Alternative Market Weights for Swine. I. Feedlot Performance

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The current interest of Canadian swine producers in increasing market weight can be attributed to improved swine production from advances in management and genetics, increased fixed costs of production and revision of the hog grading index. Data on 286 market pigs slaughtered between 72.5 and 140 kg indicated linear increases of feedlot days, backfat measurements, carcass weight and dressing percentage as market weight increased. Average daily gain remained constant relative to market weight. Nonlinear effects for these traits, while statistically significant, did not substantially contribute to the multiple correlation coefficient. Furthermore, these nonlinear effects were attributed to puberty of the gilt. As expected, barrows had superior growth rates but inferior fat measurements in comparison to gilts. Dressing percentage was equivalent in both sexes, and gilts excelled in carcass index only at 78 kilograms. In general, these data, support the marketing of animals at 100 to 110 kg to produce 78 to 86-kg carcasses. Copyright © 1980. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1980 by American Society of Animal Science.