reported that the CS improves variables growth rate,
while feed intake has no effect. The result suggests that
CS contributes to the growth rate of finishing pigs.
Specifically, an increase in feed intake can improve the
growth rate. Changes in the total tissue RNA/DNA
ratio, as an indicator of short-term and long-term
growth, have been applied to both fish and finishing
pigs [12, 19, 20]. In this study, the dietary
supplementation of CS caused the significant increase
in the muscle RNA/DNA ratio in finishing pigs, which
was consistent with the significant increase in growth
rate. These results further supported the notion that
optimal dietary supplementation of CS (140 mg/kg)
could improve lean deposition in finishing pigs by
increasing skeletal muscle growth through
enhancement of genome transcription. The study
further indicated that there were no apparent
pathological changes seen in the gastrointestinal tract
of pigs fed with the 70 mg/kg CS diet, but there were
apparent ulcers in those that were fed with the 140
mg/kg CS diet. Thus, the high dose of CS was proven
to cause harmful health effects on finishing pigs.
Meat quality was not affected by CS supplementation.
The result indicates that CS supplementation did not
cause detrimental effects on meat quality. T-AOC (70
mg/kg CS) was significantly increased, and MDA (70,
140 mg/kg CS) was significantly decreased. The results
suggest that CS supplementation improved the
antioxidant status in finishing pigs. This coincided with
the in vitro study that CS is a reducing aminothiol, which
has antioxidant capacity and increases embryo
development [21]. It can stimulate intracellular
glutathione (GSH) production [22, 23], which could
protect cells against thiol-derived peroxide. GSH acts as
an oxidizable substrate of GSH-Px and as a direct
scavenging agent [24].
5. Conclusions
In conclusion, the results of the study suggest that a
low dose of dietary CS supplementation at 70 mg/kg
could significantly improve growth performance and
antioxidant status without adverse effects on the
gastrointestinal tracts of finishing pigs. Meat quality
was not affected by CS supplementation. Carcass