Production systems for fattening pigs have been characterized by increasing farm sizes coupled with increasing numbers. However, stocking density, one of the important parameter of pork production, affects the environment of farm as well as the mental and physical health of pigs.

Trace minerals are important for balanced nutrition in pigs and to maintain pig growth under high stocking densities. The relationship between stocking densities and pig welfare is well documented.

However, no attempt has been made to determine relationships between high stocking densities and trace minerals in serum or liver or in trace mineral transporters in the liver or intestines in pigs.

Researchers in the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture (ISA) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences conducted a 30-day experiment to explore the effects of stocking density on serum and liver trace mineral deposition in fattening pigs.

288 conventional pigs (Duroc × Landrace × Large) were selected and assigned to one of three groups: low, medium or high density (8, 16, or 24 pigs, respectively, per 5.2 m × 3.8 m pen).

In their study, the medium- and high-density groups decreased serum Fe, Zn, and Mn concentrations significantly, while significantly increased liver Fe and Mn.

In addition, medium- or high-density groups affect mRNA expression related to trace mineral transporters.

In conclusion, stocking density affected serum Fe, Zn, and Mn, as well as liver Fe and Mn. Stocking density also affected mRNA expression of trace mineral transporters in both the liver and intestinal mucosa of fattening pigs under the studied conditions.

The study entitled “Deposition and transport of trace mineral elements were affected by stocking density in fattening pigs” was published in Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, details can be found at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0946672X17308118.

It was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China.

Contact: WU Xin

E-mail: wuxin@isa.ac.cn

Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences