- 67 vs. 2,376 +/- 67 g/d, P < 0.01), but calculated ME intake did not differ between dietary treatments (P > 0.20). The G:F was 24% greater in HF- than in LF-fed pigs (P < 0.01). Plasma urea N concentrations were higher in the HF-fed pigs (11.0 +/- 0.6 mg/dL) than in pigs fed the LF diet (6.2 +/- 0.6 mg/dL; P < 0.05). Treatment with pST increased circulating IGF-I (P < 0.01) and decreased PUN (P < 0.01) concentration 32 and 25%, respectively, regardless of dietary treatment (P > 0.30). Circulating leptin averaged 1.8 +/- 0.1 ng/mL and was not affected by dietary treatment (P > 0.35) or pST (P > 0.40). These results suggest that the ST/IGF axis is responsive in the young pig and the increase in circulating IGF-I and growth is independent of the source of dietary energy. Also, young pigs respond to a lower energy density liquid diet with increased feed intake, without altering growth performance, apparently utilizing a mechanism other than circulating leptin.

Animal Feed↗

Effects of chemical hydrogenation of supplemental fat on relative apparent lipid digestibility in finishing swine.

Four experiments were conducted to evaluate lipid digestibility in finishing swine fed chemically hydrogenated fats. Dietary chromic oxide was used as an inert marker to measure the apparent digestibility of supplemental fat (SF) that consisted of fully hydrogenated (FH), partially hydrogenated (PH), or PH products blended with other fat sources. In Exp. 1, diets containing 5% SF (as-fed basis) comprising 100, 66.7, 33.3, or 0% FH animal fat (iodine value = 2.5), with the balance contributed by soy oil, were fed to gilts (n = 24). Apparent digestibility increased linearly (-12.0, 26.0, 61.2, and 72.6%; P < 0.001) as the amount of FH fat in the diet decreased, suggesting the digestibility of FH to be near zero. Experiment 2 (2 x 4 factorial; n = 48) evaluated diets containing 5% (as-fed basis) blended fat (FH tallow and yellow grease) to achieve iodine values of 20, 30, 40, or 50 compared with PH tallow with identical iodine values. Digestibility of diets formulated with PH tallow was greater than those containing blended fat (73.4 vs. 67.2%; P < 0.01), especially at lower iodine values (interaction; P < 0.10). In Exp. 3, digestibility was measured in pigs (n = 96) fed 5% (as-fed basis) PH choice white grease with iodine values of 20, 40, 60, or 80. Increasing iodine value did not alter digestibility (66.2, 69.2, 68.2, and 69.7%). Experiment 4 investigated digestibility (n = 32) of diets formulated with 8% (as-fed basis) PH fat (iodine value 20 or 50) with 0.10% lysolecithin as an emulsifier. Lipid digestibility was 14.5% greater in the 8% SF diet with an iodine value of 50 compared with the diet with an iodine value of 20 (79.15 vs. 69.12%; P < 0.001), but lysolecithin was without effect. These experiments indicate that partial hydrogenation is superior to blending unsaturated fat with saturated fat sources and that digestibility is not greatly affected by decreasing the iodine value via partial hydrogenation.

Animal Feed↗

Refining in vitro digestibility assays: fractionation of digestible and indigestible peptides.

Typically, in vitro methods used for estimating the amount of ileal digestible AA do not exhaustively digest samples, and arbitrary methods for separating digestible from indigestible protein are used. This may lead to over- or underestimation of digestibility coefficients. A method that exhaustively digests proteins using pepsin and pancreatin was developed, and the first objective of this research was to confirm that exhaustive digestion was indeed appropriate and to determine the fractionation method for separating digestible from indigestible proteins. For this, three homoarginine-labeled animal proteins were prepared. Samples were subsequently digested in vivo and in vitro to determine which fraction should be considered indigestible, and in vitro followed by in vivo to determine whether the extent of digestion in vivo was improved by predigestion. In vivo, soluble but unabsorbed peptides were smaller than 1 kDa, suggesting that the size of soluble peptides is not what prevents their absorption. Thus, all in vitro-soluble proteins should be considered digestible. In vitro, 88 +/- 3% of the soluble peptides were smaller than 1 kDa, with the remainder between 1 and 5 kDa, suggesting that in vitro digestion is less complete. Predigested samples were digested in vivo to the same size distribution as the nonpredigested samples. The second objective was to test whether in vitro digestibility assays based on these principles equaled in vivo digestibility. For this, digestibility data for 25 animal proteins were compared. Results showed a lack of correlation between lysine digestibility coefficients; however, across samples, the extent of digestion did not differ for lysine (P = 0.71), threonine (P = 0.26), methionine (P = 0.18), or valine (P = 0.66), whereas in vitro digestibility coefficients were lower for (the less water-soluble) histidine (P = 0.05), isoleucine (P < 0.01), leucine (P < 0.01), and phenylalanine (P = 0.05). In conclusion, in vitro digestibility assays should exhaustively digest proteins to mimic in vivo digestibility. All in vitro-soluble peptides could be considered digestible, because in vivo, no large soluble peptides were observed whose size prevented them from being absorbed. However, an in vitro assay based on these principles lacked precision for highly water-soluble AA, and underestimated digestibility for other AA. Better solubilization of the digesta and more replicates may improve the in vitro assay further.

Amino Acids↗

Effects of emulsification, fat encapsulation, and pelleting on weanling pig performance and nutrient digestibility.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of lysolecithin on performance and nutrient digestibility of nursery pigs and to determine the effects of fat encapsulation by spray drying in diets fed in either meal or pelleted form. In Exp. 1, 108 pigs (21 d of age; 5.96 +/- 0.16 kg BW) were allotted to one of four dietary treatments (as-fed basis): 1) control with no added lard, 2) control with 5% added lard, 3) treatment 2 with 0.02% lysolecithin, and 4) treatment 2 with 0.1% lysolecithin in a 35-d experiment. Added lard decreased ADG (P = 0.02) and ADFI (P < 0.06) during d 15 to 35 and overall. Lysolecithin improved ADG linearly (P = 0.04) during d 15 to 35 and overall, but did not affect ADFI or G:F. Addition of lard decreased the digestibility of DM (P = 0.10) and CP (P = 0.05) and increased (P = 0.001) fat digestibility when measured on d 10. Lysolecithin at 0.02%, but not 0.10%, tended to improve the digestibility of fat (P = 0.10). On d 28, digestibilities of DM, fat, CP, P, (P = 0.001), and GE (P = 0.03) were increased with the addition of lard, and lysolecithin supplementation linearly decreased digestibilities of DM (P = 0.003), GE (P = 0.007), CP, and P (P = 0.001). In Exp. 2, 144 pigs (21 d of age, 6.04 +/- 0.16 kg BW) were allotted to one of six treatments in a 3 x 2 factorial randomized complete block design. Factors included 1) level (as-fed basis) and source of fat (control diet with 1% lard; control diet with 5% additional lard; and control diet with 5% additional lard from encapsulated, spray-dried fat) and 2) diet form (pelleted or meal). Addition of lard decreased feed intake during d 0 to 14 (P = 0.04), d 15 to 35 (P = 0.01), and overall (P = 0.008), and improved G:F for d 15 to 35 (P = 0.04) and overall (P = 0.07). Encapsulated, spray-dried lard increased ADG (P = 0.004) and G:F (P = 0.003) during d 15 to 28 compared with the equivalent amount of fat as unprocessed lard. Pelleting increased ADG (P = 0.006) during d 0 to 14, decreased feed intake during d 15 to 35 (P = 0.01), and overall (P = 0.07), and increased G:F during all periods (P < 0.02). Fat digestibility was increased (P = 0.001) with supplementation of lard, and this effect was greater when diets were fed in meal form (interaction, P = 0.004). Pelleting increased the digestibility of DM, OM, and fat (P < 0.002). Results indicate that growth performance may be improved by lysolecithin supplementation to diets with added lard and by encapsulation of lard through spray drying.

Animal Feed↗

Hydrogenated dietary fat improves pork quality of pigs from two lean genotypes.

Pork quality is influenced by nutrition, genetics, management, and pork-processing procedures. Pigs of lean genotype fed diets high in unsaturated fat may have thinner, lower-quality bellies with a soft fat composition. Therefore, we investigated the effects of supplementing 5% choice white grease that had been chemically hydrogenated to iodine values of 80, 60, 40, or 20 on pork quality. Diets were fed to barrows and gilts of two genotypes (NPD [Ham-line x Manor hybrid] and PIC [406, 419, or 420 x C22]; n = 240) in a 4 x 2 x 2 factorial design. Pigs (76.8 kg of mean initial weight) were placed on test at a common age and were fed dietary treatments for 52 d. Pigs of PIC genotype were heavier at trial initiation, had higher feed intake and feed conversion ratio (F/G; P < 0.05), and greater backfat (26.3 vs. 24.0 mm; P < 0.001) and loin depth (59.0 vs. 55.3 mm; P < 0.001) compared with the NPD genotype pigs. As the iodine value of dietary fat was reduced, belly thickness increased (P < 0.05) and length decreased linearly (P < 0.05). Congruently, belly fat iodine value decreased from 73.9 to 67.4 (linear effect; P < 0.001) and belly fat C18:2 concentration declined from 20.6 to 16.3% (linear and quadratic effect; P < 0.001). The belly mono- and polyunsaturated fat ratio increased 29% as diet iodine value declined from 80 to 20 (linear and quadratic effect; P < 0.001). Further, there was a linear increase (P < 0.001) in saturated fatty acid concentration of belly fat (C14:0, C16:0, and C18:0) as dietary fat iodine value declined. Quadratic (P < 0.005) effects were detected in the level of C18:1trans as iodine value decreased from 80 to 20, paralleling dietary content. Dietary fat iodine value did not affect fat digestibility, ADFI, or F/G. Pork belly quality was improved as defined by reduced iodine value, C18:2 content, increased saturated fatty acid content, increased thickness, and decreased length as dietary iodine value decreased. Results indicate that reduction of dietary fat iodine value by chemical hydrogenation has the desirable effect of improving pork quality and does not alter growth performance.

Abdomen↗

Conjugated linoleic acid in combination with supplemental dietary fat alters pork fat quality.

Interest in fortification of human foods, including pork, with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is growing and may provide benefits as a neutraceutical based on research evaluating CLA as an anticarcinogen, immune modulator, antiatherogenic agent and a body composition modulator. This study evaluated the combined effects of dietary CLA and supplemental fat source on growth, fatty acid composition and belly quality of lean genotype gilts (n = 144). Pigs (49.3 kg) were randomly assigned to six diets (3 x 2 factorial) varying in supplemental fat (none, 4 g/100 g yellow grease or 4 g/100 g tallow) and linoleic acid [1 g/100 g corn oil (CO) or 1 g/100 g CLA (CLA-60)] for 47 d. Both the cis-9, trans-11 and the trans-10, cis-12 isomers of CLA were increased in belly and longissimus fat depots from pigs fed CLA, and that increase was up to 92% greater when CLA was fed with 4 g/100 g supplemental fat (fat source x linoleic acid interaction, P < 0.05). Pigs fed CLA had a greater concentration of 18:0 and less 18:1 cis-9 (P < 0.01) in various fat depots, suggesting a reduction in Delta(9) desaturase activity. The iodine value of belly fat from pigs consuming tallow and CLA combined was reduced to 62.0 from an initial value of 70.4. CLA supplementation also increased belly weights (P < 0.05). CLA did not affect longissimus muscle area, backfat depth and the percentage of fat-free lean (P > 0.10), but it increased the subjective intramuscular fat score by 18.8% (P < 0.01). In conclusion, CLA enrichment of pork products may be enhanced when combined with additional supplemental dietary fat, and together with tallow can be used to increase the saturated fatty acid content of pork.

Adipose Tissue↗

Trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid increases fatty acid oxidation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of 0-50 micromol/L trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and cis-9, trans-11 CLA isomers on lipid and glucose metabolism in cultures of differentiating 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Specifically, we investigated the effects of 6 d of CLA treatment on the following: 1) (14)C-glucose and (14)C-oleic acid incorporation and esterification into lipid; 2) (14)C-glucose and (14)C-fatty acid oxidation; and 3) basal and isoproterenol-stimulated lipolysis. Trans-10, cis-12 CLA supplementation (25 and 50 micromol/L) increased both (14)C-glucose and (14)C-oleic acid incorporation into the cellular lipid fraction, which was primarily triglyceride (TG), compared with bovine serum albumin (BSA) controls. Although glucose oxidation ((14)C-glucose to (14)C-CO(2)) was unaffected by CLA supplementation, oleic acid oxidation ((14)C-oleic acid to (14)C-CO(2)) was increased by approximately 55% in the presence of 50 micromol/L trans-10, cis-12 CLA compared with BSA controls. In contrast, 50 micromol/L linoleic acid (LA) and cis-9, trans-11 CLA-treated cultures had approximately 50% lower CO(2) production from (14)C-oleic acid compared with control cultures after 6 d of fatty acid exposure. Finally, 50 micromol/L trans-10, cis-12 CLA modestly increased basal, but not isoproterenol-stimulated lipolysis compared with control cultures. Thus, the TG-lowering actions of trans-10, cis-12 CLA in cultures of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes may be via increased fatty acid oxidation, which exceeded its stimulatory effects on glucose and oleic acid incorporation into lipid.

3T3 Cells↗

Efficacy of partially hydrolyzed corn syrup solids as a replacement for lactose in manufactured liquid diets for neonatal pigs.

Feeding manufactured liquid diets to early-weaned pigs improves growth performance and reduces days to market weight compared with pigs receiving pelleted dry feed. Few alternative dietary ingredients are utilized in manufactured liquid diets other than byproducts of the dairy industry, especially for sources of carbohydrates. This experiment was designed to evaluate the efficacy of starch from partially hydrolyzed corn syrup solids (CSS), at two different levels of hydrolyzation, as a replacement for lactose in manufactured liquid diets. Forty-eight pigs were removed from sows at 1 d of age and randomly assigned to one of three treatments: 1) control with lactose as the carbohydrate source, 2) lactose replaced (gram for gram) with CSS (dextrose equivalent [DE]-20), and 3) lactose replaced with DE-42. In addition, 10 pigs were randomly removed from several litters to provide estimates of initial body composition and small intestinal variables. Twenty-four pigs were removed from the study on d 10 of treatment, and the remaining 24 pigs were removed on d 20 of treatment. Pigs averaged 9,845 +/- 191 g at d 20 of treatment regardless of dietary treatment (P > 0.20). No differences in ADG, ADFI, or feed efficiency were detected between treatment groups from d 0 to 20 (P > 0.19). Whole-body water, protein, lipid, and ash accretion rates were unaffected by dietary treatment from d 0 to 10 or from d 0 to 20 (P > 0.20). The replacement of lactose with CSS did not affect intestinal villi height or width, or crypt depth (P > 0.10). Pigs fed lactose tended to have greater lactase activity on d 10 than pigs fed CSS (P < 0.07). Also, pigs fed lactose tended to have lower oligosaccharidase activity than pigs fed the DE-20 diet on d 20 (P < 0.07). No other differences in lactase, maltase, or long oligosaccharidase specific activity on d 10 or 20 of treatment were detected (P > 0.12). Plasma urea nitrogen concentrations were unaffected by diet on d 10 and 20 of treatment. In addition, dry matter digestibility of the diets averaged approximately 85.6 +/- 0.8% and was unaffected by dietary treatment or day of treatment. These results suggest that partially hydrolyzed CSS can be used as a replacement for lactose in manufactured liquid diets for neonatal pigs.

Animal Feed↗

Dietary medium- or long-chain triglycerides improve body condition of lean-genotype sows and increase suckling pig growth.

In a field trial conducted on a commercial swine farm, lean-genotype sows (n = 485) were fed diets containing 0 or 10% supplemental fat as either medium-chain triglyceride or choice white grease from d 90 of gestation until weaning (15.5 d). Effects on standard sow and litter production traits were examined together with assessment of sow body condition using live ultrasound. Daily feed intake during lactation was 10% higher in sows consuming diets without added fat (7.2 vs 6.5 kg; P < 0.01); however, lactation ME (23.9 Mcal/d) and digestible lysine (54 g/d) intakes were unaffected (P > 0.10). Sows supplemented with fat were 4 kg heavier on d 109 of gestation (220 vs 224 kg; P < or = 0.01), 1 d after farrowing (210 vs 214 kg; P < or = 0.01), and at weaning (210 vs 214 kg; P < or = 0.01). Expressed as overall gain, this amounted to a 23% increase (0.66 vs 0.86 kg/d; P < or = 0.01) and was accompanied by a 49% increase in backfat (0.82 vs 1.68 mm; P < or = 0.03) from d 90 to farrowing. Changes in sow weight (-0.01 kg/d) and backfat (+4.2 mm) over lactation were minimal and were not affected by fat supplementation (P > or = 0.10). Longissimus muscle area at weaning was slightly greater (44.96 vs 46.2 cm2) in sows consuming fat than in control sows (P < or = 0.05), but changes in longissimus muscle area were not significant from d 90 to weaning (P > or = 0.10). Gestation length, pigs born alive, average birth weight, survival (d 3 to weaning), and days to estrus were not affected by diet (P > 0.10). However, supplemental fat increased pig ADG (192 vs 203 g/d; P < 0.01) and average pig weaning weight (4.3 vs 4.5 kg) at 15.5 d (P < or = 0.02). No differences between the two fat sources were detected. This large-scale study demonstrated that supplemental fat during gestation and lactation effectively improved sow condition and improved suckling pig performance without affecting energy intake during lactation, implying improved efficiency of sow energy utilization.

Animal Feed↗

The effects of dietary fat sources, levels, and feeding intervals on pork fatty acid composition.

Two experiments investigated the quantitative relationship between dietary fat and fatty acid composition of pork. Experiment 1 was designed to establish the rate of decline for linoleic acid and iodine value of pork fat during the late fattening phase following a dietary reduction. Gilts (n = 288) were fed diets varying in linoleic acid content from 4.11 to 1.56% for 4, 6, or 8 wk prior to slaughter. The maximum rate of decline was 2% 18:2 per week and 2.5 iodine value units per week. Experiment 2 evaluated the effects of dietary fat source and level on carcass fatty acid composition and on pork quality characteristics. Barrows (n = 147) and gilts (n = 147) were allocated to seven dietary treatments for the last 6 wk of the finishing phase. Diets contained 0, 2.5, or 5% dietary fat comprised of 100, 50, or 0% beef tallow. The balance was provided by animal-vegetable blended fat. As the level of tallow increased there was a linear decrease (P < 0.05) in 18:2 content and iodine value of carcass fat. Conversely, 16:1 and 18:1 increased linearly (P < 0.05) as tallow increased. However, 16:1 decreased linearly (P < 0.05) as level of fat increased. As the level of tallow was increased a greater reduction in 18:2 and iodine value was observed in diets with 5% dietary fat compared to diets with 2.5% fat (P < 0.05). These results indicate that reduction of dietary PUFA content had the desired effect of lowering 18:2 content and iodine value of pork fat and that significant alterations could be elicited in as little as 6 to 8 wk of feeding.

Adipose Tissue↗

Differential induction of peroxisomal beta-oxidation enzymes by clofibric acid and aspirin in piglet tissues.

Peroxisomal beta-oxidation (POX) of fatty acids is important in lipid catabolism and thermogenesis. To investigate the effects of peroxisome proliferators on peroxisomal and mitochondrial beta-oxidation in piglet tissues, newborn pigs (1-2 days old) were allowed ad libitum access to milk replacer supplemented with 0.5% clofibric acid (CA) or 1% aspirin for 14 days. CA increased ratios of liver weight to body weight (P < 0.07), kidney weight to body weight (P < 0.05), and heart weight to body weight (P < 0.001). Aspirin decreased daily food intake and final body weight but increased the ratio of heart weight to body weight (P < 0.01). In liver, activities of POX, fatty acyl-CoA oxidase (FAO), total carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT), and catalase were 2.7-, 2.2-, 1.5-fold, and 33% greater, respectively, for pigs given CA than for control pigs. In heart, these variables were 2.2-, 4.1-, 1.9-, and 1.8-fold greater, respectively, for pigs given CA than for control pigs. CA did not change these variables in either kidney or muscle, except that CPT activity was increased approximately 110% (P < 0.01) in kidney. Aspirin increased only hepatic FAO and CPT activities. Northern blot analysis revealed that CA increased the abundance of catalase mRNA in heart by approximately 2.2-fold. We conclude that 1) POX and CPT in newborn pigs can be induced by peroxisomal proliferators with tissue specificity and 2) the relatively smaller induction of POX in piglets (compared with that in young or adult rodents) may be related to either age or species differences.

Acyl-CoA Oxidase↗

Liquid diets accelerate the growth of early-weaned pigs and the effects are maintained to market weight.

Piglets (n = 240, 11.0+/-0.1 d old, 3.93+/-0.05 kg) were allotted to one of four treatments in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement to examine the effects of diet physical form and nursery environment during the first 14 d after weaning on growth to market weight. During the treatment period, pigs were housed (10 pigs/ pen) in either a conventional hot nursery (30 degrees C) or a segregated-temperature nursery (cool ambient temp. of 24 degrees C, with enclosed hot-box hovers at 32 degrees C). Pigs in each environment were fed nutritionally identical diets in either liquid or dry-pellet form for 14 d. Subsequently, all pigs were fed identical dry diets and were housed in common grower-finisher facilities (penned by sex, five pigs/pen). At the end of the treatment period (d 14), pigs fed the liquid diet were 21% heavier than pigs fed the dry pellet diet (9.22 vs 7.60 kg; P < 0.001). Similarly, gain, feed intake, and gain/feed of liquid-fed pigs were 44%, 18%, and 22% greater, respectively, than observed for pigs fed the dry pellet diet. No main effect of environment was observed (P > 0.10); however, an interaction with diet physical form occurred during the early-nursery period (P < 0.01). Pigs fed the liquid diet showed better performance in the conventional nursery, whereas pigs fed the dry pellet diet were favored in the segregated-temperature nursery. No major differences in growth performance or in ultrasound carcass measurements were detected during the growing-finishing period; however, the advantage in body weight of liquid-fed pigs gained during the first 2 wk postweaning was maintained to the end of the trial (113.9 vs 110.6 kg; P < 0.05). Pigs that were fed the early-nursery diet in liquid form reached market weight (110 kg) 3.7 d sooner than the dry-fed controls (P < 0.01). Estimates of lean gain (calculated from live ultrasound data) were unaffected, suggesting that composition of growth was not altered. Collectively, these results show that liquid feeding during early life can markedly accelerate piglet growth performance and that the growth advantage is maintained to market weight, with no evidence of compensatory gain in the dry-fed control pigs.

Adipose Tissue↗

Kinetics of carnitine palmitoyltransferase-I are altered by dietary variables and suggest a metabolic need for supplemental carnitine in young pigs.

To examine the kinetics of carnitine palmitoyltransferase-I (CPT-I) and the influence of dietary variables, young pigs (18 kg, n = 20) were fed corn-soybean meal diets supplemented with 40 g soy oil/kg and containing either 136 or 180 g crude protein/kg and either 0 or 500 mg/kg L-carnitine (2 x 2 factorial design). Diets were offered for 10 d (85% of ad libitum); CPT-I activities in liver and skeletal muscle mitochondria were determined, and enzyme kinetic constants (V:(max) and K:(m) for carnitine) were estimated. Kinetics of CPT-I in muscle were not affected by diet (P: > 0.1; carnitine K:(m) = 480 +/- 44 micromol/L). In contrast, the K:(m) for carnitine in liver was increased from 164 to 216 +/- 20 micromol/L by dietary L-carnitine supplementation (P: < 0.01) and from 169 to 211 +/- 20 micromol/L by high protein feeding (P: < 0.05). Dietary L-carnitine increased muscle and liver free carnitine concentrations by 72 and 158% over control concentrations (770 and 80 micro;mol/kg wet muscle and liver, respectively). Because tissue carnitine concentrations were within the range of the respective K:(m) for both liver and muscle tissue, it is inferred that alteration of tissue carnitine concentrations via dietary supplementation could modulate CPT-I activity in young pigs.

Animals↗

Dietary L-carnitine improves nitrogen utilization in growing pigs fed low energy, fat-containing diets.

Growing pigs (n = 25; 17.8 +/- 0.1 kg) were used to study the effects of L-carnitine and protein intake on nitrogen (N) balance and body composition. Fat-supplemented (40 g soy oil/kg diet), corn-soybean meal basal diets containing low or high protein (136 or 180 g/diet) were formulated so that protein accretion would be limited by metabolizable energy (ME). Each basal diet was supplemented with 0 or 500 mg/kg L-carnitine and fed to pigs for 10 d in a nutrient balance trial. Final body composition was compared with weight and age-matched pigs measured on d 0 to calculate nutrient accretion rates. High protein feeding increased (P < 0.01) average daily gain (ADG) by 34%, as well as nitrogen digestibility (4.4%), retention (5.2%), urinary excretion (29%) and crude protein (CP) accretion (33%). Total-body carnitine accretion rate was 4.5 fold greater and total body carnitine concentration was almost 100% greater than in unsupplemented controls (P < 0.01). Irrespective of protein level, carnitine increased ADG (by 7.3%, P < 0.10) and CP accretion rate (9%, P < 0.10). Congruently, carnitine supplementation improved the efficiency of nitrogen retention (P < 0. 05) and reduced urinary nitrogen excretion (14%, P < 0.10). Carcass fat content also was reduced in carnitine-supplemented pigs (P < 0. 10). Collectively, these data support the hypothesis that carnitine can improve the efficiency of nitrogen utilization in 20-kg pigs fed energy-limited, fat-containing diets. We conclude that endogenous carnitine biosynthesis may be adequate to maintain sufficient tissue levels during growth, but that supplemental dietary carnitine (at 500 mg/kg) may be retained sufficiently so as to alter nutrient partitioning and thus body composition of 20-kg pigs.

Adipose Tissue↗

Effects of soybean oil and dietary copper on ruminal and tissue lipid metabolism in finishing steers.

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of Cu and soybean oil (SBO) supplementation on ruminal and tissue lipid metabolism and carcass characteristics in finishing steers. Sixty Angus steers (369.0 +/- 10.1 kg) were stratified by weight and randomly assigned to treatments in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement, with factors being 0 or 20 mg of supplemental Cu/kg DM from Cu sulfate and 0 or 4% SBO. Steers were fed a high-concentrate basal diet that contained 5.3 mg Cu/kg DM. Average daily gain and feed intake were reduced (P < 0.01) by SBO but were not affected by Cu. Gain:feed ratio was not affected by treatment. Liver Cu concentrations were higher (P < 0.01) in steers receiving supplemental Cu and lower (P < 0.04) in SBO-supplemented steers. Copper supplementation tended to reduce (P < 0.12) and SBO supplementation tended to increase (P < 0.11) serum cholesterol concentrations. Backfat depth was reduced (P < 0.10) by Cu and SBO supplementation. Marbling scores and longissimus muscle lipid content were not affected by Cu supplementation; however, SBO supplementation reduced (P < 0.01) marbling scores. Longissimus muscle polyunsaturated fatty acids tended to be increased (P < 0.14) in Cu-supplemented steers. Longissimus muscle C18-conjugated dienes and the 18:1 trans isomer were increased (P < 0.05) in SBO-supplemented steers. Ruminal fluid 18:3 was increased (P < 0.05) and the 18:1 trans isomer was decreased (P < 0.05) in Cu-supplemented steers. These results indicate that as little as 20 mg of supplemental Cu/kg DM can reduce backfat and may alter lipid metabolism in steers fed high-concentrate diets.

Adipose Tissue↗