Exogenous porcine somatotropin administered to neonatal pigs at high doses can alter lifetime fat but not lean tissue deposition

Abstract

The growth rate of the young pig is generally much less than its potential and may be constrained by endocrine status as well as nutrient intake. The aim of the present study was to determine whether porcine (p) somatotropin (ST) treatment of the sucking pig could alter subsequent body composition. Twelve mixed-parity cross-bred sows with an average litter size of ten piglets were used to nurse pigs for the present study. On day 1 of lactation, the median two male pigs (by weight) from each litter were randomly allocated to one of two doses of pST (0 or 1 mg/kg per d) until weaning on day 21. Pigs were weaned and offered feed ad libitum until slaughter at 134 d of age. Body composition was m..