LAUSR

The study objective was to assess the contribution of fat source and vitamin E (VE) supplementation on tissue tocopherol concentration, antioxidant status, and fatty acid composition in the backfat of pigs at heavy slaughter weight (149.38 ±1.56 kg). A total of 64 individually-fed pigs (32 barrows, 32 gilts; 28.41 ±0.83 kg) were randomly assigned to 8 dietary treatments in a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement. Fat treatments included corn-starch (CS), tallow (TW), corn oil (CO) and coconut oil (CN). VE supplementation levels were 11 and 200 IU/kg. Loin muscle, backfat, and liver samples were collected at slaughter. Data analysis were performed by ANOVA using GLM in SAS. No interactions between dietary fat source and VE supplementation were observed. Increasing dietary VE level from 11 to 200 IU/kg increased (P < 0.001) the tocopherol concentration in both liver (4.73 vs. 21.06 ppm wet liver) and loin muscle (1.25 vs. 2.67 ppm wet muscle). Pigs from the CO group had higher liver SOD activity (P < 0.05) than the other treatments (CS 22.51, TW 22.67, CO 24.40, and CN 20.92 U/mg protein). Pigs from the CN group had the highest (P < 0.05) total saturated fatty acid content (CS 44.33, TW 40.33, CO 36.29, and CN 51.70%), but the lowest (P < 0.05) total polyunsaturated fatty acid content (CS 9.26, TW 9.80, CO 25.41, and CN 8.75%) and iodine value (CS 56.61, TW 60.66, CO 77.83, and CN 49.90) in the backfat. Pigs from the TW group had the highest (P < 0.05) total monounsaturated fatty acid content (CS 46.40, TW 49.87, CO 38.30, and CN 39.56%) in the backfat. Under conditions of this study, a higher level of VE supplementation increased liver and muscle tocopherol concentrations whereas dietary fat sources altered liver antioxidant activity and fatty acid composition in the backfat.