Mm. Kandeh et al., MILK CHOLESTEROL CONCENTRATION IN SOWS SELECTED FOR 3 GENERATIONS FORHIGH OR LOW SERUM-CHOLESTEROL, Journal of animal science, 71(5), 1993, pp. 1100-1103
Female crossbred swine (Chester White x Landrace x Large White x Yorks
hire) selected for three generations for low (L, n = 24) or high (H, n
= 26) serum cholesterol at 8 wk of age were milked at d 20 or 21 of t
heir first lactation to measure cholesterol, fat, lactose, protein, an
d ash concentrations. A contemporary, unselected control (C) group fro
m the same original population (third lactation, n = 7) was sampled co
ncurrently. All sows were fed a standard gestation, then lactation, di
et that contained no cholesterol or added fat (all plant, corn-soybean
meal). Genetic selection for low or high serum cholesterol at 8 wk of
age induced corresponding changes in milk cholesterol and fat concent
ration in the third generation of selection, but not in any other milk
constituents. Milk cholesterol concentrations (milligrams/100 grams f
resh weight) were L, 25.3 +/- 3.0; C, 35.7 +/- 8.0; and H, 41.4 +/- 6.
9 (L < C < H, P < .01). Corresponding values for milk fat were 5.7 +/-
1.3, 7.2 +/- .8, and 7.0 +/- .8 mg (L < C = H, P < .01). Serum choles
terol concentrations at 8 wk of age were L, 66.1 +/- 8.1; C, 93.7 +/-
13.7; and H, 126.2 +/- 9,7 mg/dL (P < .01). Milk cholesterol concentra
tion was significantly correlated with serum cholesterol (r = .782, P
< .01) and milk fat (r = .36, P < .01). It seems that selecting swine
for low or high serum cholesterol at 8 wk of age induced changes in li
pid metabolism reflected in differences in milk cholesterol concentrat
ions.