Search Results (316)

Weaning stress frequently compromises intestinal integrity and nutrient absorption in piglets and induces structural perturbations in the gut microbiota. This study investigated the effects of dietary Paramylon, a linear β-1,3-glucan from Euglena gracilis, on growth and intestinal function. A total of 32 healthy, 21-day-old weaned piglets (male, castrated, Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) were randomly allocated to four groups: control, 0.025%, 0.05%, and 0.1% Paramylon (8 pigs/group). The results showed that 0.05% dietary Paramylon quadratically increased average daily gain and feed intake (p < 0.05). Serum TC content significantly increased, while the serum urea level significantly decreased (p < 0.05). This optimal dose was used for mechanistic exploration. Dietary 0.05% Paramylon notably enhanced ileal morphology, increasing the villus height to crypt depth ratio (p < 0.01) and significantly improving apparent nutrient digestibility and ileal β-amylase activity (p < 0.05). The expression levels of SLC7A1 and GLUT2 in ileum tissues were significantly upregulated (p < 0.05). The expression level of SLC7A7 in the liver was also increased (p < 0.05). This nutrient transport-promoting effect was further confirmed in IPEC-J2 cells, which manifested because 10 ng/mL of pure Paramylon significantly upregulated the gene expressions of SLC38A2, EAAT3, PEPT1, and GLUT2 (p < 0.05). KEGG enrichment analysis on the ileum indicated that differentially abundant metabolites were enriched in amino acid-related metabolic pathways. Furthermore, the 16s sequencing results revealed that Romboutsia was significantly enriched in the Paramylon group. In conclusion, Paramylon, as an effective dietary supplement, helps promote nutrient digestion and absorption in weaned piglets and contributes to maintaining intestinal health. Full article

Piglets weaning is a critical developmental stage marked by significant metabolic and inflammatory challenges. The hepatic responses during this period may differ among pig breeds with distinct genetic backgrounds. To explore the phenotypic and molecular differences in the livers between the Zaozhuang Heigai (HG) pig and Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire (DLY) piglets and elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of genetic background on liver function, five 35-day-old piglets from each breed were selected. Body weight and liver coefficients were measured; histological features of liver sections were observed, and the transcriptome and metabolome of the liver were determined using mRNA sequencing and non-targeted metabolomics analysis. The results showed that HG piglets had significantly lower body weight (p < 0.01) and slightly higher liver coefficients than DLY piglets. Histological examination revealed that the hepatic lobule structure was intact in both breeds, while mild hepatic congestion was observed in some DLY piglets. Transcriptome analysis identified 429 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with criteria of FDR adjusted p-values < 0.01 and |log₂(Fold Change)| > 1, and they were significantly enriched in oxidoreductase activity, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling, and arachidonic acid metabolism pathways. Metabolome analysis identified 169 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) with criteria of p < 0.05, VIP > 1, and |log₂(Fold Change)| > 1, and they were significantly enriched in nucleotide metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, and arachidonic acid metabolism pathways. Integrative analysis of DEGs and DEMs showed that arachidonic acid metabolism was the common pathway. Within this pathway, key genes (GPX3, ALOX5, and CBR3) were significantly associated with specific metabolites (15-deoxy-PGJ₂ and phosphatidylcholines) (FDR adjusted p < 0.05), suggesting a gene–metabolite interaction network that coordinates inflammatory regulation and oxidative stress. These findings provide molecular evidence for breed-specific hepatic metabolic regulation during the weaning period and are therefore conducive to the management of weaned piglets and the investigation of local pig characteristics. Full article

The sensory quality of pork constitutes a complex phenotype that arises from the interplay between genetic factors and environmental conditions. As a local pig breed in China, Tibetan pigs (TPs) are known for their high-quality meat. However, their slow growth rate and low production efficiency limit their large-scale breeding. We have used Duroc as a hybrid sire to improve TP. Our study found that TPs have higher intramuscular fat content and higher levels of monounsaturated fatty acids. Duroc × Tibetan crossbred pigs (DZs) not only retain the paternal high productivity but also inherit the superior meat quality of the maternal parent. Transcriptome analysis identified IL6, GPX1, GPX3, AOX1, ALDH7A1, PTGS2, NFKBIA, ADIPOQ and PPARG as being involved in affecting meat quality. Metabolomic analysis found that betaine, carnosine, L-carnitine, and lysophosphatidylcholine were important components that affect meat quality. Joint analysis further reveals that the expression of ATF4, DGKB, GNMT, and ADSL genes is closely related to arachidonic acid, lysophosphatidylcholine, betaines, and hypoxanthine, ultimately affecting the quality of the meat. By comprehensively analyzing the carcass and meat quality traits, genes and metabolites affecting meat quality traits, this study provides new evidence for improving pork quality and guiding breeding strategies. Full article

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has demonstrated potential in reshaping gut microbiota to improve animal phenotypes, yet its application in lean-type to obese-type pigs like Ningxiang (NX) pigs remains unclear. To address this, we investigated the effects of Lean Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire (DLY) pig-derived fecal microbiota on the growth, gut microbiota composition, and serum metabolism of obese NX pigs. Thirty-six 50-day-old castrated male NX pigs of similar initial body weight were randomly assigned to either a control group or FMT group. The trial lasted for 35 days. Results indicated that FMT significantly improved the average daily gain and increased nutrient digestibility. Serum biochemical analysis revealed elevated levels of globulin and total protein and reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the FMT group. In addition, 16S rRNA sequencing demonstrated that FMT modified gut microbiota composition and diversity, enriching beneficial genera such as Blautia, Agathobacter, Faecalibacterium, and Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group. Untargeted serum metabolomics further revealed altered metabolite profiles linked to lipid and amino acid metabolism. Correlation analysis further revealed a link between these enriched bacteria and metabolites changes. Overall, these findings demonstrate that transplantation of the fecal microbiota from lean DLY pigs significantly improved the growth performance of obese NX pigs by improving nutrient digestibility and modulating the gut microbiota–host metabolic axis. Full article

Pig somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) has valuable applications in agriculture, biomedicine, and life sciences, yet low cloning efficiency remains a major constraint limiting its application. To systematically investigate factors related to the production efficiency of pig cloning, this study conducted a retrospective analysis of 367,701 SCNT embryos transferred into 2019 surrogate sows over five years, focusing on breeds of donor cells, the season of embryo transfers, and the number of embryos transferred per surrogate. Our data demonstrate that the genetic background of donor cells is a critical determinant. SCNT embryos generated by wild-type (WT) Pietrain and Duroc pigs yielded significantly higher cloning efficiencies compared to those from Large White and Yorkshire pigs. This breed-specific influence was also observed with genetically modified (GM) donor cells. Nevertheless, within the GM groups, GM-Duroc and GM-Yorkshire showed superior efficiency compared to GM-Large White and GM-Bama. Furthermore, Summer was identified as the least favorable season for embryo transfer, with significantly lower pregnancy rates, delivery rates, and cloning efficiency compared to the other seasons. Importantly, we established that transferring 100–150 embryos per recipient optimized cloning efficiency, significantly outperforming groups receiving higher embryo numbers without compromising pregnancy rates, delivery rates, or average litter sizes. Our findings provide valuable guidance for optimizing large-scale SCNT protocols in swine. Full article

Pigs play a vital role in global food security as a major source of animal protein. Enhancing growth and reproductive traits is of great economic importance to the swine industry. To systematically identify genetic determinants underlying key economic traits, we performed an integrative multi-omics analysis in a population of 1624 Duroc pigs, focusing on backfat thickness (BF), loin muscle area (LMA), and total teat number (TTN). Our genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified twenty-one significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)—fourteen for BF, three for LMA, and seven for TTN. Candidate genes located within 1 Mb of these SNPs, such as ZC3HAV1L and FAM3A for BF, PTGR2 for LMA, and VRTN and ABCD4 for TTN, were further investigated. Functional genomic annotations revealed that genetic variants near the significant SNPs were enriched in tissue-specific enhancer elements, implying regulatory potential. Transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) further supported the candidate genes such as ABCD4 and YLPM1 for TTN and predicted several putative functional mutations that may affect transcription factor binding sites. This study demonstrates the power of integrative genomics to prioritize candidate genes and causal variants for animal complex traits, offering valuable resources for future precision breeding in pigs. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the effects of pineapple pomace as a functional feed additive on growth performance, fecal microbiota composition, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and odor substance emissions in weaned piglets. The experiment utilized 90 weaned three-way crossbred piglets (Duroc–Yorkshire–Guoshou Black Pig) at 28 days of age, randomly divided into three groups of 10 pigs each: the control group (CON, basal diet), the fish meal group (FM, basal diet + 2% imported fish meal), and the pineapple pomace group (PPC, basal diet + 2% pineapple pomace compound). The results indicated the PPC group exhibited significantly higher average daily gain (ADG) (p < 0.05) and significantly lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p < 0.05) than the CON group. 16S rRNA sequencing analysis revealed that the PPC group significantly increased fecal microbiota species richness and diversity (p < 0.01) while enriching beneficial bacteria including Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and butyrate-producing bacteria such as Blautia. Concurrently, acetic acid and butyric acid levels in feces were significantly elevated in the PPC group (p < 0.05), with butyric acid production markedly higher than in the FM group (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in the levels of branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs), such as isobutyric acid and isovaleric acid (p < 0.05). Moreover, PPC supplementation led to a significant decrease in fecal levels of indole and 3-methylindole (skatole) (p < 0.05). In summary, dietary inclusion of 2% pineapple pomace improves growth performance and intestinal health in weaned piglets by modulating the fecal microbiota, promoting beneficial SCFA production, and inhibiting protein putrefaction. These findings support PPC as an effective and sustainable alternative to fish meal, contributing to the development of environmentally friendly feeding strategies in pig production. Full article

The growth and development of skeletal structures in young animals are important for their overall health and productivity. Deciphering variations in bone growth among pig breeds can optimize breeding strategies and improve animal welfare. This study explored differences in the bone growth and development of different pig breeds at the early growth stages. A total of 120 newborn piglets from Taoyuan black (TB), Xiangcun black (XB), and Duroc piglets, from 30 sows (litter sizes 9–11), were selected to assess their bone growth and development at four different ages (including at 1, 10, 21, and 24 days old). The results showed that the bone length and weight of femur, tibia, rib, and lumbar vertebrae among different pig breeds increased with age. Compared to Duroc piglets, XB and TB piglets exhibited a shorter bone length and lighter bone weight of those four bones at different ages (p < 0.05). XB piglets showed shorter bone length of femur, tibia, and lumbar vertebrae at weaning (21 days old), and a lighter bone weight and lower bone mineral content of those three bones at weaning and three days after weaning (24 days old) compared to TB piglets (p < 0.05). Bone breaking load increased with age, with Duroc piglets exhibiting higher bone breaking load at 10 days old (p < 0.05). Bone mineral density, ash content, and Ca and P deposition varied by breed and age, and TB piglets had a higher bone mineral density at 21 days old compared to XB piglets. In summary, Chinese native piglets have slower bone growth than Duroc piglets, but TB piglets exhibit higher mineral deposition compared to XB piglets. Full article

Despite manganese’s essential role as a cofactor for multiple enzymes, its potential to disrupt iron homeostasis when supplemented in excess remains a critical knowledge gap in swine nutrition. This study evaluated the effects of Mn (manganese)-supplemented diets on growth, hematology, mineral accumulation, digestibility, and intestinal iron transporter expression in weaned pigs. A total of 128 crossbred pigs (Duroc × Landrace × Largewhite) with an average body weight of 9.82 ± 0.15 kg were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments comprising a basal diet supplemented with 0, 20, 40, or 80 mg MnSO₄ per kg diet for 28 days. Blood samples were collected from 16 weaned pigs (1 pig per pen, 4 per treatment), after which animals were euthanized for tissue sampling. No differences were observed in growth performance. However, Mn concentrations in serum, liver, heart, kidney, pancreas, and metatarsal bones increased both linearly and quadratically with increasing dietary Mn (p < 0.05), and Fe (iron) concentrations in serum, hemoglobin, liver, and metatarsal bone decreased (p < 0.05). Apparent digestibility data further revealed that Mn absorption peaked at 20 mg/kg, while Fe digestibility declined linearly with increasing Mn levels. Moreover, duodenal DMT1 (divalent metal transporter 1) mRNA expression was decreased, whereas FPN1 (ferroportin 1) was upregulated. These findings demonstrate that excessive Mn supplementation impairs dietary Fe absorption and homeostasis in weaned pigs, suggesting that the antagonism occurs at both the transcriptional and intestinal absorption levels, providing critical insights for dietary formulation in swine. Full article

This study involved 30 male pigs (DanBred × Duroc), which were divided into three groups of 10 animals each. Control group (C)—immunologically castrated boars with a slaughter weight of 120 kg; and experimental groups: E1—uncastrated boars with a slaughter weight of 120 kg, and E2—uncastrated boars with a slaughter weight of 105 kg. Animals from all groups were fed a complete feed mixture in a liquid form three times a day. After slaughter, their meat and backfat were analysed for the physicochemical parameters and for the contents of indole, skatole, androstenol, and androsterone. A higher protein content was determined in the meat of boars from group E1 (23.48%) compared to those from groups C (22.87%) and E2 (22.99%) (p ≤ 0.01), and a higher content of n-6 PUFAs in the meat of boars from group C (5.21 mg/g of meat) compared to those from group E2 (4.81 mg/g of meat) (p ≤ 0.05). Analysis of the chemical composition of backfat showed a lower protein level in the backfat of boars from group C (4.70%) compared to those from group E1 (6.20%) and a higher fat level in the backfat from boars from group C (70.09%) compared to those from groups E1 (65.90%) and E2 (64.75%) (p ≤ 0.05). Body weight and immunocastration status were also shown to affect the fatty acid profile. Immunocastration also reduced the content of androstenol and androsterone in meat and fat. A higher content of indole was demonstrated in the meat of boars from group C and in the backfat of those from group E2 compared to the animals from the other groups (p ≤ 0.001). Full article

Pork is a major source of animal protein worldwide, and its quality is influenced by pre- and post-slaughter procedures. Advances in molecular biology, particularly gene expression studies, support genetic improvement programs by enabling precise strategies to enhance meat quality and economic sustainability. This study evaluated meat quality traits and candidate gene expression in muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue from different genetic lineages and sexes. A total of 120 pigs from three lineages—Line D (½ Duroc × ½ DB90), Line P (½ Pietrain × ½ DB90), and Line H (½ [Duroc and Pietrain] × ½ DB90); including immunocastrated males (IM) and females, were randomly selected. Meat quality was assessed using physicochemical parameters, and gene expression analysis was performed in 36 pigs using RT-qPCR with B2M, TBP, and RPL4 as references, and COL1A1, PRKAR2A, CAST, ADIPOQ, and PPARGC1A as targets. Lineage influenced drip loss and intramuscular fat, while lineage–sex interaction affected tenderness and color (L* and b*), and sex influenced b*. In muscle, sex affected COL1A1 and PRKAR2A, and lineage influenced COL1A1 and CAST. In adipose tissue, only CAST was lineage-dependent. Full article

Crude protein (CP) decrease coupled to amino acid (AAs) supplementation is interesting for swine nutrition. A proteomics approach unraveled physiological events underlying differences between sexes fed two diets: control and low CP in fast-growing Duroc X (Landrace X Large white) finishing pigs. Sixty animals per sex were distributed in pens (five replicate pens/group), fed ad libitum with two isoenergetic diets (145 vs. 125 g CP/kg with AA supplementation; control and low-CP) for 42 days. Semimembranosus muscle was sampled. Five samples per group were used for Label Free proteomics. Four comparisons were considered: Control Males vs. Control Females; Control Females vs. Low CP females; Control males vs. Low CP males, and Low CP males vs. Low CP females, identifying, respectively, 26, 19, 12, and 11 DAPs (Differentially Accumulated Proteins). Control males had higher abundance of proteins related to cell differentiation and growth compared to females, highlighting continual muscle accretion in the former and lipogenesis onset in the latter. Control females and males had increased DAPs related to tissue growth and differentiation compared to Low CP animals that had increased lipid accretion. Both sexes reacted similarly to the two diets. Low CP diet led to advanced lipogenesis and decreased muscle accretion pathways. Full article

Resilience usually refers to the ability of an animal to be minimally affected by disturbance or to quickly return to its pre-disturbance state. Pigs with strong resilience usually have better production performance and higher tolerance to common diseases. This study utilized feed intake records collected by a Feed Intake Recording Equipment from three pig breeds (Duroc: 823; Landrace: 582; and Yorkshire: 2032). Six resilience traits were constructed using the root mean square error (RMSE) of daily feed intake and feeding duration, cumulative feed intake, and cumulative feeding duration derived from ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, along with quantile regression (QR) estimates of daily feed intake and feeding duration. The correlations between these resilience traits and production traits were subsequently estimated. Single-trait genome-wide association studies (GWASs) were performed using imputed resequencing data to identify key genomic regions and candidate genes associated with resilience traits. The estimated heritability ranged from 0.103 to 0.267 for resilience traits and 0.293 to 0.560 for production traits. Moderate genetic correlations were observed among the resilience traits, while moderate to high genetic correlations were found between resilience traits and production traits. In particular, the traits RMSE_FI, RMSE_CFI, QR_FI, and QR_FD exhibited significant moderate to high correlations with most production traits. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) based on imputed whole-genome sequencing data was conducted to identify genomic regions associated with resilience traits in pigs. Using single-trait mixed linear models, 188 SNPs were identified and annotated to 44 candidate genes. Several of these genes (CD74, CSF1R, and HTR4) are involved in host immune responses and signal transduction pathways. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying resilience in pigs and provide insights for enhancing genomic selection in pig breeding. Full article

Jianli pig (JL) is a representative Chinese local pig breed with a unique fruity flavor and excellent meat quality. However, the reasons for the unique fruity flavor of Jianli pork are still unclear. This study explored the potential genetic mechanisms by performing an integrative analysis of the flavoromics, lipidomics, and transcriptomics of the longissimus thoracis (LT) from JL pigs and Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire pigs (DLY). The results indicated that the relative abundance of Acetic acid butyl ester and 3-Carene flavor compounds characterized by sweet and fruity aroma in JL pork was higher compared with DLY pigs. Lipidomics results showed that 16-carbon and 18-carbon fatty acids are important lipid precursors for the flavor of JL pork. Moreover, two clusters of functional genes correlated with 3-Carene (DCHS2, NRXN1, JAKMIP3, and TRO) and Acetic acid butyl ester (WFIKKN2, CES3, and IYD) were identified. This study enriched the limited understanding of the unique fruity flavor formation in JL pigs, provided a theoretical basis for the breeding of high-quality pig breeds, and the processing of flavorful meat products. Full article

Reducing dietary crude protein (CP) while sustaining growth performance and minimizing nitrogen emissions is a critical challenge in swine production. Beyond growth efficiency, the influence of low-protein diets (LPDs) on meat quality traits, gut microbiota, and systemic metabolism in finishing pigs remains insufficiently understood. In this study, 180 healthy crossbred finishing pigs (Duroc × Liangguang Small Spotted; initial body weight 85.49 ± 4.90 kg) were assigned to three dietary regimens for 35 days (six replicate pens per treatment, ten pigs per pen, male/female = 1:1): Control (CON, 15.5% CP), Low-Protein 1 (LP1, 14.5% CP), and Low-Protein 2 (LP2, 13.5% CP). Growth performance and nutrient digestibility were not impaired by protein reduction. Notably, LP1 pigs exhibited thicker backfat (p < 0.05), while LP2 pigs showed decreased concentrations of specific fatty acids (C12:0–C22:1n9) and essential amino acids (aspartic acid, glutamic acid, lysine) compared with LP1 (p < 0.05), indicating that dietary protein levels affected muscle composition. Cecal microbiota analysis revealed distinct shifts, with Prevotella spp., Faecalibacterium spp., and Plesiomonas spp. enriched in CON, whereas LP1 promoted Eubacteriaceae spp., Christensenellaceae spp., and Clostridia spp. (p < 0.05). Serum metabolomics further distinguished groups: LP1 reduced bile secretion and cholesterol metabolism pathways (p < 0.05) and LP2 further suppressed cholesterol metabolism and primary bile acid biosynthesis (p < 0.05), with a trend toward reduced phenylalanine metabolism (p = 0.07). Collectively, these findings demonstrate that moderate dietary protein reduction, when balanced with essential amino acids, maintains growth, reduces nitrogen output, and beneficially alters muscle composition, gut microbiota, and host metabolic pathways, offering nutritional strategies to enhance pork quality and promote sustainable pig production. Full article