THE EFFECT OF VITAMIN-E SUPPLEMENTATION O N GROWTH-PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS TRAITS IN THE FATTENING PIG

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether high vitamin E supplementation has positive effects on performance and carcass trait s in fattening pigs. A 2-factorial experiment including 48 pigs (initi al weight: 30 kg) was performed over a period of 3 months. Apart from vitamin E-supplementation (alpha-tocopherol acetate, 20 vs. 200 mg/kg) also the source of dietary fat (soy bean oil vs. beef tallow) was var ied. Neither the vitamin E supplementation nor the source of dietary f at influenced performance and carcass traits. Thus, the study shows th at high vitamin E supplementation regardless of the dietary fat does n ot improve results in pig fattening. Supplementation with 200 mg vitam in E increased vitamin E concentrations of muscle and adipose tissue b y factor 3 to 4 whereas source of dietary fat did not influence vitami n E concentrations of those tissues. The source of dietary fat influen ced the fatty acid composition of lipids from muscle and adipose tissu e. Feeding beef tallow caused higher levels of monounsaturated fatty a cids but lower levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids than feeding soy bean oil. In contrast, vitamin E concentration of the diet did not inf luence fatty acid composition of tissues. The results of the present s tudy are discussed with respect to the nutritional aspects of meat.