Performance and carcass traits of different commercial pig lines

Abstract

The study objective was to evaluate the performance and the quantitative and qualitative carcass traits of three different commercial pig lines. Seventy-two animals were included, 24 animals of each lineage, 36 females and 36 immunocastrated males, with an initial and final average weight of 26 ± 6.5 kg and 139.49 ± 4.05 kg, respectively. These animals were identified and distributed in randomised blocks in a 2 x 3 factorial analysis (two sexes and three lineages) with three replicates per treatment and four animals per experimental unit. The daily gain (kg), feed conversion (kg kg-1), daily feed intake (kg), carcass weight (kg), backfat thickness (mm), loin depth (mm), lean meat percentage (%) lean beef kilograms (kg), marbling, water loss by leaking (%), water loss by defrosting (%), water loss by cooking (%), shear force (kgf cm2 -1) and objective colour were measured. The results were submitted to analysis of variance and means (Tukey's test) of 5%. There was no interaction between factors, and evaluating the factors separately did not yield significant differences between the lineages for any of the evaluated parameters. For the gender factor, a difference was obtained only for loin depth during the growth phase, lean meat percentage and defrosting water loss. Overall, the evaluated commercial lines were similar and gender influenced some performance parameters.