title: Dynamics of nitrogen retention in entire male pigs immunized against gonadotropin-releasing hormone.
abstract: Immunization against GnRH reduces the occurrence of boar-taint-causing compounds in entire male pigs and is likely to alter growth performance, including whole-body protein deposition (PD; N retention × 6.25). Thirty-six male pigs were used to determine the effects of immunization against GnRH with GnRH analog on N retention and plasma urea nitrogen (PUN; a measure of AA catabolism). Four treatments were used: 1) conventional, early castrates (EC), 2) entire male pigs (EM), 3) entire male pigs immunized with GnRH analog (IM), and 4) entire male pigs surgically castrated after 6 wk of age (between 25 and 40 kg BW; late castrates; LC). The GnRH analog was injected at 30 and 70 kg BW. Within each of 9 litters, 4 males were randomly assigned to the 4 treatments. Pigs were fed corn- and soybean-meal-based diets that were not limiting in essential nutrients for high PD. Five consecutive N balances were conducted between d -9 and -4, 1 and 7, 9 and 16, 20 and 26, and 30 and 36, relative to administration of the booster dose of GnRH analog at d 0. Blood was sampled on d -4, -1, 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 19, 28, and 37. There was an interactive effect of treatment and time on N retention (P < 0.001). Across periods, N retention for EC and LC were similar (32.7 vs. 33.6 g/d) and lower than EM (39.2 g/d, P < 0.001). The N retention in EM and IM were similar up to d 7 (37.8 vs. 38.5 g/d), tended to be greater for EM than IM between d 9 and 16 (38.4 vs. 34.9 g/d, P = 0.07) and was greater for EM than IM after d 20 (40.9 vs. 34.9 g/d, P < 0.05). Between d 9 and 36, N retention in IM was similar to EC and LC. The PUN concentrations were similar in EC and LC across sampling times (15.50 vs. 15.86 mg/dL) and greater than EM (9.33 mg/dL, P < 0.05). The PUN concentrations were similar in EM and IM up to d 5 (9.88 vs. 9.59 mg/dL), tended to be less in EM than IM on d 8 (9.08 vs. 11.85 mg/dL, P < 0.10), and were lower in EM than IM from d 11 to 37 (8.94 vs. 14.80 mg/dL, P < 0.05). After d 8, PUN concentrations were similar for IM, EC, and LC (14.31, 15.13, and 15.55 mg/dL, respectively). In conclusion, the results of the current study show that N retention and PUN patterns in EC and LC are very similar and lower than those in EM. Between d 7 and 16 after administration of the booster dose of GnRH analog, N retention and PUN in IM changed gradually from EM levels to approach levels in EC and LC, which should be considered when developing feeding programs for IM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Squires
authors.forename: C F M
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: de Lange
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D004032:Diet; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000662:veterinary*; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*; D014611:Vaccination; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D009584:Nitrogen