The present study was carried out on 68 barrows equally distributed into two different feeding groups (intensive and restricted).MR tomography was used to obtain data needed for the calculation of optimal slaughter weight.Growth analyses and predictions were performed using an asymmetric S-function.The differences between the predicted and real time needed to achieve 100 kg live weight calculated for the two feeding groups of pigs were not statistically significant.The prediction was fairly accurate in 88% of the cases for the intensive group and 79% of the cases for the restrictively fed pigs.The point of muscle growth saturation (t C = 51.31dm 3 ) calculated for pigs from the intensive group occurred at 164 days of age.Restrictively fed pigs reached this point after 167 days.It was calculated that at 164 days of age intensively fed pigs reached about 126 kg; the pigs from the restricted group reached about 112 kg at 167 days.These weights can be regarded as optimal slaughter weights for pigs from the present study in the sense of maximum utilisation of muscle growth.Since both groups of pigs reach the same muscle volume of 51 dm 3 at the estimated times, the difference in live weights can be attributed to the volume of fat.This makes the intensive system of feeding undesirable in economical pig production.It is concluded that the obtained parameters of the asymmetric S-function can be used for the growth analysis of other pigs, assuming that they are of the same genetic background and reared in the same conditions.It is suggested that the carcass values of pigs slaughtered at optimum live weights proposed here should be compared with the values of pigs slaughtered at other live weights in order to decide between maximum utilisation of muscle growth or achieving the most desirable lean percentage in carcass.

A total of 68 barrows, 4-way-crosses with a Pietrain x Hampshire sire, and a Large White x German Landrace dam were used in this study, The pigs were divided into 4 groups regarding the MHS (malignant hyperthermia syndrome) genotype (NN and Nn) and feeding regime (intensive and restrictive). The piglets were genotyped by DNA test; data on muscle and fat growth were obtained by repeated measurements of body composition at 4 weeks intervals by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Differential growth analysis showed that muscle tissue grew proportionally with the increase of live weight (allometric coefficient, b approximate to 1); fat grew faster in relation to live weight (b > 1) in all investigated groups of pigs. Significant differences in growth coefficients for fat were found only between feeding groups. The analysis by asymmetric S-function showed different patterns of live weight growth of pigs from two feeding regimes. Within the feeding regimes, no significant differences in live weight growth patterns between the pigs of different MHS genotype (NN and Nn) were found. Muscle growth pattern significantly differed between the groups of investigated pigs: Nn pigs from the intensive feeding group were significantly superior to NN pigs in the same group and to Nn pigs fed restrictively (p < 0.05), but only in the phase of progressive growth (b-coefficient of the S-function). In this respect Nn pigs performed better under intensive feeding than under restrictive feeding regime, while no difference was found between NN pigs from two feeding regimes. By combining information on live weight and muscle growth, the optimal slaughter weight of pigs was calculated: 130 and 126 kg for intensively fed NN and Nn pigs, respectively, and about 114 kg for both genotypes from the restricted group of pigs. From fat growth analysis by asymmetric S-function, no influence of genotype on fat deposition in both feeding systems could be observed. Growth patterns of fat differed significantly only between the feeding groups. This study showed that the growth of body components fits a sigmoid curve and that the asymmetric S-function proved to be a more accurate and informative model than a simple allometric function, providing a base for important decisions in fattening of pigs. A practical consequence of this study is that the more cost-effective restrictive feeding regime can be recommended as more appropriate in fattening of pigs, since intensive feeding generally failed to improve their growth traits. Similarly, inclusion of MHS-gene did not enhance muscle growth characteristics of investigated pigs, so MHS-negative pigs (NN) can be considered as more desirable fatteners, especially when fed restrictively. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.

The long-term transfer of radiosilver from soil to pasture grass was investigated over 5 years on an undisturbed pasture using stable silver (109Ag) isotope as a tracer. The silver content of all the samples was determined by neutron activation analysis. The temporal change of the Ag+ uptake into forage was negligible mainly due to the low mobility of silver in the soil (orthi-humic-gleysol). The mean grass/soil concentration factor levelled out at 1.3±0.5×10−2 during the 59-month observation period. In a 30-day feeding experiment with pigs, 110mAg was used to determine distribution and retention. The internal distribution of 110mAg showed the liver to be the most contaminated tissue. The highest 110mAg retention was found in the brain. The biological half-lives obtained for the liver and the brain were 35 and 136 days, respectively.

Previous studies showed that intrauterine infusion of seminal plasma at the onset of oestrus could advance ovulation in pigs, possibly to enhance the chances of fertilization by optimizing the chronological events of fertilization. This effect has been attributed to a local unilateral mechanism whereby infusion into a single uterine horn advances ovulation in the adjacent ovary. The present study was designed to elucidate possible mechanisms of local signal transduction. In a series of five experiments using 43 gilts, the ovarian response was investigated after infusion of seminal plasma at different sites of the female reproductive tract. The time of ovulation was detected sonographically at 4- or 2-h intervals. Single uterine horn infusion of 100 ml seminal plasma advanced ovulation on the ipsilateral ovary by 9.3 h (mean) compared with the contralateral ovary. Dissection of the ipsilateral isthmus abolished the unilateral seminal plasma effect. Unilateral infusion of 50 microliters or 1 ml seminal plasma or 50 microliters of the concentrated 1-10 kDa fraction in the lower isthmus was ineffective. Application of 5 ml seminal plasma into the tip of a ligated uterine horn lead to 3.6 h (mean) earlier ovulation on the adjacent ovary. In contrast, the infusion of 5 ml NaCl showed no effect. Application of 5 ml seminal plasma in the middle of the uterine horn between two ligatures was ineffective. It is concluded that, for the transduction of the local signal involved in the advancement of ovulation, contact of seminal plasma with the epithelium of the utero-tubal junction is essential.

In the literature. numerous studies are found that proof a superior fattening performance and carcass composition for boars compared to female and castrated pigs. The results in the feeding experiment presented here do not confirm this to the same extend. Even with a high protein and lysine supplementation growth performance of boars was lower than in females. I,ean content was determined by FOM grading which might underestimate the boars. Lean to fat ratio (areas of. M. long dorsi and back fat) however was significantly different between castrates and all boar groups due to the reduced fat deposition.Sensoric tests detected significant boar taint in the majority of the samples from male carcasses. Considering the tendency on the market for increasing carcass weights and the risk of boar taint in heavier pigs boar fattening can not be recommended in Germany.

P-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy was applied to study in vivo changes of muscle phosphorous metabolites (inorganic phosphate - P-i, Creatinphosphate - PCr and Adenosintriphosphate - ATP) and pH values during halothane exposure in pigs of different MHS genotype weighing from 19 to 55 kg. MHS genotypes were differentiated by ryanodine receptor gene test. Homozygous stress susceptible (Pietrain, n=7), heterozygous (German Landrace, n=16) and homozygous stress resistant (German Landrace, n=1Z) pigs were included in this study. The Nn genotypes showed dramatic changes in their muscle metabolism after administration of halothane (2 Vol.%). Differences between Nn and NN pigs were significant (P<0.05) in initial PCr/P-i and PCr/ATP values, but disappeared after administration of halothane. After slaughter (average slaughter weight 66.3 kg for NN and 58.4 kg for Nn genotypes) significant differences (P<0.05) in kinetic parameters for time course changes of PCr and Pi and rate of pH fall occurred. NN pigs had a 6.2 min longer half time breakdown of PCr. Nn genotypes showed a more distinct decline of pH (8.5 . 10(-3) units per min) than NN pigs (3.6.10(-3) units per min).

P-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed on 19 to 55 kg weighing pigs of different MHS genotypes to study the changes of phosphorus components (inorganic phosphate -P-i, phosphocreatine - PCr and adenosine triphosphate-ATP) of muscle metabolism as well as intramuscular pH under application of halothane. Aim of the present study was to observe the changes in energy metabolism and to perform a comparison with also measured blood parameters. Both, NN and Nn pigs did not show any changes during halothane exposure in phosphorus spectra, but in all animals a partially metabolicly compensated respiratoric acidosis was found. In all MHS positive pigs a rapid fail of PCr and a corresponding raise of Pi levels in muscle was observed.

If meat production shall be based on market requirements, the interests of all market partners have to be considered. In addition to traits of carcass and meat quality, characteristics of the production process are critically evaluated by the consumer.This requires an accurate description of all production procedures in the various steps. This ''transperancy'' is an essential part of each quality assurance program where all vertical steps are closly connected by contracts. These ''integrated quality assurance programs'' are mainly of internal importance within the production system; it improves the efficiency by avoiding or minimizing faults. An additional certification of such systems is of great importance for contracts, pricing and marketing.The large number of quality programs are predominantly regionally organized. For ease of comparison general production rules have been astablished. Programs which meet these requirements may receive a special label to confirm their high standard, as for example by the ''CMA-Prufsiegel''.Long term quality assurance programs will help to improve the general quality standard and can stabilize marketing.

The influence of a transcervical infusion of seminal plasma on preovulatory LH profiles and the advancement of ovulation after seminal plasma infusion for different times during oestrus were investigated using the single uterine horn infusion technique (Mariensee model), in combination with transcutaneous sonographic monitoring of the ovaries. Preparative surgery in 23 German Landrace gilts comprised the detachment of the left uterine horn from the corpus, leaving the caudal end open to the peritoneal cavity but sealing the corpus wound. In six gilts fitted with a permanent jugular vein catheter the patent horns were administered a transcervical infusion of seminal plasma (n = 5 cycles) or PBS (n = 4 cycles) immediately after the detection of oestrus by a teaser boar. In addition, 17 non-catheterized gilts received infusions of seminal plasma either 0 h (n = 3 gilts), 16 h (n = 7 gilts) or 24 h (n = 7 gilts) after the detection of oestrus. Seminal plasma infusion at the onset of oestrus provoked ovulation in the ipsilateral ovary of the treated horn 8.5 +/- 0.9 h earlier than in the contralateral (control) ovary. Seminal plasma did not influence the LH profile compared with PBS (P > 0.05), but shortened the interval between the LH peak and ipsilateral ovulation to 23.4 +/- 4.0 h compared with 31.8 +/- 3.4 h in the contralateral ovulation (P < or = 0.01). Infusion 16 h after the onset of oestrus reduced the effect to 4.6 +/- 3.8 h with a wide range of 0-8 h (P < 0.01). The effect was more pronounced in gilts with long intervals between the onset of oestrus and contralateral ovulation compared with earlier ovulation on the control ovary. Seminal plasma infusion less than 16 h before contralateral ovulation and 24 h after the detection of oestrus had no effect. It is concluded that transcervical infusion of seminal plasma early in oestrus synchronizes the variable intervals between the onset of oestrus and ovulation in sows by a locally active mechanism.

German Landrace sows and male castrates of three weight groups ( 20, 50 and 90 kg liveweight) were scanned at five body regions. After slaughter the left carcass side was totally dissected. Prediction equations were developed from image data and dissection results of 143 pigs. These functions allow to predict lean and fat content of live pigs weighing from 15 to 105 kg. Coefficients of determination for total amount of lean and fat are very high in all weight groups (R(2) greater than or equal to 0.9). Lean and fat percentage can be estimated by a coefficient of R(2) greater than or equal to 0.8, with the exception of weight group '20 kg' (R(2) < 0.7).The prediction equations were then used to analyse lean and fat growth of 23 sows and 25 castrates of German Landrace during the fattening period from 9 to 23 weeks of age. The calculation of allometric coefficients indicates that female pigs have a significant faster lean growth but a slower fat growth than the castrates.Originally developed for human medicine, MR Imaging has proved to be a technique to determine body composition of live pigs with a high accuracy. Therefore it could serve as a reference for the development of other techniques or to search for new measuring positions. Furthermore MRI offers new possibilities for the analysis of tissue growth, since individual growth curves of tissues, muscles and organs can be established by means of repeated tomography in the same animals.

To investigate the suitability of the pig as animal model for postmenopausal osteoprosis, effects of ovariectomy (OVX) on bone metabolism and histology were studied in two groups of sows (9 months, nulliparous or 35 months, multiparous). A standard diet of about 1.5 % calcium (Ca) was fed till sacrifice at either 12 or 20 months post OVX when mineral content and histology were studied in representative bone specimens of proximal tibia, iliac crest and lumbar vertebrae. At 4, 8, 12, and 18 months post OVX, total and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (APt, APb) calcidiol, calcitriol and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were measured in plasma.

The shortening of the time interval between the onset of oestrus and ovulation in sows by the transcervical administration of seminal plasma was investigated in 23 German Landrace gilts, using the technique of single horn infusions (Mariensee model) in combination with the transcutaneous sonographic monitoring of ovaries. Preparative surgery comprised the detachment of the left uterine horn from the corpus, leaving the caudal end open to the peritoneal cavity but sealing the corpus wound. The left ovary was loosely tied to the ventral abdominal wall for better sonographic distinction. The animals were used in two to four consecutive cycles. After detection of oestrus by the teaser boar, the patent (right) horns were filled by transcervical infusion of 100 ml of a variety of test solutions. Ovulation was probed by transcutaneous sonography at intervals of 4 h thereafter. Native seminal plasma provoked ovulation in the ipsilateral ovary of the treated horn 10.7 h earlier than in the contralateral ovary. This effect was reduced to 7.3 h after charcoal treatment of seminal plasma; addition of 10 micrograms oestradiol restored the effect in full, while 10 micrograms of oestradiol in PBS shortened the time interval to only 3.3 h versus the control ovary. Little effect was seen with oestrone sulfate, none with prostaglandins in PBS or with PBS alone. The preliminary characterization of the nonsteroidal component of seminal plasma advancing ipsilateral ovulation after transcervical infusion suggests a proteinaceous nature. The activity resides in the 1-10 kDa fraction separated by ultrafiltration and is lost after treatment with pronase.

Food quality in general and meat quality in particular are not only evaluated by means of objective quality traits but the entire production process is gaining more attention by the modern consumer. Due to this development quality programs were developed to define the majority of the processes in all production and marketing steps which are again linked by contracts. Not all of these items are quality relevant, but are concessions to ethic principles (animal welfare etc.). This is demonstrated by the example of Scharrel-porc production. The price differentiation at the porc market is still influenced predominantly by quantitative carcass traits.On the European market quality programs still are of minor significance. Premiums which are paid for high quality standards are more or less compensated by higher production costs and lower lean meat percentages, which must be expected in stress susceptable strains.The high efforts to establish quality programs, however, help to improve the quality level in general, and secure the market shares for local producers.

Food quality in general and meat quality in particular are not only evaluated by means of objective quality traits but the entire production process is gaining more attention by the modern consumer. Due to this development quality programs were developed to define the majority of the processes in all production and marketing steps which are again linked by contracts. Not all of these items are quality relevant, but are concessions to ethic principles (animal welfare etc.). This is demonstrated by the example of Scharrel-pork production. The price differentiation at the pork market is still influenced predominantly by quantitative carcass traits. On the European market quality programs still are of minor significance. Premiums which are paid for high quality standards are more or less compensated by higher production costs and lower lean meat percentages, which must be expected in stress susceptible strains. The high efforts to establish quality programs, however, help to improve the quality level in general, and secure the market shares for local producers.

The fattening experiment was carried out as a field trial with two different breeds which were divided into test and control groups, one fed with additional lauric acid, the other as seen in Table 1. It resulted in a slight superiority in the test groups, but without significant differences. The carcasses of the test groups were generally fatter then controls, grades were lower but also without statistical significance. Meat quality was not affected. The increased supply of lauric acid lead to higher contents of middle chain saturated fatty acids, especially lauric and myristic acid (C 14:0) in all fat deposits in the carcasses. The differences between control and test groups were highly significant. In the intramuscular fat differences were less pronounced.

The technique and the equipment necessary for the transcervical intrauterine injection in trained, ovariectomized pigs is detailed. Experimental groups of 14-16 week-old animals are recruited from German landrace litters with large numbers (4-9) of females. A silastic tubing containing a crystalline suspension of estradiol in propylene glycol is subcutaneously implanted behind the right ear. Ovariectomy and the detachment of the left uterine horn from the cervix are performed 7-10 days later. The animals are then kept for 6-7 weeks in ventilated stables, heated to 20-degrees-C in wintertime, with 12 hr light dark cycle, free access to water and semi-adlibitum supplies of pelleted standard feed. The silastic implant gives rise to plasma levels of 8-12 pg estradiol/ml and still contains crystalline sediments when removed before the experiment. The manipulations for the transcervical, intrauterine instillation of solutions, imitating the reproductive action of the boar, are practiced daily for at least one week. The animals learn quickly to enter a restraining box, which is facilitated by the simultaneous offering of pellets drenched with root beer. The intrauterine injections proceed thereafter without any signs of stress from the animals. Stress is also avoided during slaughter by unexpected electric stunning on leaving the box, followed by exsanguination. Uteri are quickly excised and chilled in crushed ice until processed. One to two grams of endometrium cells can be harvested by curettage from each, treated and untreated (detached) horn. The Mariensee model allows for defined kinetic analyses of treated cells and provides nontreated controls from the same animal. It combines the advantages of in-vivo and in-vitro experiments.

Morphological phenomena are essential means for the appraisal of farm animals with respect to conformation, exterior, growth, development and differentiation as well as in correlation to pathological symptoms, behavioral patterns and physiological functions. Methods of evaluation in morphologically oriented research in farm animals comprise anatomical preparation, visual inspection, dissection, measurements, optical recordings including stereophotogrammetry, sonography and last but not least computertomography. The Magnetic Resonance Tomography (MRT) equipment installed at the Institute of Animal Husbandry and Animal Behaviour in Mariensee, Federal Agricultural Research Centre, Germany, is presently utilized for the pursuit of: - investigations in parameters of growth, development and differentiation in live animals, - as a reference system for assessing tissue composition in carcasses and cuts and - the imaging and investigation of organs, of morphological deviations and of pathological-anatomical changes. Various examples from these fields of application are presented. The need for interdisciplinary cooperation in and promotion of MRT-application in morphologically oriented domestic animal research is emphasized.

The technique and the equipment necessary for the transcervical intrauterine injection in trained, ovariectomized pigs is detailed. Experimental groups of 14-16 week-old animals are recruited from German landrace litters with large numbers (4-9) of females. A silastic tubing containing a crystalline suspension of estradiol in propylene glycol is subcutaneously implanted behind the right ear. Ovariectomy and the detachment of the left uterine horn from the cervix are performed 7-10 days later. The animals are then kept for 6-7 weeks in ventilated stables, heated to 20 degrees C in wintertime, with 12 hr light dark cycle, free access to water and semi-ad libitum supplies of pelleted standard feed. The silastic implant gives rise to plasma levels of 8-12 pg estradiol/ml and still contains crystalline sediments when removed before the experiment. The manipulations for the transcervical, intrauterine instillation of solutions, imitating the reproductive action of the boar, are practiced daily for at least one week. The animals learn quickly to enter a restraining box, which is facilitated by the simultaneous offering of pellets drenched with root beer. The intrauterine injections proceed thereafter without any signs of stress from the animals. Stress is also avoided during slaughter by unexpected electric stunning on leaving the box, followed by exsanguination. Uteri are quickly excised and chilled in crushed ice until processed. One to two grams of endometrium cells can be harvested by curettage from each, treated and untreated (detached) horn. The Mariensee model allows for defined kinetic analyses of treated cells and provides nontreated controls from the same animal. It combines the advantages of in-vivo and in-vitro experiments.