Effect of immunocastration and dietary protein on plasma metabolites and hormone concentrations of Iberian pigs
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The vaccination against gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) has been shown to prevent sexual development and boar taint in pigs, being a feasible alternative to surgical castration (SC). Studies in conventional pigs point out that immunocastrated (IC) pigs show better performance than SC pigs. In addition to benefits on animal welfare, this fact could be of interest for Iberian pigs and other fatty pig types with low productive performance. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of immunocastration and dietary protein level on plasma metabolites and hormones related to animal performance in IC male and IC female Iberian pigs. Fifty-four Iberian pigs were used (3 sexes: IC males, IC females and SC males; 3 isoenergetic diets: 160, 140 and 120 g CP/kg DM; 6 pigs/treatment combination). Pigs consumed the experimental diets from 40 kg-BW until slaughter (105 kg-BW). Metabolites and hormones were determined in plasma obtained at slaughter. The IC males had higher creatinine concentrations (P=0.05) than SC males and IC females. They showed also higher IGF-1 concentration (297 vs 206 and 237 ng/ml, for IC males, SC males and IC females, respectively; P<0.001), and lower insulin levels (P<0.05). The IC male group presented higher total ghrelin (P=0.05) and lower leptin levels (P<0.01) than the rest of pigs, with no differences between SC males and IC females. The present results support the increased performance previously observed in IC male Iberian pigs compared to SC males and IC females, which can be attributed to increased anabolism in Iberian IC males.