Effect of supplementation of sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate as fat emulsifier in low-density diet on growth performance, backfat thickness, lean muscle percentage, and meat quality in finishing pigs

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementation of sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate as fat emulsifier in low-density diet on the growth performance and meat quality of finishing pigs. A total of 84 mixed-sex finishing pigs [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] at 112 d of age with an average body weight (BW) of 60 ± 0.75 kg (two gilts and two barrows per pen; seven pens per treatment) were used in a 56 d experiment. Pigs were randomly allotted to one of three treatments based on BW and stratified based on sex. The following three treatments were used (1) control basal diet (T1), (2) low-energy diet (T2), and (3) T2 + 0.1% sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate emulsifier (T3). The supplementation of sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate as fat emulsifier in energy-reduced diet did not have significant effects on growth performance compared with energy-reduced diet without emulsifier, although it slightly increased final BW by 1.45%, average daily gain by 3.3%, gain to feed ratio by 3.77%, and reduced average daily feed intake by 0.64%. The supplementation of emulsifier in energy-reduced diet did not have any adverse effect (P > 0.05) on meat quality attributes, as well as backfat thickness and lean muscle percentage (LMP), compared with energy-reduced diet without emulsifier or basal diet. In conclusion, the supplementation of emulsifier at 0.1% level in low-energy diet did not have significant effects on growth performance, backfat thickness, LMP, and meat quality attributes in finishing pigs.