The effect of space allocation on barrow and gilt performance

Two experiments were conducted to determine the variation in response to space allocation between barrows and gilts and to examine an alternative allocation regimen for barrows and gilts. Experimental space allocations in both experiments were achieved by varying the number of pigs per pen in a fully slatted facility. In Exp. 1, barrows were given 0.58 and 0.65 m2/pig (nine and eight pigs per pen, respectively) and gilts were given 0.65 and 0.74 m2/pig (eight and seven pigs per pen, respectively). In addition, barrows at 0.58 m2/pig were fed diets formulated for barrows or diets formulated for gilts. Barrows grew 4.8% slower (P = 0.031) and ate 3.1% less feed daily (P = 0.062) at 0.58 vs. 0.65 m2/pig from 22 to 115 kg BW, with no difference in feed conversion, daily lean gain, carcass lean percent, or variation in weight within the pen at time of first pig removal to slaughter. There was no improvement in daily gain, feed intake, feed efficiency, lean gain, or carcass lean percent when gilts were given 0.74 vs. 0.65 m2/pig from 22 to 115 kg BW. There was no difference in performance between the population that consisted of barrows and gilts at 0.65 m2/pig vs. the population of barrows at 0.58 m2/pig and gilts at 0.74 m2/pig. There was no difference in performance by barrows at 0.58 m2/pig when fed either barrow or gilt diets, except for a slight increase (P = 0.078) in within-pen weight variation when the first pig was removed for slaughter for the barrows fed gilt diets. In Exp. 2, barrows and gilts were given 0.58 m2/pig or 0.74 m2/pig (18 vs. 14 pigs per pen) from weaning (mean age 17 d) to slaughter on d 168 postweaning. There were no interactions between space allocation and gender. Daily gain and feed intake were decreased by 2.8% (P = 0.037) and 2.9% (P = 0.084), respectively, with no effect on feed conversion or standardized fat-free lean daily gain for the 0.58 vs. the 0.74 m2/pig treatment, whereas total live weight gain per pen was increased 20.8% (P < 0.001). Results of Exp. 1 suggest that space allocation can be used to achieve similar growth rates between barrows and gilts, and results of Exp. 2 suggest that the response to space allocation is similar for barrows and gilts. The difference in magnitude of response to space allocation between experiments may be due in part to when the social group was formed, with a smaller difference in performance in Exp. 2 associated with a stable social group from weaning to slaughter.     

Effect of age at slaughter on carcass traits and meat quality of Italian heavy pigs

Barrows and gilts (n = 128) from four breed crosses were used to investigate the effect of age at slaughter on carcass traits, proteolytic enzyme activity, and meat and fat quality. Pigs were blocked by breed cross into four blocks, and within blocks, one pen (eight barrows and eight gilts) was assigned randomly to be slaughtered at either 8 or 10 mo of age. Pigs were fed a corn-barley-soybean meal finisher diet from 104 +/- 2.5 d of age (37.7 +/- 0.33 kg BW) to the appropriate slaughter age. Carcasses from older (10 mo) pigs had lower (P < 0.01) muscularity indexes and lean cut yields than those of younger (8 mo) pigs, but dressing percentage and longissimus muscle area increased (P < 0.01) with age. Older pigs produced a redder (P < 0.01) and darker (P < 0.05) semimembranosus, with lower (P < 0.01) ultimate pH and cathepsin B and B + L activities, as well as higher (P < 0.01) aminopeptidase hydrolyzing activity than younger pigs. Moreover, the longissimus muscle of pigs slaughtered at 10 mo of age had lower (P < 0.01) drip and cooking loss percentages than that from pigs slaughtered at 8 mo of age. Ham subcutaneous fat from 10-mo-old pigs had greater (P < 0.05) percentages of oleic acid and lower (P < 0.01) proportions of moisture, linoleic, and linolenic acids than subcutaneous fat from pigs slaughtered at 8 mo of age. Results from this study indicate that fresh hams from pigs slaughtered at 10 mo of age would be more suitable for the production of high-quality, Italian, dry-cured hams.     

The effects of gender and slaughter weight on the growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality characteristics of heavy pigs

Crossbred pigs (n = 192) from Piétrain x Large White sires mated to Landrace x Large White dams, with a mean BW of 75 +/- 1.3 kg, were used to investigate the effects of gender and slaughter weight (SW) on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. Pens of pigs (eight pigs/pen) were assigned randomly to one of six treatments arranged in a 2 x 3 factorial design with two genders (barrows or gilts) and three SW (116, 124, or 133 kg). Each treatment was replicated four times. Over the entire trial, barrows had higher (P < 0.001) ADFI (as-fed basis) and ADG than gilts; however, gilts had higher (P < 0.05) gain-to-feed ratios (G:F) than barrows. Barrows had lower (P < 0.01) dressing percents than gilts and produced fatter (P < 0.001) carcasses that had lower trimmed shoulder (P < 0.10) and ham (P < 0.001) yields than gilts. There was a trend for the semimembranosus muscle (SM) from barrows to have a higher (P < 0.10) 45-min pH than that of gilts, but 24-h pH was 0.11 pH unit higher (P < 0.01) in the SM of barrows than gilts. Gender had no (P > 0.10) effect on the moisture and lipid content of the longissimus muscle (LM), nor did gender affect (P > 0.10) LM color, myoglobin content, or thaw loss percentage. However, the LM from barrows had lower (P < 0.05) cooking loss percentages and tended to have lower (P < 0.10) shear force values than the LM from gilts. Pigs slaughtered at 116 kg had higher (P < 0.05) ADG than pigs slaughtered at 124 and 133 kg. Daily feed intake (as-fed basis) was not (P > 0.10) different among SW; however, pigs slaughtered at 116 and 124 kg had higher (P < 0.001) G:F than those slaughtered at 133 kg. Dressing percent, backfat depth, carcass length, and ham and shoulder weights increased (P < 0.001) as SW increased from 116 to 133 kg. The initial (45-min) pH of the SM from pigs slaughtered at 133 kg was higher (P < 0.05) than from pigs slaughtered at 116 or 124 kg; however, 24-h pH was not (P > 0.10) affected by SW. The LM from pigs slaughtered at 133 kg was darker (lower L* values; P < 0.001), redder (higher a* value; P < 0.01), and had more (P < 0.001) myoglobin than the LM of pigs slaughtered at 116 and 124 kg. Barrows and gilts of this particular crossbreed can be used to produce acceptable quality fresh pork when slaughtered at 116 kg; however, increasing SW to 124 kg, or more, decreased live pig performance and carcass leanness without any additional benefits to pork quality attributes.     

Impact of betaine on pig finishing performance and carcass composition

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of betaine supplementation of finishing diets on growth performance and carcass characteristics of swine. Experiment 1 included 288 pigs in a 2 x 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments consisting of barrows and gilts of two genetic populations fed diets with 1.25 g/kg supplemental betaine from either 83 or 104 kg to 116 kg and control pigs fed betaine-devoid diets. Pigs were housed three pigs per pen with eight replicate pens per treatment. Diets were corn-soybean meal-based with 300 ppm added choline. Genetic populations differed (P < 0.05) in fat depth (2.24 vs 2.93 cm) and longissimus muscle depth (53.8 vs 49.1 mm) at 116 kg. Betaine reduced feed intake (P < 0.05); however, real-time ultrasound measurements were not affected. In Exp. 2, 400 pigs were used in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to evaluate the effect of sex (barrow or gilts), betaine (0 or 1 g/kg of diet), and crude protein (CP) (0.70% lysine = 12.7% CP or 0.85% lysine = 15.0% CP) when fed from 60 to 110 kg live weight. Pigs had been assigned to either a high- or low-protein feeding regimen at an average initial weight of 11.3 kg and were maintained on their respective protein levels throughout the experiment. For a 56-d period from 61.7 kg to 113.6 kg, pigs were fed diets with 300 ppm added choline. Within each protein level, pigs were randomly assigned to diets containing 0 or 1 g/kg betaine. Pigs were group-housed (four to five pigs per pen). Pig weight and feed intake were recorded every 28 d. Real-time ultrasound measurements were recorded initially and at d 28 on 64 pigs, and on all pigs prior to slaughter. Growth rate was fastest and feed intake greatest for barrows (P < 0.05) and for pigs receiving 12.7% crude protein. A crude protein x betaine interaction (P < 0.05) was observed from d 28 to 56 with pigs fed the 15% CP diet growing fastest when supplemented with 1 g/kg betaine, and pigs receiving the 12.7% CP diet growing fastest when the diets contained 0 g/kg betaine. Gilts more efficiently (P < 0.05) converted feed into body weight gain, as did pigs receiving the 12.7% CP diet (P < 0.05). Longissimus muscle area and fat measurements were unaffected by betaine or dietary protein on d 28. However, by d 56 betaine reduced average fat depth in barrows (P < 0.05; 3.21 vs 3.40 cm), but not in gilts. Betaine may be more effective at altering body composition in barrows than in gilts.     

Prediction of carcass characteristics by real-time ultrasound in barrows and gilts slaughtered at three weights.

The carcass characteristics of 27 market barrows and 27 market gilts were evaluated at various times (n = 8) with real-time ultrasound (Aloka 210 DX) from approximately 20 kg until slaughter at three end points. The pigs were randomly assigned to slaughter weight groups of 91, 104.5, and 118 kg at weaning time. Correlations were determined over slaughter weight group and sex, and the accuracies of ultrasound measurements were also evaluated. The regressions of ultrasound 10th-rib fat and ultrasound longissimus muscle area on live weight were also developed. Correlations between actual and ultrasound-measured last-rib fat, 10th-rib fat, and longissimus muscle area were high (r = .91, .63, and .53, respectively; P less than .01). The accuracy of ultrasound longissimus muscle area prediction was lower for 118-kg pigs than for the two lighter groups, whereas the accuracy for prediction of last-rib fat was lower for 91-kg pigs than for the two heavier groups, as indicated by higher absolute differences (P less than .05). Last-rib fat and longissimus muscle area tended to be overestimated and 10th-rib fat tended to be underestimated by real-time ultrasound. Prediction of last-rib fat by ultrasound was more accurate for gilts than for barrows, as indicated by a lower absolute difference (P less than .05).     

Tissue weights and body composition of two genetic lines of barrows and gilts from twenty to one hundred twenty-five kilograms of body weight

Barrows and gilts of 2 genetic lines with differing lean gain potentials (high-lean = 375 g of fat-free lean/d; low-lean = 280 g of fat-free lean/d) were used to determine tissue and organ weights and compositions from 20 to 125 kg of BW. The experiment was a 2 (genetic line) x 2 (sex) x 5 (BW) factorial arrangement of treatments in a completely randomized design conducted with 2 groups of pigs in 6 replicates (n = 120 pigs). Six pigs from each sex and genetic line were slaughtered at 20 kg of BW and at 25 kg of BW intervals to 125 kg of BW. At slaughter, the internal tissues and organs were weighed. Loin and ham muscles were dissected from the carcass and trimmed of skin and external fat, and the ham was deboned. Residuals from the loin and ham were combined with the remaining carcass. Body components were ground, and their compositions were determined. The results demonstrated that tissue weights increased (P < 0.01) as BW increased. Loin and ham muscle weights increased but at a greater rate in the high-lean line and in gilts resulting in genetic line x BW and sex x BW interactions (P < 0.01). Liver and heart expressed on a BW or a percentage of empty BW basis increased at a greater rate in the high-lean line resulting in a genetic line x BW interaction (P < 0.01). Liver and intestinal tract weights were heavier in barrows than in gilts, significant only at 45 (P < 0.05), 75 (P < 0.01), and 100 (P < 0.05) kg of BW. Loin and ham muscles from the high-lean genetic line and gilts had greater (P < 0.01) water, protein, and ash contents compared with the low-lean genetic line and barrows resulting in genetic line x BW and sex x BW interactions (P < 0.01). The remaining carcass (minus loin and ham muscles) had greater (P < 0.01) amounts of water and protein, and less (P < 0.01) fat in the high-lean genetic line and gilts. The high-lean genetic line and gilts had more total body water, protein, and ash, but less body fat, with these differences diverging as BW increased, resulting in a genetic line x BW interaction (P < 0.01). The results indicated that liver and heart weights were greater in high-lean pigs, reflecting the greater amino acid metabolism, whereas the liver and intestinal tract weights were greater in barrow than gilts, reflecting their greater feed intakes and metabolism of total nutrients consumed.     

Effects of Duroc, Meishan, Fengjing, and Minzhu boars on carcass traits of first-cross barrows.

Duroc, Meishan, Fengjing, and Minzhu boars were mated to crossbred gilts during two breeding seasons. From each sire breed group each season, six pens of approximately eight barrows each were slaughtered. A pen of pigs from each sire breed group was slaughtered at 7-d intervals from 168 to 203 d of age each season. Breed of sire effects were significant for all age-adjusted carcass traits except carcass length, fat thickness at the last rib, color score, and firmness score. At 184 d of age, Duroc crosses had the heaviest (P less than .05) slaughter and carcass weights; Minzhu crosses were lighter (P less than .05) than Meishan crosses but not lighter than Fengjing crosses. Differences among age-constant traits reflect differences in BW. After adjustment to a constant carcass weight of 78 kg, the three Chinese breeds had very similar carcass characteristics. Carcasses sired by Durocs had significantly less backfat and larger longissimus muscle area than carcasses sired by the Chinese breeds. Weight of each trimmed wholesale lean cut and their total weight were significantly higher for Duroc crosses than for Chinese crosses. Breed of sire means did not differ significantly for belly weight, but Duroc crosses had less (P less than .05) weight of leaf fat. Relative to Chinese crosses, longissimus muscles from Duroc crosses had more marbling (P less than .05). Sire breed groups did not differ significantly for color or firmness score. Pigs sired by Meishan, Fengjing, and Minzhu produced carcasses with significantly less lean content at a carcass weight of 78 kg than did pigs sired by Duroc.     

Growth performance and carcass characteristics of pigs administered recombinant porcine somatotropin during 30 to 110 kilogram live weight

To determine growth performance during and after injection of recombinant porcine somatotropin (rpSt), crossbred Yorkshire gilts and barrows (n = 54/gender, 27 to 42 kg BW) were blocked by BW and gender (n = 3 blocks/gender). Within each block, three pigs/gender were assigned randomly to each of six pens/block. A diet containing 24.8% CP was fed ad libitum. During the live weight period of 30 to 110 kg, pigs either remained as controls (one pen/block) or were injected (i.m.) daily with rpSt (120 micrograms/kg BW) during either 30 to 60, 30 to 100, 30 to 110, 60 to 100 or 60 to 110 kg BW. Thus, three gilts and three barrows in each of three pens received each treatment. Pigs were slaughtered at either 60 kg BW (1 d after rpSt injection) or 110 kg BW (1 d, 10 d or 70 d after rpSt injection). Relative to controls, pigs injected with rpSt exhibited faster and more efficient growth during the injection period (P less than .05) but slower and less efficient growth during 10 d after cessation of injection (P less than .05). Carcasses of pigs slaughtered 1 d or 10 d after rpSt injection were leaner than controls (P less than .05), but among the pigs treated with rpSt, carcasses of pigs withdrawn from rpSt for 10 d contained more fat (P less than .05) and had a lower percentage of muscle (P less than .05) than carcasses of pigs withdrawn from rpSt for 1 d. Growth and carcass measurements were similar (P greater than .05) between controls and pigs killed 70 d after rpSt injection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of dietary L-carnitine on growth performance and body composition in nursery and growing-finishing pigs.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of dietary L-carnitine on growth performance and carcass composition of nursery and growing-finishing pigs. In Exp. 1,216 weanling pigs (initially 4.9 kg and 19 to 23 d of age) were used in a 35-d growth trial. Pigs were blocked by weight in a randomized complete block design (six pigs per pen and six pens per treatment). Four barrows and four gilts were used to determine initial carcass composition. L-Carnitine replaced ground corn in the control diets to provide 250, 500, 750, 1,000, or 1,250 ppm. On d 35, three barrows and three gilts per treatment (one pig/block) were killed to provide carcass compositions. L-Carnitine had no effect (P > 0.10) on growth, percentages of carcass CP and lipid, or daily protein accretion. However, daily lipid accretion tended to decrease and then return to values similar to those for control pigs (quadratic P < 0.10) with increasing dietary L-carnitine. In Exp. 2, 96 crossbred pigs (initially 34.0 kg BW) were used to investigate the effect of increasing dietary L-carnitine in growing-finishing pigs. Pigs (48 barrows and 48 gilts) were blocked by weight and sex in a randomized complete block design (two pigs/pen and eight pens/treatment). Dietary L-carnitine replaced cornstarch in the control diet to provide 25, 50, 75, 100, and 125 ppm in grower (34 to 56.7 kg; 1.0% lysine) and finisher (56.7 to 103 kg; 0.80% lysine) diets. At 103 kg, one pig/pen was slaughtered, and standard carcass measurements were obtained. Dietary L-carnitine did not influence growth performance (P > 0.10). However, increasing dietary carnitine decreased average and tenth-rib back-fat (quadratic, P < 0.10 and 0.05), and increased percentage lean and daily CP accretion rate (quadratic, P < 0.05). Break point analysis projected the optimal dosage to be between 49 and 64 ppm of L-carnitine for these carcass traits. It is concluded that dietary carnitine fed during the nursery or growing-finishing phase had no effect on growth performance; however, feeding 49 to 64 ppm of L-carnitine during the growing-finishing phase increased CP accretion and decreased tenth-rib backfat.     

Effect of recombinant porcine somatotropin on growth and carcass quality in growing pigs: interactions with genotype, gender and slaughter weight

Effects of recombinant porcine somatotropin (rpST) on growth, lean tissue growth, feed intake, feed conversion, lean tissue feed conversion, backfat thickness and lean percentage were examined in 96 growing pigs. The experiment used barrows and gilts from the genotypes Duroc, F1 (Dutch Yorkshire x Dutch Landrace) and Pietrain. Half the pigs received 14 mg rpST i.m. twice each week starting at 60 kg; others received a placebo. Pigs had ad libitum access to a diet containing 2,162 kcal net energy and 182 g crude protein per kilogram and were slaughtered at either 100 or 140 kg live weight. From 60 to 100 and from 100 to 140 kg, live weight responses to rpST averaged as follows: daily gain, +4.5 and +19.9%; feed intake, -4.4 and +3.5%; feed conversion, -8.4 and -13.9%; backfat thickness, -13.8 and -22.8%; lean percentage, +4.4 and +8.7%; lean tissue growth rate, +8.6 and +35.8%; and lean tissue feed conversion, -13.1 and -24.9%. No gender x rpST interaction was detected. However, a genotype x treatment interaction was significant for backfat thickness at both slaughter weights, showing a higher response to rpST in Duroc than in Pietrain and F1. Growth performance was improved more by rpST in F1 and Pietrain than in Duroc, especially at higher weights, but carcass traits were improved more by rpST in Duroc. The response to rpST in lean tissue growth rate from 60 to 100 kg was highest in fatter animals (Duroc, barrows), whereas from 100 to 140 kg, response in lean tissue growth rate to rpST was highest in leaner animals (Pietrain, F1, gilts).     

Response of barrows to space allocation and ractopamine

An experiment using 264 crossbred barrows was conducted to examine the interaction between space allocation and dietary ractopamine addition on pig performance and carcass characteristics using a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Treatments were 0.55 (19 pigs per pen) or 0.74 (14 pigs per pen) m2/pig from start (29.7 +/- 0.1 kg BW) to slaughter (108 kg BW) in a fully slatted facility and 0 or 10 ppm (as-fed basis) ractopamine for 28 d before slaughter. There were few treatment interactions. Pigs given 0.55 m2/pig had a lower ADG (P = 0.010), ADFI (P = 0.088), 10th-rib backfat depth on d 86 (P = 0.010), and carcass loin muscle depth (P = 0.011) than pigs given 0.74 m2/pig. There was no difference in feed conversion (P = 0.210) as a result of space allocation. Pigs fed diets containing 10 ppm ractopamine had decreased (P = 0.004) ADFI and improved (P = 0.001) feed conversion efficiencies for the 28-d feeding period, along with greater loin depth (P = 0.005) and carcass lean percent (P = 0.001). The improvements in 28-d carcass lean growth associated with feeding 10 ppm ractopamine resulted in an improvement in overall daily fat-free lean gain (P = 0.046). Under these experimental conditions, the response to dietary ractopamine was similar for crowded and uncrowded pigs.     

Effect of mixed rearing of barrows and gilts on backfat thickness and serum metabolite profiles of the Kagoshima-Kurobuta (Berkshire) pig

We investigated the effect of mixed rearing of barrows and gilts on the backfat thickness and the serum metabolite profiles of Kagoshima-Kurobuta (Berkshire) pigs. A total of 149 pigs with an average body weight of 35 kg were divided into the following groups: 100%, 90%, 70%, 50%, 30%, 10%, and 0% groups consisting of 10 barrows (1 pen), 9 barrows + 1 gilt (3 pens), 7 barrows + 3 gilts (2 pens), 5 barrows + 5 gilts (3 pens), 3 barrows + 7 gilts (2 pens), 1 barrow + 9 gilts (3 pens), and 9 gilts (1 pen), respectively. All pigs were raised to a shipping weight of 120 kg. Mixed rearing significantly reduced (p < 0.001) backfat thickness, and the optimum mixing ratio of barrows and gilts was 7:3 (the 70% group). Four types of circulating sex steroids were found in both the barrows and gilts in the 50% group but were not detected in barrows from the 100% group. These results indicated that mixed rearing of barrows and gilts was effective for reducing the backfat thickness of barrows, and induced sex steroid hormones may influence the backfat thickness of barrows in mixed-reared groups.     

Effect of wean-to-finish management on pig performance

In each of three trials, 240 crossbred barrows weaned at 17 d of age (5.1 kg BW) were assigned to one of three experimental treatments based on light and heavy weight outcome groups. Experimental treatments were 1) wean-to-finish at 0.69 m2/pig and 15 pigs/pen; 2) wean-to-finish double-stocked at 0.35 m2/pig, 30 pigs per pen for 8 wk and then randomly split into two pens (either stayed in same pen or moved to new pen) for growth to slaughter at 0.69 m2/pig; and 3) nursery facility for 8 wk at 0.35 m2/pig and 15 pigs/pen followed by move to the same grow-finish facility housing wean-to-finish and double-stocked pigs and maintaining pen integrity. Beginning at 38 kg BW, diets were supplemented with either bacitracin methylenedisalicylate at 33 mg/kg to slaughter or tylosin at 44 mg/kg to 59 kg BW and 22 mg/kg thereafter. There were no trial x treatment interactions, even though there was considerable variation in health status among trials. At the end of the 56-d nursery period, wean-to-finish pigs weighed more than nursery (28.7 vs 27.7 kg; P = 0.071) and double-stocked pigs (28.7 vs 26.9 kg; P = 0.002), due to greater ADG (wean-to-finish vs nursery; P = 0.062; wean-to-finish vs double-stocked; P = 0.002) and greater ADFI (wean-to-finish vs nursery; P = 0.024; wean-to-finish vs double-stocked, P = 0.002). There was no effect of treatments (P > 0.1) on ADG, feed conversion, carcass lean percentage, or lean gain during the growing-finishing period. There was also no effect of treatment (P > 0.1) on ADG or ADFI from weaning to slaughter. There was no difference (P > 0.1) between bacitracin methylenedisalicylate and tylosin for ADG, feed conversion, carcass lean percentage, or daily lean gain. These data suggest that housing 5-kg weaned pigs in fully slatted growing-finishing facilities from weaning to slaughter was not detrimental to overall performance. In this experiment, dietary additions of bacitracin methylenedisalicylate or tylosin from 38 kg BW to slaughter weight resulted in similar growth performance.     

Influence of sex and castration of females on growth performance and carcass and meat quality of heavy pigs destined for the dry-cured industry

Crossbred pigs (n = 240) from Pietrain x Large White sires mated to Landrace x Large White dams, with an average age of 100 d (60.5 +/- 2.3 kg of BW), were used to investigate the effects of sex and slaughter weight (SW) on growth performance and on carcass and meat quality characteristics. There were 6 treatments arranged factorially, with 3 classes (intact females, IF; castrated females, CF; and castrated males, CM) and 2 slaughter weights (114 and 122 kg of BW). Each of the 6 combinations of treatments was replicated 4 times, and the experimental unit was a pen with 10 pigs. Castrated males and CF ate more feed, grew faster, and had more carcass backfat depth and fat thickness at the gluteus medius muscle but lower loin yield than IF (P < 0.05). In addition, CF and CM had more intramuscular fat (P < 0.05) and less linoleic acid content in the subcutaneous fat (P < 0.01) than IF. Pigs slaughtered at 122 kg of BW had lower ADG (P < 0.05), decreased G:F (P < 0.05), and more gluteus medius fat than pigs slaughtered at 114 kg of BW (P < 0.05). It was concluded that CF and CM had similar productive performance and meat quality characteristics when slaughtered at the same age, and that castration of females improved ADG and increased weight and fat content of primal cuts with respect to IF. Therefore, castration of females is recommended in pigs destined for the dry-cured industry because of the beneficial effects on quality of the primal cuts.     

The effect of excess protein on growth performance and protein metabolism of finishing barrows and gilts

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of excess protein on growth performance, carcass characteristics, organ weights, plasma urea concentration, and liver arginase activity of finishing barrows and gilts. In Exp. 1, 35 barrows and 35 gilts with an initial BW of 51 kg were used. Five pigs of each sex were slaughtered at the start of the study to determine initial body composition. The remaining 60 pigs were allotted to a randomized complete block (RCB) experiment with a 2x5 factorial arrangement of treatments (two sexes x five protein levels: 13, 16, 19, 22, and 25% CP). The experiment continued until the average BW was 115 kg, at which time three blocks of pigs (30 total) were selected randomly and slaughtered. Feed intake decreased with increasing protein concentration (linear, P<.05), and the reduction was greater in gilts than in barrows (P<.05). There was a trend toward a linear negative effect of dietary protein on ADG (P<.10) and also a quadratic effect of protein on protein accretion (P<.10). Fat accretion decreased linearly as protein level increased (P<.05). Increased protein concentrations increased liver, kidney, and pancreas weights (linear, P<.05). Plasma urea concentration increased with each protein concentration, with the exception of the 25 vs. 22% CP treatment in gilts. In Exp. 2, 18 barrows and 18 gilts (BW 63 kg) were allotted to an RCB design consisting of a 2x2 factorial arrangement of treatments with two sexes and two dietary protein concentrations (16 and 25% CP). The experiment was terminated when the average BW of pigs reached 105 kg. Average daily feed intake was greater (P<.10) in barrows than in gilts. Average daily gain was reduced by 18% in gilts when dietary protein was increased from 16 to 25% but was only reduced 3% in barrows (sex x protein, P<.10). Barrows had lighter livers (P<.005), greater arginase activities (P<.05), and greater plasma urea concentrations (P<.005) than did gilts. Increasing dietary protein concentration from 16 to 25% increased liver weight, arginase activity, and plasma urea concentration (P<.005). These data suggest that gilts are more sensitive than barrows to excessive intakes of protein. The more negative effects in gilts may be related to liver metabolic capacity and activity of urea cycle enzymes.     

The influence of dietary lysine restriction during the finishing period on growth performance and carcass, meat, and fat characteristics of barrows and gilts intended for dry-cured ham production

A total of 120 pigs [Duroc × (Landrace × Large White); initial average BW: 100.3 ± 2.5 kg] were used to investigate the effects of sex (barrows and gilts) and dietary total Lys restriction (7.0, 6.5, and 6.0 g·kg(-1)) on growth performance and carcass, meat, and fat characteristics. Pigs were intended for high-quality dry-cured ham from Spain (called Teruel ham), and a minimum fat thickness at the gluteus medius muscle (GM) is required (16 mm) for carcasses to be acceptable. Animals were slaughtered when they reached 129.0 ± 3.6 kg of BW. There were 6 treatments arranged factorially (2 sexes × 3 dietary Lys concentrations) and 4 replicates of 5 pigs per treatment. Barrows consumed more feed (P = 0.001) and tended to have less G:F (P = 0.06) than gilts. Carcasses from barrows were fatter (P = 0.001) and had heavier main trimmed lean cuts (P = 0.008) than gilts. A greater proportion of final acceptable carcasses for Teruel ham (P = 0.001) was observed in barrows than in gilts because of the greater percentage of carcasses that fulfill the minimum fat depth at GM required (P = 0.001). Meat from barrows had greater content of intramuscular fat (P = 0.02) than meat from gilts. Also, subcutaneous fat from barrows had less proportion of PUFA than fat from gilts (P = 0.02). A reduction in dietary Lys concentration decreased ADG (P = 0.004) and ADFI (P = 0.001) in pigs. In addition, backfat depth (P = 0.007) and fat at GM (P = 0.07) increased as dietary Lys decreased. The proportion of carcasses that fulfilled the minimum fat depth at GM required for Teruel ham increased as dietary Lys decreased in feed, but this effect was greater in gilts than in barrows (sex × Lys, P = 0.02). Meat and fat quality was not influenced by dietary treatment. We conclude that different feeding programs with different dietary Lys concentrations may be needed for barrows and gilts intended for production of dry-cured hams where a minimum carcass fat depth is required.     

Phenotypic measurements and various indices of lean and fat tissue development in barrows and gilts of two genetic lines from twenty to one hundred twenty-five kilograms of body weight

Two genetic lines with different lean gains were evaluated for various body measurements and indices of lean tissue in barrows and gilts from 20 to 125 kg of BW. One genetic line was identified as the low-lean line [280 g of fat-free lean (FFL)/d], and the second line was the high-lean line (375 FFL gained/d). The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design using a 2 x 2 x 5 factorial arrangement of treatments in 6 replicates (n = 120 pigs). The 2 genetic lines and sexes were provided ad libitum access to cornsoybean mixtures that met or exceeded their required amino acid requirements for their respective lean gain potentials. Six pigs of each sex and genetic line were slaughtered initially and at 25-kg of BW intervals to 125 kg of BW. Pigs slaughtered were measured for height, width, and length using metal calipers. Backfat and LM area were measured using real-time ultrasound, with backfat depth also measured using A-mode ultrasound technology. Longissimus muscle area and back-fat thickness at the 10th rib were measured on the chilled carcass. Data was analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS, with the animal as the experimental unit. Shoulders (P < 0.05) and lumbars (P < 0.05) were wider in the low-lean genetic line and in barrows. Gilts and the high-lean genetic line had less backfat and greater LM areas than the low-lean genetic line. As BW increased, there was a greater increase in FFL tissue and lower backfat depths in the high-lean vs. the low-lean genetic line. This resulted in a greater divergence of measurement values as BW increased. Femur weight, length, and cortical wall thickness were greater in the high-lean genetic line, but the differences were not significant. The high-lean genetic line had a greater (P < 0.01) organic matrix content in the femur and less ash, resulting in a lower percentage of bone ash (P < 0.01). The results indicate that differences occurred phenotypically between pigs having more muscle (wider hams) or more fat (wider shoulder and lumbar). As BW increased, the high-lean pigs had an increase in lean tissue, particularly after 75 kg of BW, and less backfat and less bone mineralization, whereas the low-lean line pigs had increased backfat and greater bone mineralization. Real-time ultrasound measurements using various formulas to estimate lean tissue produced values close to those determined from carcass measurements at 100 and 125 kg of BW.     

Effect of feather meal on barrow performance

One hundred ninety-six crossbred barrows of high lean gain potential (21.2 kg BW) were used in an experiment to determine the effect of dietary feather meal (FM) on barrow performance, specifically, the effects of the ingredient on ADG and carcass leanness. Additionally, 28 gilts (26.8 kg BW) were used to compare gender differences on the corn-soybean meal control diets. Treatments were control barrows and control gilts fed corn-soybean meal diets, and barrows fed according to a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of FM levels (10 or 20%, as-fed basis) and starting weights on the diets (36, 60, or 86 kg BW). All barrow diets were formulated to contain the same apparent digestible lysine and ME. Control barrows ate more feed (2.61 vs. 2.39 kg/d; as-fed), grew faster (0.911 vs. 0.827 kg/d), had greater backfat depth at slaughter (15.6 vs. 11.6 mm), and had lower carcass lean content (P < 0.001), with no difference in daily lean gain (P = 0.848) compared with gilts. There was a linear (P = 0.010) decrease in ADG for barrows fed increasing amounts of FM from 36 kg BW to slaughter, with no effect of FM additions on ADG when initiated at 60 or 86 kg BW. There was a quadratic reduction (P = 0.008) in ADFI and estimated digestible lysine intake with increasing FM for the 36 to 60 kg BW period for barrows fed FM starting at 36 kg BW. There was a linear (P = 0.006) decrease in ADFI for the 60 to 86 kg BW period with increasing FM for barrows started on FM at 60 kg BW. There was no effect of experimental diets or starting weight on barrow 10th-rib backfat depth at slaughter. These results suggest that diets containing 10 and 20% FM were effective in decreasing overall ADG and ADFI by barrows when feeding of FM was initiated at 36 kg BW; however, backfat at slaughter was still greater than for control gilts.     

Growth of protein, moisture, lipid, and ash of two genetic lines of barrows and gilts from twenty to one hundred twenty-five kilograms of body weight

Two genetic lines of barrows and gilts with different lean growth rates were used to determine the BW and chemical composition growth from 23 to 125 kg of BW. The experiment was a 2 x 2 x 5 factorial arrangement of treatments in a completely randomized design conducted in 2 replicates. Six pigs from each sex and genetic line were killed at approximately 25-kg intervals from 23 kg to 125 kg of BW. At slaughter, tissues were collected and weighed. All components were ground and frozen until analyzed for water, protein, lipid, and ash. Serial BW data were fitted to alternative functions of day of age. Based on Akaike's information criteria values, the random effects model, BW(i, t) = (1 + c(i))(b(0) + b(1)t + b(2)t(2)), was the best mixed model equation. The chemical component mass data were fitted to alternative functions of BW. The allometric function, chemical component mass = aBW(b), provided the best fit to the data. Daily deposition rates of each chemical component were predicted by using the derivatives of the 2 functions. The overall ADG of the 2 genetic lines were not different. Barrows had 0.052 kg/d greater (P = 0.03) ADG than gilts. Allometric growth coefficients for all 4 chemical components were different (P < 0.01) for each genetic line. Allometric coefficients and predicted relative growth (g/kg of BW gain) for protein and moisture mass were greater (P < 0.01) for the high lean-gain pigs than the low lean-gain pigs. Allometric coefficients for lipid mass were smaller (P = 0.001) for the high lean-gain pigs than the low lean-gain pigs overall. Allometric coefficients and predicted relative growth rates for lipid mass were greater (P < 0.01) and for moisture and protein mass were lesser (P < 0.002) than the gilts. Compared with low lean-gain pigs, high lean-gain pigs had (1) 32.8% lesser predicted daily rates of lipid deposition (200 vs. 305 +/- 80 g/d), with the difference increasing from 23 to 37% from 25 to 125 kg of BW; (2) 12.3% greater daily rates of protein deposition (118.7 vs. 106.0 +/- 3.3 g/d); and (3) 18.8% greater predicted daily moisture accretion rates (423 vs. 356 +/- 9 g/d). Overall, barrows had 21.3% greater lipid deposition (279 vs. 230 +/- 78.2 g/d) than gilts. In this study, barrows and gilts had similar predicted daily moisture, protein, and ash accretion rates.     

Compensatory growth improves meat tenderness in gilts but not in barrows

Compensatory growth is a phenomenon observed in pigs given free access to feed following a period of restricted feeding that results in increased growth rates. Compensatory growth is believed to increase protein turnover and thereby the proteolytic potential at the time of slaughter, leading to faster tenderization rates of meat. Nine litters of three gilts and three barrows were allocated within litter and gender to three dietary treatment groups. Pigs had ad libitum access to feed from d 28 to slaughter at d 140 (ALA) or were restricted to 69% ad libitum from d 28 to d 80 or 90, and then given ad libitum access to the diet until slaughter at d 140 (RA80 and RA90, respectively). Pigs in the RA80 and RA90 treatment groups had a 9.7% higher (P < or = 0.001) fractional growth rate in the second feeding period than those in the ALA group. Growth rate was correlated to the activity of m-calpain (r = 0.37; P < or = 0.01), beta-glucuronidase (r = 0.48; P < or = 0.001), and cathepsins B (r = 0.47; P < or = 0.001) and B+L (r = 0.31; P < or = 0.04). The LM of RA80-gilts received higher tenderness scores than the LM of ALA gilts, but tenderness scores were similar among barrows regardless of treatment (gender x treatment; P = 0.02). Conversely, tenderness scores were higher for the biceps femoris of ALA barrows than either ALA gilts or RA90 barrows (gender x treatment; P = 0.02). Desmin and troponin-T degradation, as well as myofibrillar fragmentation index, of the LM were not (P > or = 0.24) affected by treatment. No dietary treatment effects were observed on the activities of mu-calpain (P = 0.15), m-calpain (P = 0.74), or calpastatin (P = 0.91) at slaughter. The cathepsin inhibitors, cystatins, tended to be increased (P = 0.06) in RA80 and RA90 pigs. Sarcomere length was longer (P = 0.003) in the LM of gilts than barrows. Barrows in the RA80 group had lower i.m. fat concentrations than ALA; however, no differences were found in the LM of gilts (gender x treatment; P = 0.03). The underlying hypothesis that compensatory growth leads to an increased proteolytic potential at the time of slaughter could not be verified in this study.