DESEMPENHO E QUALIDADE DE CARCAÇA DE SUÍNOS MACHOS CASTRADOS, FÊMEAS E MACHOS IMUNOCASTRADOS DE DIFERENTES POTENCIAIS GENÉTICOS.

Considering the growth of pig immunocastration in Brazil and the lack of information on its effects in the different lineages and commercial crosses, this study aimed to evaluate the performance and quality of pork carcass from 70 to 150 days of different sexual categories and different genetic origins. The breeding males used were PIET (predominantly Pietrain genetics) and DLPH (similar proportion of Hampshire, Duroc, Large White, Pietrain). Twenty animals of each category were used, with initial mean weight of 25.0 kg housed in concrete floor bays. A randomized block design in a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement (three sex categories - females, castrated males and immunocastrated males - and two genetic origins) was used, totaling six treatments and five replications, with two animals per bay (experimental plot). DLPH pigs presented lower (P <0.05) feed intake and feed conversion during the growth phase. Immunocastrated males showed better (P <0.05) performance in the finishing phase. There was no influence (P> 0.05) of the genetic origin on the carcass traits and the carcass yield of females was higher (P <0.05) than that of the immunocastrated males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]