Chemical Composition of the Young Pig Carcass

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Abstract
Two trials were conducted to determine the chemical composition of young pigs. In trial 1 eight pigs were killed at birth and eight pigs at 50 lb. weight. In trial 2 four pigs were killed at birth and at each 6-day interval until pigs were 30 days of age. The skinned and boned carcasses of all pigs in trial 1 and the skinned carcasses, including bone in trial 2, were analyzed for moisture, protein (N × 6.25), ether extract, ash and NFE. The livers were similarly analyzed in trial 2. In trial 1 the skeletal tissue was further analyzed for carbohydrate by using a quantitative carbohydrate technique. Fat increased rapidly in the pig carcass after birth, resulting in a lower percent of moisture, protein and ash. Fat, moisture and ash concentration of the liver remained quite constant, while protein concentration increased and NFE concentration decreased in the liver after birth. The NFE concentration of both skeletal tissue and liver tissue were very high at birth. Skeletal tissue dropped rapidly from 7.3% NFE in wet tissue, but did not reach the level of the normal adult until after 6 days of age. At 12 days NFE was below normal at 0.1% of wet tissue and then returned to 1.5% at 18 days. Liver NFE dropped but remained at a level near 8% of the total wet weight for the entire 30 days. Quantitative carbohydrate determinations of skeletal tissue indicated that the NFE fraction was principally carbohydrate.