Abstract 473

Berschauer,-F; Ehrensvard,U; Menke,-KH

Bayer-AG, Pharma-Forschungszentrum, D-5600 Wuppertal 1, German Federal Republic.

Archiv-fur-Tierernahrung. 1983, 33: 12, 826-842; 26 ref.

3. Two groups of 9 castrated male German Landrace piglets, bodyweight 13 to 29 kg, were fed to appetite for 5 weeks to determine the influence of the fatty acid composition of the dietary fat on protein and fat retention. The concentrations of urea, insulin, glucose, free glycerol and triglycerides were also estimated. The fat in ration I (derived from 27% sunflower seed) contained 50% linoleic acid; that of ration II (derived from 12.5% coconut kernels) had a maximum lauric acid content of 41.8%. The relation between digestible crude protein and metabolizable energy (ME) content was similar in both rations. Protein quality was also similar in both rations. The piglets on ration I had a higher daily ME intake and growth rate than those on ration II, although no great difference was observed in ME required per kg bodyweight gain. The efficiency of protein utilization was significantly better in group I and this was associated with a lower blood urea concentration. The concentrations of insulin and glucose in the blood, measured before and 20, 45, 60 and 120 min after feeding, showed little difference between the groups. The triglyceride concentration measured before and 1 and 5 h after feeding was significantly higher in group II. There was no significant difference in the protein and fat content of the body nor in the daily protein and fat deposition. The fatty acid composition of the back fat was significantly influenced by the fatty acid pattern of the dietary fat. In group 1 the linoleic acid content was 3.6 times higher and the lauric and myristic acid contents 11.7 times lower than in group II.