Influence of season of birth, sex and paternal line on growth performance and carcass traits in pigs

Abstract

Participants in the pig production industry focus on feed and feed additives to improve growth performance and meat quality of pigs. Consequently, the Rural Development Administration of the Republic of Korea produced a new paternal line to improve economic traits in pigs. However, there is an absence of information on pig traits with regard to season and sex, and a comparison between the new paternal line and past paternal lines. Therefore, the authors conducted this study to investigate the influence of season of birth, sex and paternal line on growth performance and carcass traits in pigs. A total of 2888 piglets ((Landrace × Yorkshire) × Darby Duroc (DD) or Chookjin Duroc (CD)) with an average age of three weeks were tested for 22 weeks during the four season of the year (spring 608 piglets, summer 404 piglets, autumn 576 piglets and winter 1300 piglets). The bodyweights (BW) of individual pig were recorded, and feed consumption was recorded at weeks 2, 12 and 22, to determine growth performance. At reaching market weight, backfat thickness was determined at the last rib area. Meat was graded according to the criteria of the slaughterhouse. There were no significant differences in growth performance and carcass traits between sexes. The CD line crossbred pig had a significant higher BW at 16 weeks, and higher carcass trait values at 22 weeks than the DD line. During weeks 8 to 16 the CD line crossbred pigs showed a tendency of an increased average daily gain (ADG) and gain : feed (G : F) ratio compared with the DD line. Furthermore, pigs born in spring had significant lower ADG, average daily feed intake (ADFI) and carcass trait values than born in the other seasons. In conclusion, the new paternal line (Chookjin Duroc) improved growth performance and carcass traits compare with the DD line.

Analysis of Early Growth of Piglets from Hyperprolific Sows Using Random Regression Coefficient

“…Additionally, the reduction of sex difference on the growth rate is considered in the new paternal line because results by Cisneros et al [ 32 ] showed that the sex difference could vary with the genotype. This is in accordance with studies by Škorjanc et al [ 33 ], Bocian et al [ 34 ], and Lee et al [ 35 ]. However, straightforward comparison between different studies might be affected by different experimental conditions and methodologies applied throughout the experiments.…”

Effects of sire line, birth weight and sex on growth performance and carcass traits of crossbred pigs under standardized environmental conditions

“…The PD max is the point of maximum protein accretion of a pig and up to this plateau, protein growth responds linearly to feed intake (Campbell et al, 1985;Whittemore and Fawcett, 1976). Consequently, pigs with a high feed intake reach this point earlier and tend to accumulate fat tissue as the PD max is exceeded (Lewis and Lee Southern, 2000;Tullis, 1982). This might explain the fatter carcasses of male pigs in the current study.…”