Roman Stupka

Association between polymorphism in the FTO gene and growth and carcass traits in pig crosses

BackgroundIndependent studies have shown that several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the human FTO (fat mass and obesity associated) gene are associated with obesity. SNP have also been identified in the pig FTO gene, among which some are associated with selected fat-deposition traits in F2 crosses and commercial populations. In this study, using both commercial pig populations and an experimental Meishan × Pietrain F2 population, we have investigated the association between one FTO SNP and several growth and carcass traits. Association analyses were performed with the FTO polymorphism either alone or in combination with polymorphisms in flanking loci.MethodsSNP (FM244720:g.400C>G) in exon 3 of porcine FTO was genotyped by PCR-RFLP and tested for associations with some growth, carcass and fat-related traits. Proportions of genetic variance of four pig chromosome 6 genes (FTO, RYR1, LIPE and TGFB1) on selected traits were evaluated using single- and multi-locus models.ResultsLinkage analysis placed FTO on the p arm of pig chromosome 6, approximately 22 cM from RYR1. In the commercial populations, allele C of the FTO SNP was significantly associated with back fat depth and allele G with muscling traits. In the Meishan × Pietrain F2 pigs, heterozygotes with allele C from the Pietrain sows and allele G from the Meishan boar were more significantly associated with fat-related traits compared to homozygotes with allele G from the Pietrain and allele G from the Meishan breed. In single- and multi-locus models, genes RYR1, TGFB1 and FTO showed high associations. The contribution in genetic variance from the polymorphism in the FTO gene was highest for back fat depth, meat area on the musculus longissimus lumborum et thoracis tissues and metabolite glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.ConclusionsOur results show that in pig, FTO influences back fat depth in the commercial populations, while in the Meishan × Pietrain F2 pigs with a CG genotype, heterosis occurs for several fat-related traits.

Effects of dietary linseed and corn supplement on the fatty acid content in the pork loin and backfat tissue

The influence of linseed and corn dietary supplements on the fatty acid (FA) composition of pork was evaluated. The effects of their appropriate use and dosage on pork meat and fat technological quality were also investigated. In total 72 pigs fed complete feed mixtures were divided into 4 groups: control (C), corn- (CD), linseed- (LD), and corn + linseed-supplemented (CLD). After slaughter the lean meat share, intramuscular fat content, meat and fat colour, shear force, drip loss, and malondialdehyde content were determined. Subsequently, the FA content and sum of saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA), polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids, the n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio, and atherogenic and thrombogenic indexes in the loin and backfat tissue were determined. Corn and lineseed supplementation increases the content of myristic, linoleic, α-linolenic, and eicosapentaenoic acids and reduces the amount of palmitic, palmitoleic, oleic, eicosenoic, and arachidonic acids. Therefore it reduces the PUFA/SFA ratio and improves atherogenic and thrombogenic indexes. No negative effects of linseed and corn supplementation on the technological characteristics of pork meat and backfat were registered. Due to the positive effects on indicators related to human health, linseed and maize supplementation can be recommended in pig diet.

Equilibration and freezing interactions affecting bull sperm characteristics after thawing

The objective was to determine effects of equilibration length and freezing curve type as well as their interactions on motility and live spermatozoa proportion in bull sperm after thawing. The ejaculates of 6 sires were repeatedly collected. Fresh semen was diluted with one extender and divided into 3 groups equilibrated for 30, 120, and 240 min. Subsequently, half straws of each group were frozen using standard 3-phase or 2-phase freezing curve differing in the rate of temperature decrease. Th e spermatozoa motility (M) was evaluated immediately after thawing and at 30, 60, 90, and 120 min of thermodynamic test (TDT). Live spermatozoa proportion was evaluated after thawing and at the end of TDT. Average of spermatozoa motility (AM), decrease of spermatozoa motility (MD), average proportion of live spermatozoa (ALS), and decrease of live spermatozoa proportion (DLS) through the TDT were calculated. Significant inter-sire differences in AM (0.45–17.0%; P < 0.05–0.01), MD (0.76–12.57%; P < 0.05–0.01), and ALS (0.99–23.8%; P < 0.01) were detected. The longest equilibration ensured the highest M during TDT and AM (+2.72 and +4.58%; P < 0.05–0.01), however higher MD (+4.06%; P < 0.01) compared to standard length as well. Straws freezed using 2-phase curve achieved higher M through TDT, AM (+7.3%; P < 0.01) as well as ALS (+11.77%; P < 0.01). The 2-phase curve presented higher M compared to the 3-phase freezing curve within all equilibration lengths. Significant differences in AM, MD, and ALS (0.45–6.78%, 0.62–5.35%, and 20.79–21.11%; P < 0.05–0.01) between equilibration length vs freezing curve interactions were determined. Results document the importance of equilibration length, freezing curve, and their interaction effect on live spermatozoa proportion and sperm motility after thawing as well as necessity of individual conditions for bulls semen processing and insemination doses production.

Prediction of Pork Belly Composition Using the Computer Vision Method on Transverse Cross-Sections

Abstract The objective of this study was to identify the pig belly characteristics and to develop regression equations predicting its composition. Based on video image and chemical analysis of 216 bellies, the predictive variables were selected according to their relation to chemically determined belly lipid contents. To estimate the belly fat percentage (BF%), the two best equations constructed were: Equation 1: BF% = 49.960 - 0.7174 × SHME2 + 0.5047 × HE2A (R2 = 0.66, RMSE = 3.22); Equation 2: BF% = 43.888 - 0.6014 × SHME2 + 0.4769 × HE2A + 0.0014 × ARTO2 - 0.2697 × HE3A (R2 = 0.70, RMSE = 2.25), where: SHME2 = lean meat percentage area of the belly 2 from total cut area, HE2A = the Belly2 height at point 1, ARTO2 = the Belly2 total cut area, HE3A = the Belly3 height at point 1. Compared to lean meat, the percentage of belly fat (BF%) appears to be a more appropriate criterion for the objective evaluation of belly composition due to the simplicity and accuracy of the final regression equation (higher R2).

Association analysis of SNPs in the porcine CYP2E1 gene with skatole, indole, and androstenone levels in backfat of a crossbred pig population

The occurrence of boar taint in meat from uncastrated males may significantly affect the economics of pork production. The aim of this study was to analyse associations of four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the porcine CYP2E1 gene with skatole, indole, and androstenone levels in the Czech Large White-Czech Landrace commercial crossbreds. The SNPs were: g.2412C>T, c.1422C>T, c.1423G>A and c.*14G>T. Skatole, indole and androstenone levels were estimated by HPLC, and genotypes at the SNPs were determined by PCR-RFLP. SNPs c.1423G>A and c.*14G>T were in complete linkage disequilibrium. In boars, all SNPs were associated with the indole levels (P<0.05; P<0.01). There also were differences in the skatole levels in different genotypes, but these were not significant. No associations with androstenone levels were found. The associations of the SNPs with indole compounds should be studied in other commercial populations of boars to verify the favourable alleles and genotypes, with the prospect for their application in marker-assisted selection.

Nutritional Effects on Boar Taint in Entire Male Pigs: A Review

Abstract Boar taint is one of topical problems in fattening pigs. It is caused by two main compounds — androstenone and skatole. Androstenone is a steroid feromone, which is synthesized and metabolized in liver and testes. Skatole is produced by intestinal bacteria by metabolization of trypthophan. Both these substances are metabolized by cytochrome P450 and the unmetabolized residues accumulate in adipose tissue. This review describes the possible nutritional effects on boar taint reduction. Skatole is the main component, which could be reduced by nutrition in entire male pigs. The presence in adipose tissue can be reduced by apoptosis of intestinal cells by raw potato starch. Another method is to influence the microbial population in the gastrointestinal tract by organic acids or fructooligosaccharides. Recently, attention has been directed towards the enzymatic system in the liver. There are a few possibilities of reducing skatole as well as androstenone by influencing the liver enzymatic system. They may be particularly affected by secondary plant metabolites and flavonoids. However, more research is required in this area to clarify physiological regularities and all the relationships in the metabolism detoxification from xenobiotic substances.

THE EFFECT OF THE BACKFAT THICKNESS LOSS ON REPRODUCTION IN LACTATING SOWS

The work discusses the influence of the backfat thickness change, during sow´s lactation, on their subsequent litter characteristics. The reproduction potential of 478 sows of two genotypes was assessed. The genotypes were 50 Large White (LWD) sows and 428 crossbreeds Large White x Landrace (LWD x L) sows. The backfat thickness decline was examined in accordance to P2, backfat thickness in sows during lactation namely 1 day before planned parturition as well as weaning.From the obtained results it can be stated that the backfat thickness decline level during lactation has a small influence on the number of total born piglets. In contrast, the number of piglets born alive increased when backfat thickness rate increased. With a moderate backfat thickness decline, the average birthweight piglets gradually increased. However, the opposite trend was shown for the average weight at weaning. The backfat thickness decline level during sow´s lactation influences their farrowing interval. Animals with a lower increase of the backfat thickness subsequently showed a shorter farrowing interval (148.99, respectively 151.86 days), as well as a shorter weaning – estrus interval.

The influence of controlled nutrition intensity on the muscle fiber characteristics in fattening pigs

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of controlled nutrition on the selected muscle fibres indicators and carcass value in pork. The test included 72 hybrid pigs of the D x (LWD x L) genotype of a balanced sex (barrows/gilts). Animals were divided into two groups; the 1st (control) group was fed ad libitum, while the nutrition of the 2nd (experimental) group was restricted upon reaching 80 kg of live weight. The nutritional restriction was achieved by feeding the animals with maximum dose of CFM up to 2.8 kg*day-1 (corresponding to 36.4 MJ ME*day-1, 46.76 g NS*day-1 and 23.52 g LYS*day-1). From the obtained results it is evident that the daily feed intake restriction corresponds with greater number of the MLLT muscle fibers as well as with a higher IIB type muscle fibers share, higher lean meat share and a higher shoulder proportion in the carcass.

Factors affecting the fatty acid composition and fat oxidative stability in pigs.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of selected factors affecting fatty acids (FA) composition in pig fat. In the experiment, the influence of nutrition, gender,carcass weight, lean meat proportion (LMP) and intramuscular fat (IMF) were monitored. The effect of diet, specifically the influence of added linseed or corn on the fatty acids composition in the backfat was studied in pigs. From the perspective of the required increase of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) only the addition of the linseed proved to have a significant effect.Another evaluated aspect concerning the FA spectrum was the gender. While the backfat in barrows showed higher (P≤0.05) amount of monounsaturated fatty acids(MUFA), the backfat in gilts displayed a significantly higher proportion (P≤0.01) of the PUFA and total unsaturated fatty acids (UFA). A significant effect on the PUFA proportion has also been demonstrated for the lean meat proportion (LMP)parameter, which therefore represents not only a qualitative carcass meat parameter but also plays an important role in relation to the FA composition in the fat in pigs.In connection to the FA proportion changes the study also monitored the fat oxidative stability with the use of the TBARS method. Concerning the oxidative stability the effects of nutrition, FA groups, gender, carcass weight and LMP were studied. The relationship between the above mentioned factors and oxidative stability was found to be insignificant.

Cyathostominae distribution in experimentally infected ponies

Summary Nine ponies were experimentally infected with third stage cyathostome larvae. These animals were examined post-mortem for small strongyle infections from October 2011 to January 2012. Seventeen species of the following Cyathostominae genera were identified: Coronocyclus, Cyathostomum, Cylicocyclus, Cylicostephanus, Gyalocephalus and Petrovinema. Of the 17 species of Cyathostominae recovered, Cyathostomum catinatum, Cyathostomum alveatum and Cylicocyclus nassatus were the most prevalent (100 %). From the entire population of Cyathostominae, 65.6 % were located in the caecum and only 34.4 % in the colon. Only 1,736 (24,6 %) females and 5,329 (75,4 %) males were observed. There was a significant difference between the number of males and females in the genus Cyathostomum, Cylicocyclus and Gyalocephalus.