Effects of severe food restriction on growth rate, muscle distribution and muscle: bone ratio in pigs

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Abstract
In a previous experiment we investigated the effects of a restricted intake of dietary energy, protein or both on carcass anatomy in pigs (Carden & Goenaga, 1977). Contrary to results of Elsley, McDonald & Fowler (1964) and of Richmond & Berg (1971) we found several changes in muscle distribution, which gave rise to differences in the proportion of the commercially valuable muscles in the carcasses. The treatments had no effect on an important trait, the muscle: bone ratio.