Reduced Meal Frequency Decreases Fat Deposition and Improves Feed Efficiency of Growing–Finishing Pigs

SIMPLE SUMMARY: In this research, we studied the effects of feeding frequency (three meals per day vs. free access to feed) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass quality, and lipid metabolism in growing–finishing pigs. The results showed that reducing feeding frequency can effectively improve the feed conversion ratio. The three meals per day group had a different growth performance in terms of reduced fat deposition and changed carcass composition. This study provides a new scheme for the feeding and management of growing–finishing pigs. ABSTRACT: An experiment was conducted to examine the effect of meal frequency on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass quality, and lipid metabolism in growing–finishing pigs. Sixty-four Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire barrows and gilts (26.40 ± 2.10 kg initial body weight) were used in a 112-d experiment in a randomized complete blocked design. The two treatments were the free-access feed group (FA) and the three meals per day group (M3), respectively. The result showed that the average daily feed intake (ADFI) and F: G of the FA group were significantly higher than that in the M3 group during the whole experiment (p < 0.05). Reducing meal frequency also decreased the concentration of triglycerides and urea nitrogen but increased the concentration of insulin and free fatty acids in the blood (p < 0.05). Reducing meal frequency decreased compositions of backfat, belly, and fatty pieces but increased compositions of ham, longissimus muscle, and lean pieces in the carcass (p < 0.05). Greater enzyme activities of ME and FAS and higher mRNA expression of FAS and PPARγ were found in the LM of FA pigs compared with M3 pigs (p < 0.05). In summary, a lower meal frequency improves feed efficiency by regulating lipid metabolism and reducing fat deposition.