Differentiation of dietary regimene of Iberian swine by means of isotopic analysis of carbon and sulphur in hepatic tissue

The aim of this work was to differentiate the feed received by Iberian swin e during fattening (acorns, feed) and their breed (Iberian or White) using analysis of the stable isotopes of carbon (delta C-13) and sulphur (delta S -34) in liver tissue samples. The results obtained in the determination of delta S-34, using a procedure in which organic and inorganic sulphur are co nverted into BaSO4 and the procedure that measures delta S-34 in samples of dried ground liver tissue were compared. Joint analysis of carbon (delta C -13) and sulphur (delta S-34) permits the differentiation of swine of diffe rent breeds receiving different diets (acorns or feed). (C) 2001 Elsevier S cience Ltd. All rights reserved.