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Manuscript was received/ 14.04.2026
Received after review/ 16.05.2026
Accepted for printing/ 22.06.2026
Available online/ 30.06.2026
Abstract
Objective. To evaluate the effects of feed components received from walnuts on the body
of pigs using a combination of univariate and multivariate statistical approaches to provide an
integrated biological interpretation. Methods. In this study it was evaluated the effects of feed
components received from walnuts, including kernels, by-products, and membrane decoctions,
on growth indexes, carcass and meat quality, antioxidant status, reproductive traits, and health
indexes in pigs. Three series of experiments were conducted using fattening pigs, boars, and
piglets at critical stages of the development. The productive, physicochemical, biochemical, and
reproductive parameters were analyzed using one- and two-factor analysis of variance
(ANOVA), correlation analysis, and exploratory factor analysis. Results. The inclusion of walnut
products in the diet significantly increased the average daily gain and improved the carcass
composition due to reduce the back fat thickness and increased meat yield. Meat quality
improved due to the increased tenderness, moisture retention, and reduced cooking losses.
Walnut supplementations significantly reduced markers of lipid peroxidation and improved
antioxidant enzyme activity, indicating the increased oxidative stability. In boars, sperm volume,
spermatozoa concentration, motility, and total viable cell count were significantly increased,
with strong interaction effects between diet and study period. In piglets, walnut husk decoction
significantly reduced diarrhea indexes and improved metabolic parameters before and after
weaning. Multivariate analysis revealed three main factors—antioxidant-oxidative, productive-
metabolic, and reproductive—explaining over 70% of the total variance. Thus, walnut-based
feed additives act as functional modulators, influencing growth, meat quality, reproductive
function, and animal health through coordinated metabolic and antioxidant pathways.
Conclusions. Feed components received from walnuts significantly improve growth
indexes, carcass composition, meat quality, antioxidant status, reproductive efficiency and health
indexes in pigs. These effects are mediated through the coordinated modulation of metabolic and
oxidative processes, as confirmed by univariate and multivariate statistical analysis. Walnut by-
products and decoctions are promising functional feed ingredients for the sustainable pork
production.
Key words: walnut, pigs, growth index, meat quality, antioxidant status, reproduction,
sperm quality, statistical analysis.
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