Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences
Open Access

Abstract

Nutritional Regulation for Meat Quality and Nutrient Metabolism of Pigs Exposed to High Temperature Environment

Xianyong Ma, Zongyong Jiang, Chuntian Zheng, Youjun Hu and Li Wang

High ambient temperatures not only affect animal production but also pig welfare. The decline of the production performances and meat quality of pigs during heat stress were traditionally considered to a cause of the decreased feed intake. However, it recently has been shown that heat stress disturbed the nutrients metabolism including protein, lipid and carbohydrate, and made the body reorganizes the utilization of the nutrition. High temperature also disturbed the cell function and antioxidant system. This paper reviewed the effect of heat stress on growth performance, meat quality and nutrients metabolism of pigs and their nutritional regulation for meat quality.