A New Centre for Pig Research

Liv Lønne Dille

Can innovative new pens for studying pigs at UMB help explain the harmful effects of an unbalanced diet in humans? Absolutely, say researchers Margareth Øverland, Odd Helge Romarheim and Liv Torunn Mydland at the Aquaculture Protein Centre and Nils Petter Kjos at the Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences.

Of the non-primate species, pigs resemble humans most regarding nutrition and health. The new unit is meant to function as an advanced centre for pig nutrition research, but also as a centre for research on human nutrition, using pigs as a model.

Facts
Pigs can be used as a model because digestive systems, physiology and disease development are quite similar in pigs and humans. This applies especially to diet and lifestyle-related diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and osteoporosis. Genetically, pigs are much closer to humans than, for example, rodents (mice and rats), which have often been used as models for humans.

Pigs are excellent models to study complex metabolic pathways regarding gene expression, protein expression and the biological activity of important enzymes and receptors in relation to nutrition, disease development and the testing of medicines. In the centre’s pig pens, various issues related to nutrition can be studied, including intake of sugar, fibres and salt, mineral and vitamin imbalances, and fat consumption.

Full control
These pens are unique in Norway. Scientists can record everything consumed by the pig, and – if you are especially interested – all that comes out at the other end as well. The pens enable a broad scope of new and exciting research.
They allow full control of the pigs’ feed intake and their development in relation to what they consume. Researchers can take continuous samples and record everything from nutrient intake to excretion of faeces and urine, so-called balance trials.

The pens are called metabolism pens, and they allow researchers to perform detailed studies on pigs. The facilities are excellent, and the pens are considered to be the world’s best pens for animal welfare. The prototype is from the Netherlands, but some improvements have been made. The first simple trials will compare the digestibility of various nutrients.

In addition, researchers can perform detailed studies of the animals’ metabolism. The new facilities also allow them to study the effects of nutrients and special products, such as probiotics and prebiotics, on the pigs’ intestinal microflora.

Implications for public health
The scientists at the department are convinced that the new research facilities will generate a lot of exciting results in the years ahead.

One example is sugar consumption, an important aspect in need of further study. It is known that sugar poses a considerable public health problem. Now, researchers may be able to shed light upon such issues as the development of diabetes. Other areas of research include cardiovascular diseases and how food fat and protein are absorbed and utilised by the body. Another potential topic is the effect of feed composition on pork quality. There are lots of possibilities

Published: 13.12.07
Updated: 14.05.09
Printerfriendly version

Del med en venn:

Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences

P.O. Box 5003
N-1432 Ås

Phone: +47 64 96 51 00
Fax: +47 64 96 51 01

E-mail: iha@umb.no

Webmaster: Janne Karin Brodin

Additional information