Abstract

SANTOS, Rute et al. Study of the influence of different foodstuffs over quantitative and qualitative characteristics of fat in alentejana breed pigs . Rev. de Ciências Agrárias [online]. 2008, vol.31, n.1, pp.5-16. ISSN 0871-018X.

In this study, we tested three foodstuffs, complementary to the traditional breeding system (“montanheira”): a commercial foodstuff, a cereal (triticale) and a mixture of triticale, oats and soybean meal. Each foodstuff was given to the Alentejano pigs in order to supply the following digestible energy contents daily: 4250 kcal between 30 and 40 kg of live weight; increasing thereafter until reaching 6800 kcal at 60-70 kg of live weight; and then progressively decreasing until 4800 kcal, at 90-100 kg of live weight. After analysing the results, we found positive correlations between the percentages of palmitic acid (C16:0) and estearic acid (C18:0), both in the L. dorsi muscle and in the subcutaneous adipose tissue. We also found negative correlations between the percentages of oleic (C18:1) and linoleic (C18:2) acids in both tissues. We found significant differences between feedstuffs in what concerned total amount of fat, as well as relative values of C18:1 and C18:2 in subcutaneous fat. Triticale was the feedstuff that led to a larger amount of fat in the carcasses (16,65 ± 1,06 kg). It also led to a greater amount of intramuscular lipids in the L. dorsi muscle (5,54%), even though this difference was statistically non significant. On the other hand, this was the feedstuff that led to a higher C18:1 value (48,76%) and to a lower C18:2 value (5,52%). These characteristics, combined with the ease of production of this feedstuff at the farm, can make triticale an interesting option for organic pig farmers, as long as the amounts fed are restricted, in order not to diminish the commercial worth of carcasses because of excess of fat.

Keywords : alentejano pig; fat; fatty acids; foodstuffs.

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