Abstract

Simple SummaryCinta Senese is a local Tuscan pig breed often reared extensively and characterized by slower growth rates compared to commercial pig breeds. It is thus frequent that the use of feed formulations based upon commercial breed requirements might provide too much protein for this breed. The aim of the present study was to assess protein requirements during the growing phase of Cinta Senese pigs (from 28 to 65 kg). Four dietary formulations, providing 12%, 14%, 16% and 18% of crude protein, were tested, and their effects on growth rates, lean and fat tissues deposition, carcass composition and nitrogen excretions, were evaluated in order to identify the best protein level to be adopted. Results showed that the animals which were fed the 12% diet were heavier, that they better exploited the dietary protein to increase the body mass and also that their urine contained the lowest amount of nitrogen. So, during the growing phase, feeding diets containing more than 12% of protein leads to a surplus in the protein intake which the animals are no longer able to convert into muscle. In conclusion, the diet providing 12% of protein resulted as being adequate for fulfilling Cinta Senese requirements during the growing phase. Identification of the actual protein requirements of Cinta Senese growing pigs could enhance the feeding management at the farm level, resulting thus in less nitrogen excretions as well as in reduced feed costs.Cinta Senese is characterized by slow growth rates, which implies different nutritional requirements compared to major pig breeds. Four different crude protein levels (120, 140, 160 and 180 g/kg on as-fed basis, denoted as CP12, CP14, CP16 and CP18) were tested to assess the optimal protein requirements of Cinta Senese pigs during the growing phase. The in vivo performance, slaughtering traits and nitrogen balance were evaluated using individual pens and metabolic crates. Increasing the protein level in feed lowered the average daily gain (from 0.76 to 0.71 kg/d), final weight (63.0 kg for CP12 versus 60.7 kg for CP16) and reduced the protein conversion efficiency (from 0.37 to 0.58). Also, protein conversion in lean protein linearly increased from CP12 (4.82) to CP18 (7.43), which implies a worsening in the protein utilization efficiency. The nitrogen balance showed higher loss of N through urine (from 0.68 g/d/kg metabolic weight for CP12 to 1.14 g/d/kg metabolic weight for CP18) as the dietary CP levels increased, and a decrease in the biological value (51.78 for CP12 versus 36.54 for CP16). The results indicated that the CP12 diet was adequate for fulfilling the Cinta Senese protein requirements during the growing phase.

Highlights

  • Cinta Senese is an Italian local pig breed that is traditionally reared in Tuscany in outdoor extensive systems

  • Applying feeding models based upon the performance of lean genotypes to Cinta Senese might lead to a protein surplus in feed, which cannot be used for protein synthesis, and is excreted through the urine, leading to an energetic cost for animals and an economic loss for farmers

  • The dietary crude protein (CP) level affected the in vivo performance of Cinta Senese growing pigs

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Summary

Introduction

Cinta Senese is an Italian local pig breed that is traditionally reared in Tuscany in outdoor extensive systems. As with most local pig breeds, Cinta Senese displays many physiological traits typical of obese genotypes, such as a slow growth rate and a marked predisposition to fat deposition [3]. Taking into account these specific metabolic features, proper feeding strategies and ad hoc diet formulations are needed to fulfill local breed nutritional requirements and to enhance their performance [4]. In addition to cost effectiveness, defining the optimal balance between protein and energy intakes for Cinta Senese pigs would have positive consequences on the environment, lowering the nitrogenous excretions of pig farms [10,11]

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