Abstract
Abstract. The purpose of this study was to use quantitative magnetic resonance (QMR) to measure changes in the body composition of piglets during growth from birth to 4 kg body weight. Using QMR, 60 pigs were scanned an average of 5 times starting at 2.7±1.3 days of age (1.95 kg) and finally at 13.1±4.3 days (4.14 kg). Regression analysis revealed that the rates of total body growth and fat and lean deposition were linear throughout this period. Subsequently, a second group of 235 pigs (109 males and 126 females) were scanned twice, first at 2.7±1.2 days of age and then at 13.4±3.1 days of age. The mean (±SD) rate of total body growth was 230±57 g/day. The rates of fat and lean deposition were 40±13 g/day and 191±52 g/day, respectively. The rates of both fat and lean deposition were highly correlated (P<0.001) with total body growth rate (R2=0.81 and 0.93, respectively) and the coefficient of determination between the rates of fat and lean deposition was 0.71 (P<0.001). The results of this study demonstrate that QMR is a useful method for measuring changes in body composition in neonatal pigs. Furthermore, the results indicate that during the period of growth from birth to 4 kg, the rates of both fat and lean deposition are linear and highly correlated with total body growth.
Highlights
The survival of low birth weight pigs in particular may depend on energy stores in the body (Girard 1981)
Using a quantitative magnetic resonance (QMR) instrument (EchoMRI, Echo Medical Systems, Houston, TX, USA), 60 pigs were scanned an average of 5 times starting at 1.95±0.42 kg (2.7±1.3 days of age) and at 4.14±0.52 kg (13.1±4.3 days of age)
Data reported by Manners & McCrea (1963) indicated that as pigs grow from 2 to 28 days of age there is a linear increase total body weight as well as in the fat and protein content in the body. This was based on the serial slaughter and chemical analysis of three litters of pig at five times between birth and 28 days of age
Summary
The survival of low birth weight pigs in particular may depend on energy stores in the body (Girard 1981). The growth and composition of the neonatal pig is of interest because of potential impact on subsequent growth and composition (Young & Sharma 1973, Mahan & Lepine 1991). Studies have found that factors such as birth weight (Powell & Aberle 1980, Poore & Fowden 2004) and nutrition during the neonatal period (Pond et al 1965, Campbell & Dunkin 1983) can affect both growth and composition. Most studies have relied on chemical analysis or dissection of the carcass to measure composition (fat and lean) of the neonatal pig (Kuhn et al 2001, Birkenfeld et al 2006, Charneca et al 2010), the impact on subsequent composition can only be inferred. It is difficult to accurately measure in vivo body composition of the young piglet. Two additional major advantages of the QMR method over other methods are that QMR does not expose the subject to X-radiation and that QMR does not require immobilization (i.e., restraint or anaesthesia) of the subject
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