Effect of maternal or post-weaning methyl donor supplementation on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of pig offspring

BACKGROUND Limited studies have examined links between maternal methyl donor (MET) supplementation and the growth-development characteristics of offspring, and possible underlying mechanisms for such links. This study investigated the effect of maternal or post-weaning MET-supplementation on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of the finishing (d 180) offspring. Twenty-four sows were placed on a control (C) or MET-supplemented diet during pregnancy and lactation. Forty-eight female offspring were fed the control or MET-supplemented diet from weaning to 6 months of age, resulting in four study groups (six litters per group): C/C, C/MET, MET/C, and MET/MET. RESULTS Maternal MET-supplementation increased average daily gain (ADG), body weight (BW), lean percentage and longissimus dorsi (LD) of the offspring at day 180 (P < 0.05), and upregulated the myosin heavy chain IIx, myogenic differentiation and muscle regulatory factor 4 mRNA levels in the LD muscle (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, offspring from maternal MET-supplementation exhibited a higher pH(24h) post mortem and superoxide dismutase activity, a lower L-45min(*), glycolytic potential, malonaldehyde content in the LD muscle, and plasma homocysteine concentration (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Maternal MET-supplementation has a remarkable effect on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of the offspring, which is associated with increased expression levels of myogenic genes and anti-oxidant capacity. (c) 2018 Society of Chemical Industry