B. C. Sarmah

Effect of zinc supplementation on serum biochemicals in grower pig

Zinc (Zn) has a wide spectrum of biological activities, and its deficiency has been related to various dysfunctions and alterations of normal cell metabolism. To compare the effect of a higher dose of Zn supplementation on serum biochemicals of grower pigs (four months of age) that may serve as general indicators of optimum physiological functions, an experiment was conducted with one treatment group supplemented with higher dose of Zn (500 ppm) and another made deficient by supplementing calcium carbonate (CaCO3) at 1.5% of dry matter of diet, for a period of four months, and was compared to the control supplemented with 100 ppm Zn. Serum Zn decreased significantly in a deficient group (p <0.01), and the animals developed clinical symptoms of parakeratosis. Total serum protein and haemoglobin (Hb) concentration revealed a significantly (p <0.01) increasing trend in Zn-supplemented (500 ppm) animals from day 45 of treatment, whereas a significantly (p <0.01) decreasing trend was observed in deficient pigs. Serum albumin level was not affected by different supplemental level of Zn or induced Zn deficiency. An apparent increasing trend of glucose and cholesterol level was recorded in supplemented groups. However, it decreased significantly (p <0.01) in deficient pigs. The higher serum concentration of Zn, total serum protein, glucose, cholesterol andHb, resulting from 500 ppm of Zn supplementation in grower pigs, might help in maintaining a better physiological status through promotion of well-organised vital functions of proteins, ensuring a sufficient energy source for different physiological processes, and just source for synthesis of steroid hormones and optimal functioning of membrane receptors.

Effect of dietary sunflower oil and coconut oil on adipose tissue gene expression, fatty acid composition and serum lipid profile of grower pigs

The present study was conducted to assess whether the partial replacement of feed energy by vegetable oils containing high medium-chain saturated fatty acids (MCFA) and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) would modify lipogenic gene expression and other parameter of fat metabolism in pigs. Eighteen pigs (17–19 kg body weight) received one of three experimental diets for 60 days (six animals per group): (i) Control diet; (ii) a diet with sunflower oil (SO) or (iii) a diet with coconut oil (CO). In diets SO and CO, 10% of the feed energy was replaced by the respective oils. The experimental treatment did not influence the performance of the pigs. In blood serum, an increased content of total cholesterol was observed for SO and CO fed animals, whereas no significant changes for total triglycerides and different lipoprotein fractions were detected. The fatty acid composition of adipose tissue was significantly modified, with an increased content of MCFA and n-6 PUFA in CO and SO fed pigs, respectively. The gene expression for fatty acid synthase was decreased for SO and CO fed pigs; for stearoyl CoA desaturase and sterol regulatory element binding protein, a depression was observed in SO but not in CO fed pigs. The results of present study suggest that the type of dietary fat can modulate the adipose tissue gene expression and fatty acid composition differentially, with minimal effect on serum lipid profile.

Effect of zinc and phytase supplementation on performance, serum biochemical profiles and carcass quality of crossbred (Hampshire × Assam local) pigs

Twenty-four castrated weaned (42 days, 11.39 kg) pigs were used in a 2 × 2 factorial experiment to determine the influence of dietary zinc (0 upto 100 ppm/kg) and phytase (0 or 200 FTU phytase units/kg) supplementation on the performance, serum biochemical profiles and carcass quality. Growth rate and feed efficiency were significantly higher (P < 0.05) for pigs supplemented with phytase and zinc. Total serum protein, glucose, cholesterol, Ca, P and Zn concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in phytase supplemented group, whereas serum alkaline phosphatase estimates were lower (P < 0.05). No significant differences in carcass characteristics and proximate composition of meat were observed which indicated no adverse effect of zinc and enzyme supplementation. These results indicated that the growth-promoting effect of phytase may be due to increased zinc and other serum mineral concentrations and zinc dependent blood biochemical functions.

Role of Zinc and Copper in Growth Performance of Weaning Piglets

Trace mineral supplementation in newly weaned piglets is essential for efficient growth performance. The present experiment was designed to validate the role of zinc and copper during the growing period. A total of fifteen weaned piglets (10.60 ± 0.345 kg body weight; 60 days of age) were divided into three equal groups and were supplemented with 100ppm zinc and 10ppm copper (group A), 200ppm zinc and 20ppm copper (group B) and 300ppm zinc and 30ppm copper (group C) for a period of 4 months. The BWG, ADG and FCR improved significantly (p