NUTRITIONAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF IBERIAN PIGS AS AN EXAMPLE OF FATTY PIG BREED

The precise knowledge of nutritional requirements allows the designing of balanced diets to optimize growth, development and body functions, minimize budget costs and reduce the environmental impact of pig production. As a fatty, non-selected, pig-type, the Iberian pig requires less dietary protein than conventional lean pigs during different productive phases, according to its lower muscle mass and protein deposition rates. This has been determined in dose-response experiments covering growing and fattening stages. In parallel to these studies, of mainly applied nature, comparative studies involving conventional pig breeds have been undertaken with the aim of explaining some of the metabolic peculiarities of this native porcine breed. With these purpose we will describe, among other examples, how this breed respond to essential amino acid deficiencies, and the possible consequences on growth, performance and meat quality. This later aspect shows in a way how protein and lipid metabolism can be linked and interrelated at the muscle level. We will deal with amino acid profiles of body protein, and how this approach can help to identify better definition of dietary amino acid profile for a fatty pig, with positive consequences in performance, welfare and environment. Last findings in the framework of the TREASURE project involving nutritional requirements in particular management situations, like immunocastrated pigs, or in productive phases not undertaken before, as lactating sows, will be also covered with the first results available