One of the major problems of modern pig-breeding is searching for interior estimates to select pigs for productivity.
In this respect, enzymes are of interest, particularly aminotransferases that are involved in transamination of amino acids. It was proved experimentally that transamination reactions yield enzyme substrate complexes and dissociate a hydrogen atom attached to the carbon atom of amino acids. Composite relationship between aminotransferases activity and protein synthesis accounts for great importance of transamination in the process of vital activities of the organism. During postnatal development, transamination reactions and amino acid synthesis change identically.
Aspartate-aminotransferase-L-aspartate: 2-oxyglutarate-aminotransferase [C.F. 2.6.1.1] is an indicator-enzyme as the functional status of different organs (liver, heart) can be evaluated by increased activity of the enzyme in blood serum. It refers to the class of oxidoreductases, catalyzes the reverse reaction of an amino group transfer from L-aspartic acid to α-ketoglutaric acid. In terms of chemical composition, aspartate-aminotransferase is a composite protein, the co-enzyme of which is pyridoxalphosphatum, it localizes in all organs and tissues.
The examination aims to study the transaminase activity in the blood of pigs different in breeds when fattened to different live weights.
The examinations were carried out on the experimental training farm «Tulinskoye» under Novosibirsk State Agrarian University. Large White, Landrace and Kemerovo pigs were the objects to examine. The animals were selected by the principle of analogues with regard to origin, breed, productivity and live weight. The pigs were divided into three groups and kept following the technology for complexes and farms. The animals were fattened to 100, 120 and 140 kg. The blood to examine was taken from aural vein. The aspartate-aminotransferase activity was determined in the blood serum of the pigs.
The data obtained were processed statistically with the package of applied software Statistica 6 and Excel.
The experiment identified the differences among the breeds for the activity of aspartate-aminotransferase in the blood serum of the animals. When fattened to 100 kg live weight, the activity of the serum aspartate-aminotransferase was found to increase by 27,27 % (p < 0,001) in the Kemerovo pigs versus the Large Whites. The experimental data testify to the enzyme activity decreased with the animals fattened to 120 and 140 kg.
Based on the data of the examinations carried out, it can be concluded that the activity of aspartate-aminotransferase may be employed in the evaluation of pigs´ productivity.
The work was submitted to the international scientific conference «Problems of agroindustrial complex», Thailand (Bangkok-Pattaya), 20-30, December, 2011, came to the editorial office on 23.11.2011.