Dietary conjugated linoleic acid can decrease backfat in pigs housed under commercial conditions

Abstract

Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) have been shown to decrease body fat content of individually-housed pigs but little is known about the responses under commercial conditions. Two studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of CLA under commercial conditions using contemporary genotypes. The experimental designs were Similar between the two sites. Briefly, the studies were 2x2 factorial designs with the respective factors being sex (boar and gilt) and supplemental dietary CLA (0 and 4 g/kg). The studies involved 16-20 pens of pigs with 4-5 pens of each sexxCLA group. The first study was conducted with 144 pigs in 16 pens consuming a pelleted feed for 6 weeks at Bunge Meat Industries, Corowa,..