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Responses of Beijing Black Hogs to Porcine Somatotropin

Monsanto Company, Chesterfield, MO, Beijing Agricultural University, Beijing, PRC and Northern Beijing State Farm, Beijing, PRC

Abstract

Somatotropin treatment of U.S-breed finishing hogs improves feed efficiency, growth rate and carcass lean-to-fat ratio. Because Chinese-bred hogs have poorer feed efficiency, growth rate and lean-to-fat ratio than U.S. bred hogs, the characteristics affected by porcine somatotropin (PST) may respond differently to treatment. In the present experiment, Beijing Black finishing hogs (a composite of a local Chinese, Berkshire and Yorkshire breeds) were treated with PST for 28 d from average initial to final weights of 67.8 to 96.6 kg. In hogs individually fed as much as they would eat four times a day (n = 12/treatment group, six gilts and six barrows), feed efficiency was improved by 22.4 and 29.9% by 2 and 4 mg/d PST, respectively (P < .01), primarily due to increased growth rate (22.1 and 32.6% greater than control, respectively, P < .01); feed intake was not affected. Performance of group-housed and group-fed hogs (six/pen, four pens/treatment) administered 2 mg/d PST for 28 d (average initial and final weights of 66.5 ± 1.7 and 94.0 ± 2.4 kg, respectively) was similar (22.7% improved feed efficiency, P < .01; 25% increased growth rate, P < .01). At slaughter, last rib backfat thickness was decreased an average of 19.2% for hogs treated with 2 and 4 mg/d PST (P < .01). Percentage of total muscle, obtained by physical separation of the half-carcass, was increased an average of 13.5% (P < .01), whereas percentage of total fat was decreased 21.8% (P < .01) in PST-treated hogs. The pH, water-holding capacity and meat color scores of longissimus muscle from PST-treated hogs did not differ from those of control hogs. Growth rate, feed efficiency and muscle weight responses to PST treatment were at least as large as those for U.S. breeds.

¹ Monsanto Company, 700 Chesterfield Village Parkway, Chesterfield, MO 63198.

² Depts. of Anim. Biochem. and Anim. Husb. Beijing Agric. Univ.

³ Northern Beijing State Farm, Beijing, PRC.