Effects Of Nobiletin On The Growth Performance, Meat Quality And Flavor Of Finishing Pigs

Present study was conducted to investigate the effect of nobiletin supplementation on finishing pigs' performance, meat quality and flavor. It is expected that nobiletin application in pig diets for high quality pork production, as well as the optimum level supplemented in the practical pig diets.In the feeding trial, a total of 96 120-day-old castrated hybrid male pigs [Duroc �(Landrace � Large White)], with the average initial weight of(75.9�0.5) kg, were randomly allocated to 4 groups(from A to D), with 4 replicates each treatment and 6 pigs of each replicate. Pigs in group A were fed corn-soybean basal diet and served as the control;Experimental B, C, D group were added 0.25 kg/t, 0.50 kg/t and 1.00 kg/t nobiletin in basal diet, respectively. During the 50-day feeding trial pigs were voluntary assigned to the take feed and water, according to the traditional methods. The initial weight, the final weight,average daily weight gain(ADG), average daily feed intake(ADFI) and feed conversion rate(FCR) of finishing pigs were recorded or calculated. At the age of 170 d, 4 pigs from each group were slaughtered, and then determinate the slaughter performance and meat quality indexes.The results were as follows:(1) Nobiletin supplemented in finishing pigs' feed had no significant effect on average daily gain, average daily feed intake and feed conversion rate(P>0.05).(2) Finishing pigs' carcass weight, percentage of slaughter, carcass straight length,carcass length, backfat thickness, lean percentage, loin-eye area, leaf fat, thick-skinned were not significantly different among four groups(P>0.05). Compared with the control group, adding 0.5 kg/t nobiletin increased lean percentage and loin-eye area by 2.3% and9.9% respectively.(3) Nobiletin used in finishing pigs' diet had no significantly influence on p H, drip loss,cooking loss, meat color, shear force(P>0.05). When Nobiletin dosage were 0.5 kg/t, a*increased by 7.0%, cooking loss decreased by 15.9%, shear force decreased by 19.1%, and it showed a tendency to improve meat quality.(4) Nobiletin supplemented in finishing pigs' feed could increase the meat moisture and protein content, moisture and protein content in meat were increased(P<0.05), but there were no different in intramuscular fat(P>0.05).(5) Nobiletin significantly increased the inosine acid content in meat(P<0.05).Inosine acid in group fed with 0.5 kg/t nobiletin was increased by 17.3%. 0.5kg/t Nobiletin could significantly increased the content of linoleic acid, arachidic acid of 14.4%, 25.6%(P<0.05), and polyunsaturated fatty acids by 14.2%(P>0.05). However it had no significantly influence on capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and oleic acid(P>0.05).(6) Nobiletin supplemented in finishing pigs' feed had no significantly effect on organ index such as heart index, liver index, spleen index, lung index, kidney index(P>0.05).In summary, nobiletin supplemented in the diet of finishing pigs had no significantly effect on growth performance, slaughter performance, organ indexes, but it seemed to improve the meat quality and flavor to a certain. According to inosine acid, linoleic acid,arachidic acid, it was concluded that 0.5 kg/t nobiletin could improve some meat quality traits of finishing pig, and 0.5 kg/t nobiletin was a suitable amount.