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A Biopsy Technique for Sampling the Gracilis Muscle in the Baby Pig¹

University of Nebraska, Lincoln 68503 ^{2, 3,}

Abstract

A biopsy of the gracilis muscle was successfully accomplished on 240 early-weaned pigs whose mean initial and 35-day weights were 4.1 and 15.4 kg, respectively. The procedure for obtaining the muscle sample was as follows: The pig was restrained on its back in a V-shaped device. The sample area on the inside of the thigh was cleansed thoroughly, disinfected and treated topically with a local anesthetic. An incision 2.5 cm long was made through the skin. Blunt dissection was used to separate the fat and connective tissue covering the muscle. A sample was cut from the rest of the muscle with an electric-cautery knife. After removal from the animal, the sample was placed in a plastic container and frozen immediately with dry ice for later analyses. The incision was closed with two sutures, sulfa-urea medication applied to the wound and the animal was given 2 ml of an injectable procaine penicillin-streptomycin mixture. The time required to collect the sample was approximately 7 min. per pig. The mean weights of the initial and 35-day muscle samples were 0.60 g and 1.00 g, respectively. Average daily gain (kg) and gain/feed for the 35-day period following the initial biopsy were 0.32 and 0.51, respectively. Since animal performance was not adversely affected, serial biopsy of the gracilis muscle provides a tool for researchers interested in the effects of nutrition and other factors on muscle composition.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director as Paper No. 3238, Journal Series, Nebr. Agr. Exp. Sta. Research reported was conducted under Project 13-11.

² Department of Animal Science, Acknowledgement is made to C. H. Naber and C. E. Albright for their assistance in the conduction of the biopsy.

³ Mention of commercial products does not imply endorsement at the exclusion of similar products.