HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Salmela, A. B. Articles by Gates, C. E. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Salmela, A. B. Articles by Gates, C. E.

Reaction of Three Kinds of Single-Cross Pigs to Three Levels of Feed Intake. II. Carcass Characteristics¹

University of Minnesota, St. Paul

Abstract

Heredity and environment interactions were studied in regard to carcass characteristics by subjecting three kinds of crossbred pigs to three feeding treatments in a factorial experiment. The experiment was conducted in two replications with a total of 180 pigs, 10 in each of 18 pens. The crossbred pigs were sired by Minnesota No. 2, Minnesota No. 3 and Minnesota No. 2A boars and out of Minnesota No. 1 dams. The treatments were full-feeding, 85% restricted feeding, and the self-feeding of a feed mixture containing 20% grass and alfalfa meal and 80% concentrates. The traits studied were live weight before slaughter, carcass weight, carcass length, backfat thickness, ham weight, five prima l cuts, loin-eye area, estimated percent of lean, fat, and bone.

Significant breeding x treatment interactions were found in ham weight, loin-eye area and carcass length.

All treatment mean squares were significant except those for loin-eye area, loin weight and ham weight. Breeding group mean squares differed significantly for backfat thickness, loin-eye area, percent lean, percent fat, percent bone, carcass length, and ham weight. The breeding group mean squares also were significant for carcass weight, the five primal cuts, picnics, butts and loins, but were not significant for bellies and live weight before slaughter.

The significant B x T interaction mean squares for ham weight, loin-eye area, and carcass length indicate that the three kinds of crosses responded differentially to the feeding treatments employed in this trial.

¹ Paper No. 4946, Scientific Journal Series of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, St. Paul, with cooperation of AHRD, ARS, The Regional Swine Breeding Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture.

³ The authors gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of the Elliott Packing Company, Duluth, in obtaining the carcass data.