| 1. |
- Andersson, Annica, et al.
(författare)
-
Paths to a sustainable food sector guided by LCA – exemplified by pork production
- 2014
-
Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- To describe a more sustainable food sector, a supply chain approach is needed. Changing supply chains inevitably means that a range of attributes of the product and its system will change. This project will take on this challenge and deliver detailed descriptions of supply chains of six commodities from a Swedish region in 2012; Milk, cheese, beef, pork, chicken and bread. The set-up of the project was that experts on production along the supply chain design environmentally improved systems. The next step was to challenge the improvements considering their possible consequences on products and systems from different perspectives: food safety, sensory qualities, animal welfare, and consumer appreciation and (only for primary production) costs. The final supply chains were quantified by life cycle assessment (LCA), and they were again assessed from the perspectives mentioned above. Results will be generated during August 2014 and comprise both single-product LCA and region-wide impacts of the future scenarios.
|
|
| 2. |
- Andersson, Kristina, et al.
(författare)
-
Early vaccination with Improvac® - effects on performance and behaviour of male pigs
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Animal. - 1751-7311 .- 1751-732X. ; 6, s. 87-95
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of giving a two-dose regimen of gonadotropin-releasing hormone vaccine, Improvac (R) (Pfizer Ltd), earlier than currently recommended, on performance and behaviour of growing/finishing pigs. Cross-bred male pigs (n = 5192) were randomly allocated, within a litter, into four groups at birth: one group of pigs surgically castrated without anaesthesia before one week of age, a second group of early vaccinated pigs given Improvac at 10 and 14 weeks of age, a third group of standard vaccinated pigs given Improvac at 16 and 20 weeks of age, so that the second vaccination was given 4 to 6 weeks before slaughter as recommended by the manufacturer, and a fourth group of entire male pigs. The experiment started when the pigs were 12 weeks old and lasted until 25 weeks of age, when the pigs were slaughtered. The pigs were fed restrictedly. Daily weight gain and feed conversion during the entire raising period did not differ significantly between groups. Estimated lean meat content of early vaccinated and surgically castrated pigs was lower when compared with entire male pigs, whereas standard vaccinated pigs did not differ from entire males. Dressing percentage was higher in early vaccinated and surgically castrated pigs than in standard vaccinated and entire male pigs, partly because of lower size and weight of reproductive organs. For both groups of vaccinated pigs, both problematic and non-problematic behaviours decreased after their second injection, from the levels of entire males to those of surgically castrated pigs. After the second injection, pigs of both vaccination groups performed no mountings, in contrast with entire male pigs of the same age. Skin lesions at slaughter were fewer and less severe for vaccinated pigs compared with entire male pigs. No difference in income per carcass was observed for surgically castrated or vaccinated pigs. However, for entire male pigs the income was lower, as the payment system in Sweden also takes into consideration the additional cost for boar taint analyses and reduced payment for tainted carcasses. Under our experimental conditions, early vaccination with Improvac can be used as an alternative to the recommended schedule to minimise problematic behaviour with unaffected profitability.
|
|
| 3. |
- Brunius, Carl, et al.
(författare)
-
A modified high performance liquid chromatographic method for simultaneous quantification of skatole and indole in porcine plasma
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Acta Veterinaria Brno. - : University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences. - 0001-7213 .- 1801-7576. ; 81, s. 153-158
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A simplified high-performance liquid chromatography method to measure skatole and indole in porcine plasma without the use of acetonitrile was developed and validated in this study. The mobile phase consisted of water and methanol used in a gradient programme. Fluorescence detection was performed on the supernatant obtained from plasma after protein precipitation with 100% acetone. Limits of quantification were 0.5 ng.ml(-1) for skatole and 1.0 ng.ml(-1) for indole. Accuracy and precision had less than 12% deviation in the linear ranges (0.5-256 ng.ml(-1) and R-2 = 0.9999 for skatole, 1.0-256 ng.ml(-1) and R-2 = 0.9999 for indole). The correlation between plasma and serum concentrations was strong for skatole (slope = 1.01, R-2 = 0.999) and moderate for indole (slope = 0.65, R-2 = 0.95). Analysis of skatole in plasma was in good accordance with our previous acetonitrile-based method (slope = 0.91, R-2 = 0.988). The proposed method is suited for rapid routine analysis because of its high selectivity, accuracy and precision. Furthermore, it needs only simple sample preparation and the use of methanol instead of acetonitrile in the mobile phase. This method is of practical use to researchers in the field of boar taint.
|
|
| 4. |
- Brunius, Carl
(författare)
-
Early immunocastration of male pigs : effects on physiology, performance and behaviour
- 2011
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of prepubertal or early pubertal vaccination against GnRH using Improvac® (Pfizer Ltd.) on boar taint, reproductive organs, anabolic hormones, cytochrome P450 enzymes, performance and behaviour. Crossbred male pigs (n=192) were randomly allocated to four groups: one group surgically castrated without anaesthesia, a second group receiving early vaccination (at ages 10 and 14 weeks), a third standard vaccinated group (at ages 16 and 20 weeks), and a fourth group of entire male pigs. After the second injection, antibody titres increased rapidly and testicular steroids decreased to the low levels of castrates. Reproductive organs were small in vaccinated pigs and smaller after early vaccination. Spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis were disrupted with a more severe, possibly irreversible effect after early vaccination. Oestradiol was suppressed for castrated and vaccinated pigs. IGF-1 was lowest for castrates and highest for entire male pigs, with vaccinated pigs at an intermediate level. Hepatic CYP450 mRNA expression was highest for castrated and early vaccinated pigs, and lowest for entire male pigs, suggesting suppression at the transcriptional level of CYP1A2, CYP2A and CYP2E1 by testicular steroids. This did not correspond exactly with protein expression and activities, suggesting other regulations for some CYP450s. The levels of skatole and androstenone in adipose tissue were low in castrated and vaccinated pigs, whereas entire male pigs had elevated levels. Daily weight gain and feed conversion did not differ between groups and income per carcass did not differ between castrated or vaccinated pigs. The income was lower for entire male pigs, due to the additional cost for boar taint analyses and reduced payment for tainted carcasses. After vaccination, the frequency of interactions, both problematic and non-problematic, decreased from the levels of entire males to those of surgically castrated pigs. Under these conditions, early vaccination with Improvac can be used to control boar taint, testicular function and behaviour with unaffected profitability. Thus, the flexi¬bility of vaccination may be extended, implying advantages in terms of animal welfare and sustainability.
|
|
| 5. |
|
|
| 6. |
- Brunius, Carl, et al.
(författare)
-
Expression and activities of hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP1A, CYP2A and CYP2E1) in entire and castrated male pigs
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Animal. - 1751-7311 .- 1751-732X. ; 6, s. 271-277
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study aimed to provide further insights into the mechanism of in vivo regulation of cytochrome P450 (CYP450) 1A, 2A and 2E1 activities in pigs with different levels of testicular steroids. Hepatic mRNA and protein expression and enzymatic activity of CYP1A, CYP2A and CYP2E1 were compared between entire male and castrated pigs. Castration was performed either surgically or immunologically. The pigs were divided into four groups. In the first group, piglets were surgically castrated without anaesthesia. Immunological castration was performed by vaccination with Improvac (R) (Pfizer Ltd). Vaccinated pigs were subdivided into two groups according to the vaccination regimen: early and standard vaccination. Pigs in the early vaccination group were vaccinated when aged 11 and 15 weeks. Pigs in the standard vaccination group were vaccinated when aged 17 and 21 weeks. In the control group, pigs remained intact throughout the study. Hepatic CYP450 mRNA expression, measured by real-time RT-PCR, differed significantly between groups for all isoforms measured: CYP1A2 (P = 0.002), 2A (P = 0.000) and 2E1 (P = 0.002). Lower CYP450 mRNA in entire male pigs suggests suppression of CYP1A2, CYP2A and CYP2E1 by testicular steroids at the transcriptional level. However, this suppression was not always reflected in decreased protein expression and activities of these isoforms, suggesting that at least some CYP450s (e. g. CYP2E1) are regulated by a post-transcriptional mechanism.
|
|
| 7. |
- Brunius, Carl, et al.
(författare)
-
Expression of hepatic 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and sulfotransferase 2A1 in entire and castrated male pigs
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Molecular Biology Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0301-4851 .- 1573-4978. ; 39, s. 7927-7932
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The present study investigated the effect of surgical (SC) and immunological castration on the steroid metabolizing enzymes 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD) and sulfotransferase 2A1 (SULT2A1) in male pigs. Thirty-two male pigs were divided in four groups; in one group the pigs were SC before the age of 7 days, two groups were injected with Improvac(A (R)) a vaccine against gonadotropin releasing hormone (immunological castration), while the pigs in the last group remained entire males (EMs). Immunological castration was in one group performed by vaccine injection at ages 11 and 14 weeks, while the other group received injections at ages 17 and 21 weeks. Plasma, adipose and liver tissue were collected at the time of slaughter. Plasma was analyzed for concentrations of testosterone and oestradiol. The adipose tissue was analyzed for the concentration of androstenone, while the liver tissue was analyzed for mRNA and protein expression of 3 beta-HSD and SULT2A1. Independent of method, all castrated pigs showed greater mRNA and protein expression of 3 beta-HSD and lower levels of all steroids in plasma compared with EMs. Moreover, there was a strong correlation between mRNA and protein expression of 3 beta-HSD and steroid levels. The same was not valid for expression of SULT2A1. It is concluded that steroid levels can increase expression of the steroid metabolizing enzyme 3 beta-HSD and thereby influence steroid metabolism, e.g. of androstenone.
|
|
| 8. |
- Brunius, Carl, et al.
(författare)
-
Feeding dried chicory root to pigs decrease androstenone accumulation in fat by increasing hepatic 3 beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase expression
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0960-0760 .- 1879-1220. ; 130, s. 90-95
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The present study investigated the in vivo effect of chicory root on testicular steroid concentrations and androstenone metabolizing enzymes in entire male pigs. Furthermore, the effect on skatole and indole concentrations in plasma and adipose tissue was investigated. The pigs were divided into two groups; one receiving experimental feed containing 10% dried chicory root for 16 days before slaughter, the control group was fed a standard diet. Plasma, adipose and liver tissue samples were collected at slaughter. Plasma was analyzed for the concentration of testosterone, estradiol, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), skatole and indole. Adipose tissue was analyzed for the concentration of androstenone, skatole and indole, while the liver tissue was analyzed for mRNA and protein expressions of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD), sulfotransferase 2A1 and heat-shock protein 70 (HSP70). The results showed that the androstenone concentrations in the adipose tissue of chicory fed pigs were significantly (p < 0.05) lower and indole concentrations were higher (p < 0.05) compared to control fed pigs. Moreover the chicory root fed pigs had increased mRNA and protein expression of 3 beta-HSD and decreased HSP70 expression (p < 0.05). Testosterone and IGF-1 concentrations in plasma as well as skatole concentrations in adipose tissue were not altered by dietary intake of chicory root. It is concluded that chicory root in the diet reduces the concentration of androstenone in adipose tissue via induction of 3 beta-HSD, and that these changes were not due to increased cellular stress. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
|
|
| 9. |
|
|
| 10. |
- Einarsson, Stig, et al.
(författare)
-
Effects of early vaccination with Improvac (R) on the development and function of reproductive organs of male pigs
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Animal Reproduction Science. - : Elsevier Masson. - 0378-4320 .- 1873-2232. ; 127:1-2, s. 50-55
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine (Improvac (R)) is effective at diminishing boar taint by interfering with testis function. Early pre-pubertal vaccination at 10 and 14 weeks-of-age could be desirable if sufficient and sustained effects could be achieved. Crossbred male pigs (n = 24) were randomly assigned to three groups each with eight individuals: an unvaccinated control group, one group vaccinated with Improvac (R) early at ages 10 and 14 weeks, and a third group vaccinated with Improvac at the standard ages of 16 and 20 weeks. The average age at slaughter was 25 weeks. At slaughter, reductions in testes weight and bulbourethral gland length of vaccinated pigs compared with controls were observed (P andlt; 0.001), accompanied by lowered testosterone concentrations in peripheral blood (P andlt; 0.001). The diameter of tubuli seminiferi was affected: being 18% smaller in standard and 38% smaller in early vaccinated males, compared with controls (P andlt; 0.01). Leydig cells in vaccinated pigs became pycnotic, and their number decreased in early vaccinated pigs. Spermatogenesis was disrupted, evidenced by spermatocyte loss among standard vaccinated pigs to severe spermatogenic arrest among early vaccinated pigs. This histological picture was reflected in the absence of epididymal spermatozoa in 5 of 8 early vaccinated pigs and a dramatic reduction in the remaining 3 early vaccinated pigs. Among standard vaccinated pigs, 5% of the spermatozoa were morphologically normal (andgt;70% in controls, P andlt; 0.01). Early vaccination caused a more severe disruption of testicular structure and function than standard vaccination, thus providing an alternative for immunocastration of male pigs.
|
|
