Carcass Characteristics and Primal Pork Cuts of Gilts, Boars, Immunocastrates and Barrows Using AutoFOM III Data of a Commercial Abattoir

Animals

Johannes Jasny¹  Kevin Kress²  Volker Stefanski²  Ulrike Weiler²  Jens Hartung³ 

[1] Department of Agricultural Markets (420b), Institute of Agricultural Policy and Markets, University of Hohenheim, Schwerzstraße 46, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany;Department of Behavioral Physiology of Livestock (460f), Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 17, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany;Department of Biostatistics (340c), Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstraße 23, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany;

关键词: AutoFOM III;    boars;    carcass characteristics;    entire male pigs;    immunocastration;    Improvac;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ani10101912

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The surgical castration of male piglets as a routine procedure in modern pig production is facing increasing societal criticism. Pork production with boars and immunocastrates are available alternatives, but both have low market shares as it is so far uncertain how the carcass characteristics and primal pork cuts of boars and immunocastrates will be estimated in comparison to barrows and gilts. This article therefore evaluates the impact of sex group (gilts, boars, immunocastrates and barrows) on carcass characteristics and primal pork cuts using AutoFOM III data from a commercial abattoir. In our study, weekly slaughter data from a total of n = 36,994 pigs between 2018 and 2019 were analyzed. The results show that gilts had the highest amount of pork per carcass of all sex groups, whereas non-significant differences between boars, immunocastrates and barrows could be observed. Boars had the highest lean meat content, followed by gilts, immunocastrates and finally barrows with the lowest lean meat content. These results suggest that both immunocastration and pork production with boars are sustainable techniques that can replace pork production with barrows without affecting carcass quality.

【 授权许可】

Unknown