Influence of Dietary Inclusion of Exhausted Bergamot By-Product in Pigs on Animal Performance, Fatty Acid Profile and Oxidative Stability of Meat and Meat Products

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The pharmaceutical industry is increasingly interested in the extraction of phenolic compounds from bergamot pulp, which becomes less available for use in animal feeding. On the other hand, the extraction of phenol compounds generates a new bergamot by-product characterized by a low moisture content and a small concentration of phenolic compounds which are residual after extraction. In light of the above, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of supplementation of exhausted bergamot by-product in pigs’ performance and on the quality of meat and meat products. ABSTRACT: An investigation was carried out on the effect in pig diet of supplementation with exhausted bergamot by-product, stemming from pharmaceutical industry after extraction of phenolic compounds, on growth performance and on the quality of meat and meat products. Twenty pigs were assigned to two dietary treatments and fed a conventional concentrate (control) or a concentrate including exhausted bergamot by-product at the level of 15% on a DM basis (EB). No significant differences between dietary treatments were found for final weight (p = 0.243), carcass weight (p = 0.679), dry matter intake (p = 0.321). In EB pork, the proportion of docosapentaenoic acid was significantly increased (p < 0.05); it tended to have a greater proportion of n-3 PUFA (p = 0.09), and the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio was lower in EB treatment (p = 0.01). In salami from EB pigs fed, the proportion of α-linolenic acid and the total n-3 PUFA were higher than in the control group (p < 0.001). In salami, the TBARS value was lower after 5 days of storage (p < 0.001) in the EB group. Therefore, the present results suggest that the inclusion of exhausted bergamot by-product in pig diet resulted in a qualitative improvement of meat and meat products.