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The Rate and Economy Grain and Carcass Characteristics of Barrows and Gilts Slaughtered at Different Weights.
Thesis Abstract:
Thirty barrows and 30 gilts of the Duroc breed were used in this study to determine the production and carcass characteristics of hogs raised to, and slaughtered at, different weights,. The animal were raised to around 50, 70,90,110 and 130 kg liveweights, which were designated as treatments I,II,III,IV and V, respectively.
Result indicated that on the basis of average daily grain, feed conversion rate and gain efficiency, slaughter hogs may be profitably raised up to 100 kg liveweight. Although the pigs raised up to 90 kg were more efficient than the 110 kg hogs, the difference was not significant. After reaching 110 kg liveweight, the animals started to decline in growth rate.
Hogs slaughtered at 50 and 70 kg liveweight had significantly lower carcass yield and and smaller loin eye area than the heavier animals Also, those slaughtered at 50 kg had significantly lower lean cut and fat yield than the heavier pigs. However, the muscle over fat ratio became less favorable as the slaughter weight increased.
The gilts tended to perform slightly better than the barrows. They had higher carcass and lean cut yields, higher percentage of muscle and lower percentage of fat.
Sex, however, did not affect the percentage of bones and quality attributes of the carcass, except for the significantly firmer backfat of the barrows. The significant sex x slaughter weight interaction on percentage of muscle and total fat suggest the desirability of raising gilts up to 110 kg liveweight and barrows to about 70 kg only.