Meal frequency changes the basal and time-course profiles of plasma nutrient concentrations and affects feed efficiency in young growing pigs1

Abstract

Ingested dietary nutrients and feed energy are partitioned among tissues to sustain body growth. Based on the respective costs of the various metabolic pathways allowing use and storage of feed energy into cells, it may be theorized that daily meal frequency could affect growth, body composition or feed efficiency. This study aimed to determine the effects of daily meal frequency on nutrient partitioning, tissue metabolism and composition, and performance. Young growing pigs (30 kg BW) were offered a same amount of feed either in 2 (M2, n = 15) or 12 (M12, n = 16) meals per day during a 3-wk interventional period. Animals fed twice a day had an accelerated weight gain (+6.4%, P < 0.05) and exhibited a greater G:F (+4%, P = 0.03) than animals fed 12 meals per day during this period. Basal plasma concentrations of glucose, lactate, triglyceride, urea, and leptin were lower (P < 0.001) in M2 pigs than in M12 pigs. Meal frequency also changed (P < 0.001) the time-course profiles of plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, and lactate in response to meal ingestion. A greater rise and a sharper fall in plasma glucose and insulin levels were observed in M2 pigs compared with M12 pigs. In both groups, similarities were observed in the postprandial time courses of plasma concentrations of insulin and of α-amino nitrogen (used as a measure of total AA). Despite these metabolic responses, tissue lipids, glycogen content, and enzyme activities participating in energy metabolism in muscle and liver were similar (P > 0.10) in both groups at the end of the trial. Percentage of perirenal fat in the body and depth of dorsal subcutaneous fat tissue were not affected by meal frequency, but kidney weight was lower (-18%, P < 0.001) in M2 pigs than in M12 pigs. Altogether, the less frequent daily meal intake improves the conversion of feed into weight gain, without marked modifications of tissue composition in young pigs.

Effects of feeding frequency on meat quality traits and Longissimus muscle proteome in finishing pigs

“…However, conflicting results of meal frequency on BW and fat gain in pigs were observed among previous studies (Friend and Cunningham, ; Allee et al., ; Schneider et al., ). While some experiments showed that increased meal frequency improved growth performance of pigs (Schneider et al., , ), other works reported otherwise (Allee et al., ; Le Naou et al., ). However, Le Naou et al.…”

“…Feeding frequency has been considered as an important factor to affect body weight (BW) gain and fat deposition in animals and human (Schwarz et al., ; Chaix et al., ; Le Naou et al., ). Meal frequency impacts BW gain by regulating the partition and storage of energy (glycogen and lipids), rather than modulating the digestibility and absorption of nutrients in pigs (Leveille, ; Allee et al., ; Chastanet et al., ; Schneider et al., ).…”

“…However, Le Naou et al. () indicated that pigs fed twice daily had greater BW gain and feed efficiency than those fed 12 meals per day. Besides, there was also a study that no effect of meal frequency was observed on growth performance of pigs (Friend and Cunningham, ).…”

“…Besides, there was also a study that no effect of meal frequency was observed on growth performance of pigs (Friend and Cunningham, ). Differences in average daily feed intake (ADFI) between treatments might be the main reason for discrepancies between studies on the relationships between daily meal frequency and growth performance (Friend and Cunningham, ; Allee et al., ; Le Naou et al., ).…”

“…Whereas the effects of feeding frequency on postprandial metabolism and circulating nutrients have been recently described (Le Naou et al., ), there is still a paucity of information regarding the possible alterations on muscle metabolism. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of feeding frequency (two meals per day vs. FA) on growth performance, carcass composition, meat quality and Longissimus muscle (LM) proteome in finishing pigs.…”