Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are essential for the development of the nervous system in animals. It is known that pigs are good models for human in many aspects. The aim of the study was to investigate how fat content and FA composition in sows' diet influence FA composition in brain of newborn and in liver and brain of one-day-old piglets, respectively. High fat (6 %) feeds were designed with regard to saturated or polyunsaturated fat content and n-6/n-3 ratio by adding either oats rich in linoleic acid (LA) or linseed oil rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). The ratio n-6/n-3 PUFA was 11 in all three diets (the low fat (3 %), high fat saturated and high fat oats diet), while the ratio in the linseed oil diet was 2. Increased proportion of ALA in the diet increased ALA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in piglets' neutral and polar liver lipids and the long chain PUFA, EPA, docosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid in piglet brain. The results suggest that transport of n-3 PUFA from sow to piglet was higher via milk than via bloodstream in the uterus and that increased content of ALA in sows' feed led to an increased accumulation of n-3 FA in piglets' liver and brain.

The influence of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) level and solubility on performance, digestion site and gut environment was investigated in 20 Swedish Yorkshire litters between 3 and 9 weeks of age. The litters were distributed among five diets based on cereals and cereal by-products. The control diet (C) had a medium content of NSP (147g/kg dry matter (DM)), whereas diets H and Hi had a high content of NSP (188–250g/kg DM), and diets L and Li had a low content of NSP (95–109g/kg DM) after dilution with starch. The proportion of insoluble (i) NSP was higher in diet Hi and Li (0.80–0.85) than in diets C, H and L (0.68–0.73). The pigs offered diet Li showed the highest (P<0.05) feed intake and grew faster (P<0.05) than pigs offered diets C, L and H. In the post-weaning period feed:gain was highest for pigs offered the C and H diets and lower for pigs offered the low NSP diets and diet Hi. During week 6, the coefficient of caecal (CCAD) and total tract (CTTAD) apparent digestibility of organic matter (OM) was lower (P<0.05) in diet Hi compared to the other diets, and the CCAD and CTTAD of crude protein (CP) was higher (P<0.05) in diet L compared to the high NSP diets. During week 7, the CCAD and CTTAD of OM was lower (P<0.05) in diet Hi compared to the low NSP diets and diet C. The CCAD of CP and starch was higher (P<0.05) in diet L compared to the control diet. Diet L showed higher (P<0.05) values of digestible energy compared to the high NSP diets, both in the 6 and 7 weeks old piglets. NSP solubility influenced (P<0.05) the caecal digestibility of arabonixylans and total NSP in the 6 and 7 weeks old piglets, as well as the caecal digestibility of total dietary fibre in the 7 weeks old piglets. The content of total organic acids (OA) was linearly related to the pH level at the ileum (R2=0.70), caecum (R2=0.57) and colon (R2=0.83). The experimental diets altered the molar proportions of lactic acid and short chain fatty acids (SCFA), of total OA, as well as the molar proportions of acetic, propionic and butyric acids, of total SCFA, in the stomach, ileum, caecum and colon of the piglets. In conclusion, NSP solubility influenced the digestibility of cell wall polysaccharides at the caecum but not at the total tract. Diet Hi promoted production of lactic acid in the stomach and small intestine and butyric acid in the large intestine.

The partial degradation of beta-glucans and arabinoxylans in cereal-based diets by specific enzymes may improve the nutritional value for the pig. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the influence of diets with different contents of cereal non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) without or with supplementation of the enzymes endo-(1-3),(1-4)-beta-glucanase and endo-(1-4)-beta-xylanase on digestibility and gut environment. A total of 32 male castrated (Y x L) piglets from eight litters was allocated to a diet high in NSP (H) or low in NSP (L), each diet without and with enzyme supplementation (1 g/kg diet each of beta-glucanase and beta-xylanase). Diet H contained 874 g cereals and 197 g NSP/kg DM and was composed of triticale:wheat bran: oats: wheat: barley in relative proportions of 0.367:0.341:0.143:0.120:0.029. Diet L contained 433 g cereals and 106 g NSP/kg DM and the cereal part was composed of triticale:wheat bran: oats: barley: wheat in relative proportions of 0.432:0.360:0.120:0.048:0.039. The trial started before weaning when the piglets were aged 27-28 days (live weight 8.9 +/- 0.6 kg). After 14 days on the respective diets (mean live weight 11.6 +/- 1.3 kg) the piglets were euthanised and digesta samples collected from the Gastro-intestinal tract. The high NSP level resulted in increased daily gain (P < 0.05), decreased digestibility (P < 0.05) of organic matter in the ileum, caecum, colon and rectum, decreased pH (P < 0.05) in the caecum and colon and increased content (P < 0.05) of total organic acids (OA) in the stomach and ileum. Furthermore, the high NSP level resulted in an increased (P < 0.05) molar proportion of lactic acid (of total OA) in the stomach and ileum and an increased (P < 0.05) molar proportion of propionic and butyric acid (of short chain fatty acids, SCFA) in the ileum. Enzyme supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the molar proportion of lactic acid (of total OA) in the ileum and decreased (P < 0.05) the molar proportion of acetic acid (of SCFA) in the ileum.In conclusion, dietary NSP level influenced the digestibility of organic matter, as well as the gut environment. However, the digestibility of dietary fibre components was unaffected by NSP level. An increased dietary content of NSP and supplementation with fibre degrading enzymes influenced the distribution of OA in the ileum, indicating a shift in dominating bacteria. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of outdoor rearing on the fatty acid (FA) composition and contents of tocopherols of M. longissimus dorsi polar (PL) and neutral lipids (NL) in entire males, castrated males and female pigs. Fat content did not differ between genders or rearing conditions. In PL of the indoor pig muscle the level of n-6 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) was higher in females and entire males compared with castrated males. The outdoor environment resulted in a slightly higher level of n-3 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) in muscle PL and NL of entire males compared with females and castrated males. We also found an increased level of 18:2 n-6 in the muscle PL of outdoor reared females compared with the indoor females. The higher levels of PUFA in the entire male muscle, in both PL and NL, were not accompanied by a higher level of vitamin E.

Five Yorkshire castrates fitted with a post valve T-caecum (PVTC) cannula were used in a 5×5 Latin square design to study the influence of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) in cereal based diets on site and extent of digestion and gut environment. The cereal part of the control diet was designed to resemble a Swedish slaughter pig feed. Diets H and Hi had a high total NSP content, and by starch dilution, the resulting diets L and Li had a low total NSP content. The insoluble proportion (i) of the total NSP was higher in diets Hi and Li than in the other diets. There was a linear decrease (P<0.05) in both ileal and total tract digestibility of organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP) and energy with increasing dietary NSP content. NSP solubility had no effect (P>0.05) on ileal digestibility of nutrients or dietary fibre (DF) components. The total tract digestibility of OM, fat and energy, and of all DF components was increased (P<0.05) with higher levels of soluble NSP. The total organic acid content and pH in ileal digesta were linearly related (R2=0.90). Diets L and Li showed a higher (P<0.05) proportion of acetic acid in ileal digesta compared to diets H and Hi.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the polar and neutral lipid fatty acid composition, content of retinol, α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol and level of oxidation of the pig muscle (M. longissimus dorsi). Female and castrated male Hampshire crossbreeds were produced in two systems. One group was raised indoors with a more polyunsaturated diet and the other raised outdoors with a more saturated diet. The level of polyunsaturated fatty acids in muscle was higher in the indoor females compared with the outdoor females, indoor castrated males and outdoor castrated males. The increased level of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the muscle, which was accompanied by a relatively low content of α-tocopherol, increased the susceptibility to lipid oxidation in the form of MDA (malondialdehyde) in the indoor female pigs. Finally, the level of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the polar lipids was affected by the RN genotype, and this difference was dependent on sex. In conclusion, diet has a major effect on the fatty acid composition and oxidation stability in pork muscle, but additional factors such as sex and RN genotype might also contribute.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of organically certified feed (KRAV) with regard to different fatty acid n-6/n-3 dietary ratios, on the fatty acid composition of muscle neutral and polar lipids. Forty-four pigs of two sexes (castrated males and females) were given two feeds with two different n-6/n-3 ratios (9.33 and 7.13). The results showed that the dietary n-6/n-3 ratio influenced the muscle n-6/n-3 ratio of polar and neutral lipids. In general, female pig muscle had a significantly higher level of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in both lipid classes, than muscles from castrated males. However, whereas PUFA levels were generally higher in the neutral lipids, levels of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) were higher in the polar lipids of female pig muscle. Negative correlations were found between PUFA level in both neutral and polar lipids and carcass fatness parameters, even though the correlations were stronger in the neutral lipids.

There is a constant need for new methods of meat-quality evaluation. Recent advances in the area of computer and video processing have created new ways to monitor quality in the food industry. In this paper, we describe an image-processing technique to determine fat content in beef meat. To achieve this, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) images of beef meat have been used. The inherent advantages of NMR images are many. Chief among these are unprecedented contrasts between the various structures present in meat, such as muscle, fat, and connective tissue. Moreover, the three-dimensional nature of the NMR method allows the analysis of isolated cross-sectional slices of the meat and the measure of the volumetric content of fat, and it is not limited to measurements of the superficially visible fat. We propose a segmentation algorithm for the detection of fat and a filtering technique to remove intensity inhomogeneities in NMR images, caused by nonuniformities of magnetic field during acquisition. Measurements have been successfully correlated with chemical analysis and digital photography. We also propose a method to quantify the distribution of fat. Our results show that the NMR technique is a promising noninvasive method to determine fat content in meat.

The effect of surgery (insertion of an ileo-caecal cannula) and a subsequent parenteral treatment with oxytetracycline on the ileo-caecal and rectal coliform populations in 7 Swedish Yorkshire castrates were studied. Samples were collected during surgery as well as 3, 7, 14 and 20 days post surgery. The diversity of the enteric coliform flora was initially high both in the ileo-caecal ostium and in rectum. No alteration in the diversity of the enteric coliform flora was observed following surgery and treatment with oxytetracycline. As the insertion of ileo-caecal cannulas did not affect the intestinal coliform flora this study gives support to the use of this technique to mirror processes in the small intestine of pigs. Further, the diversity of the enteric coliform flora was unaffected by the parenteral treatment with oxytetracycline.

Intramuscular fat content in meat influences some important meat quality characteristics. The aim of the present study was to develop and apply image processing techniques to quantify intramuscular fat content in beefs together with the visual appearance of fat in meat (marbling). Colour images of M. longissimus dorsi meat samples with a variability in intramuscular fat content and marbling were captured. Image analysis software was specially developed for the interpretation of these images. In particular, a segmentation algorithm (i.e. classification of different substances: fat, muscle and connective tissue) was optimized in order to obtain a proper classification and perform subsequent analysis. Segmentation of muscle from fat was achieved based on their characteristics in the three-dimensional colour space (RGB), and on the intrinsic fuzzy nature of these structures. The method is fully automatic and it combines a fuzzy clustering algorithm, the Fuzzy c-Means Algorithm, with a Genetic Algorithm. The percentages of various colours (i.e. substances) within the sample are then determined; the number, size distribution, and spatial distributions of the extracted fat flecks are measured. Measurements are correlated with chemical and sensory properties. Results so far show that advanced image analysis is useful for quantify the visual appearance of meat.

The objective of this study was to investigate the polar and neutral lipid fatty acid composition of pig muscle as influenced by rearing conditions and sex. A total of 120 Hampshire crossbreeds were divided in two groups, one reared free-range in a strip grazing fashion and one reared indoors in a large pen (120 m(2)). Free-range rearing produced a more unsaturated fatty acid composition (M. biceps femoris) in the neutral lipids, although the effect was small. In the polar lipids the effect of rearing condition was sex dependent. In the muscle of free-range gilts, there was a higher level of C18:2 n-6, compared with indoor gilts, indoor castrates, and free-range castrates. Moreover, muscle of gilts irrespective of rearing condition, had a higher level of the C⩾20 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the polar lipids (16.75 and 14.60, respectively). Thus, we suggest that the difference between castrates and gilts with respect to fatty acid composition in the polar lipids, might be affected by rearing condition.

The world of meat faces a permanent need for new methods of meat quality evaluation. Recent advances in the area of computer and video processing have created new ways to monitor quality in the food industry. Here, the authors describe an image processing technique to determine fat content in beef meat. To achieve this NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) images of beef meat have been used. The inherent advantages of NMR images are many. Chief among these are unprecedented contrasts between the various structures present in meat, as muscle, fat, and connective tissue. Moreover, the three-dimensional nature of the NMR method allows the analysis of isolated cross-sectional slices of the meat and the measure of volumetric content of fat, no only the superficially visible one. The authors propose a segmentation algorithm for the detection of fat and a filtering technique to remove intensity inhomogeneities in NMR images, cause by non-uniformities of magnetic field during acquisition. Measurements have been successfully correlated with chemical analysis and digital photography. The authors also propose a method to quantify the distribution of fat. Their results show that NMR technique is a promising non-invasive method to determine fat content in meat

The study analysed 954 Yorkshire sows from a research station in Sweden. The heritability for mean piglet weight at 3 weeks was 0.30 and the heritability for number dead up to 3 weeks was 0.09. Correlations showed that when the number of piglets born into a litter increased, it followed that each piglet weighed less at 3 weeks of age (genetic correlation -0.1). The higher the litter size at birth, the more piglets died, and if many piglets died in a litter, growth was low in the surviving piglets. The genetic correlation between mean birth weight and mean weight at 3 weeks was estimated to be 0.6.