Physical Activity Effects on Blood Parameters, Growth, Carcass, and Meat and Fat Composition of Portuguese Alentejano Pigs

This study evaluated the effects of physical activity on blood, growth, carcass, and meat quality finishing Alentejano (AL) pigs. Pigs, reared from ~87 to 160 kg in individual pens (no exercise area, NE group, n = 9) or an outdoor park (with WE 9), were fed commercial diets (85% ad libitum). pigs a (~400 m2) with feeding area separated drinking automatic waterer, forcing walk at least 800 m daily. Blood samples obtained during trial (weeks 2, 11, 18) slaughter. The left-side carcass was submitted cuts, loin, tenderloin, dorsal subcutaneous fat (DSF) analyzed. Plasma urea higher weeks 2 while cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, cholesterol HDL-cholesterol LDL- ratios, cortisol lower 11 18. Final weight average daily gain feed conversion ratio DSF thickness pigs, leading yield. Finally, loin tenderloin presented total protein content. These data show that allowing affects metabolism, AL