Abstract
This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of dietary vitamin A restriction during nursing period (from 3 to 28 days of age) on intramuscular fat (IMF) accumulation of pigs. Female piglets (n = 10) were randomly assigned to the two groups when they were two days old. During nursing period, one group was fed milk substitute to meet nutrient requirements of nursing pigs (Control n = 5), and the other was given feed amounting to about 20% of vitamin A of the Control pigs (LVA n = 5). Pigs of both the control and the LVA groups were fed milk containing adequate levels of energy and protein. After the nursing period, all pigs were slaughtered. The body weight gains of the LVA group were not different from those of the Control group. Total lipid fractions in serum and IMF contents of the LVA group were significantly lower than those of the Control group (P < 0.001, P < 0.01). But the number and size of intramuscular adipocyte of the LVA group were not different from those of the Control group. Therefore, it was suggested that the restriction of vitamin A during the nursing period resulted in a decrease of fat accumulation in the muscle.
