Effect of feed withdrawal and dietary energy source on muscle glycolytic potential and blood acid-base responses to handling in slaughter-weight pigs

Reductions in muscle glycogen content and in glucose uptake by muscle cells in pigs fed high-fat diets could reduce lactate productions during handling and muscle glycogen replenishment after handling with potential benefits both in terms of a reduction in nonambulatory pigs and an improvement in pork quality. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the impact of dietary energy source and feed withdrawal on the dynamics of muscle glycogen content and blood acid-base responses to handling in slaughter-weight pigs (initial BW 94.7 ± 1.01 kg). Crossbred pigs (n = 96; 48 barrows, 48 gilts) were used in a randomized complete block design with a 4 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments: 1) diet [control, high fat (10% supplemental fat), low digestible carbohydrate (20% total starch), and high-fat/low-digestible carbohydrate (10% supplemental fat and 20% total starch)]; 2) feed withdrawal (0 and 36 h); and 3) sex (barrow and gilt). Diets were fed for 28 d before the feed withdrawal treatment was applied, at the end of which all pigs were individually moved through a 12.20-m-long x 0.91-m-wide passageway for 16 laps (195 m total distance), with the assistance of an electric goad (2 times per lap). Longissimus muscle biopsies were collected at the beginning of the feeding and feed withdrawal periods and immediately after and 4 h after the handling procedure. Venous blood was collected 2 h before and immediately after the handling procedure to measure acid-base responses.

At the end of the feeding period, pigs fed the control and high-fat diets were heavier (P < 0.001) than those on the low-digestible carbohydrate and the high-fat/low-digestible carbohydrate diets (129.8, 130.9, 114.0, and 122.1 kg, respectively). Diet, feed withdrawal, and sex did not affect (P > 0.05) blood acid-base responses to handling. Muscle glycolytic potential (GP) at the end of the feeding period and 4 h posthandling was least (P < 0.05) for pigs fed the high-fat diet and similar for the other 3 diet treatments. Pigs subjected to 36 h compared with 0 h of feed withdrawal had less GP (P < 0.05) immediately after and 4 h after the handling procedure. There was an interaction between diet and feed withdrawal treatments for changes in GP from the start of feed withdrawal to 4 h posthandling. The reduction in GP was greater (P < 0.05) for fasted than for fed pigs receiving the control and high-fat diets, but was similar (P > 0.05) for fasted and fed pigs receiving the 2 low-digestible carbohydrate diets.

In conclusion, neither dietary energy source nor fasting affected blood acid-base responses to handling: however, fasting-induced changes in Longissimus muscle GP were diet dependent.