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Title: Measurement of changes in body composition of piglets from birth to 4 kg using quantitative magnetic resonance (QMR)

Author
item Mitchell, Alva
item TAICHER, G - ECHO MEDICAL HOUSTON TX
item KOVNER, I - ECHO MEDICAL HOUSTON TX

Submitted to: American Society of Animal Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/27/2009
Publication Date: 7/13/2009
Citation: Mitchell, A.D., Taicher, G., Kovner, I. 2009. Measurement of changes in body composition of piglets from birth to 4 kg using quantitative magnetic resonance (QMR). Journal of Animal Science 87 (E-Suppl. 2):232.

Interpretive Summary: n/a

Technical Abstract: During studies of the growth of neonatal piglets it is important to be able to accurately assess changes in body composition. Previous studies have demonstrated that QMR provides accurate measurements of total body fat, lean, and water in non-anesthetized piglets. The purpose of this study was to use QMR to measure changes in the body composition of piglets during growth from birth to 4 kg BW. Using a QMR instrument (EchoMRI'), a total of 60 pigs were scanned an average of 5 times starting at 2.7±1.3 d of age (1.95±0.42 kg) and finally at 13.1±4.3 d (4.14±0.52 kg). Each scan consisted of triplicate measurements. The rates of total body growth and fat and lean deposition were analyzed by linear regression analysis. The mean (±SD) rate of total body growth was 236±76 g/d (R2=0.98±0.04). The rate of fat deposition ranged from 10.6 to 64.9 g/d with a mean of 32±13 g/d (R2=0.97±0.04). The rate of lean deposition ranged from 39.1 to 353.6 g/d with a mean of 188±60 g/d (R2=0.95±0.10). The rates of both fat and lean deposition were highly correlated (P<0.001) with total body growth rate (r = 0.88 and 0.94, respectively). The correlation between the rates of fat and lean deposition was 0.74 (P<0.001). The results of this study demonstrate that QMR is a useful method for measuring changes in body composition in neonatal pigs. Furthermore, the results indicate that during the period of growth from birth to 4 kg, the rates of both fat and lean deposition are linear and highly correlated with total body growth.