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Influence of a low energy diet within Berkshire genetics on associated effects of growth, composition, and quality
- Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Two experiments, using 140 purebred Berkshires and 60 Berkshire influenced pigs, were conducted to evaluate the influence of dietary energy on growth performance and resulting carcass characteristics of Berkshire and Berkshire influenced pigs. Pigs were blocked by litter and randomly allotted to four pens upon entering the growing-finishing barn to one of four treatments; 6 month low energy (6LE), 6 month standard energy (6ST), 7 month low energy (7LE), and 7 month standard energy (7ST). The 6ST and 7LE treatments were designed to achieve a live weight of approximately 113 kg at time of harvest. Individual pig weights and pen feed disappearance were measured weekly to calculate ADG, ADFI, and G:F. Monthly, carcass composition was assessed using ultrasonic measurement for 10th rib backfat and loin muscle area (LMA). Final ultrasonic measurements for backfat and LMA prior to harvest were utilized for carcass composition characteristics. A three rib section of the longissimus muscle, composed of the 10th, 11th, and 12th, rib and a six square inch belly sample were collected from the right side of each carcass. Each loin section was evaluated for final pH, subjective and objective color, marbling scores, and IMF. A subcutaneous fat sample from each loin and belly were also used to determine SFA, MUFA, and PUFA as indication of fat quality using near-infrared spectroscopy. As expected pigs receiving the low energy diet (6LE and 7LE) had lower (P < 0.05) averaged daily gains than those receiving the standard energy diets (0.61 vs. 0.81, respectively). Across both experiments 6LE pigs had lower (P < 0.05) final weights and produced carcasses with less backfat and loin muscle area (LMA) and 7ST pigs had significantly greater final weights and produced carcasses with greater backfat and LMA. In general, there were minimal differences in quality attributes for the Berkshire and Berkshire influenced pigs in both experiments with the exception of 7ST pigs having greater (P < 0.05) marbling scores supported by numerically higher IMF, and Berkshire 6LE pigs having a greater (P < 0.05) shear force. For both loin and belly fat the 6LE pigs had the lowest concentration of MUFA and the 7ST pigs had the greatest concentration of MUFA with 6ST and 7LE treatments being intermediate to 6LE and 7ST but not significantly different from each other. Although low energy diets did not result in detrimental effects on carcass composition and muscle quality, their negative impacts on growth performance and consequently cost of production do not make them an effective alternative in producing Berkshire or Berkshire influenced pigs for high quality markets.
- Subjects :
- Animal Sciences
Berkshire
low energy
growth
quality
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- Database :
- OpenDissertations
- Publication Type :
- Dissertation/ Thesis
- Accession number :
- ddu.oai.etd.ohiolink.edu.osu1295305812