Effect of feeding level during the period previous to free-range fattening on growth and carcass characteristics in Iberian pigs
Abstract
This study was principally undertaken to provide information of the influence of feeding level during the period prior to fattening on growth and carcass traits of Iberian pigs finished under free-range conditions with acorns and grass. During the period prior to fattening, a group of 11 pigs (high feeding level, H) was fed with 70 g feed kgE1 LW sup(0.75) (live weight) and another group of 11 pigs (low feeding level, L) was fed with 50 g feed kgE1 LW sup(0.75). The pigs average daily gain for prior to fattening, free-range and whole periods were: 385.4 and 168.9 (P<0.001), 508.4 and 582.1 (P<0.05) and 430.5 and 320.5 (P<0.05) g day1in H and L pigs respectively. The H and L pigs' slaughter weights were 166.2 and 138.4 kg (P<0.01). Feeding level during the period prior to the fattening period had no significant effect on backfat thickness and Longissimus dorsi (LD) area measured at the level of the last rib, LD intramuscular fat percentage and carcass hams, forelegs, loins, sirloin and total cut amounts. The correlation coefficients between pig growth rate during the whole period and carcass hams, forelegs and total cut amount were 0.95, 0.92 and 0.95 respectively. The interaction between the feeding level prior to the free-range period and carcass weight was studied for carcass traits.Downloads
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