Grass utilization in growing finishing Bísaro pigs (85-107 kg). Performance and carcass composition
2007
Santos e Silva, J., Direcção Regional de Agricultura de Entre Douro e Minho, Torcato (Portugal). Divisão Produção Animal | Enes, M., Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real (Portugal) | Figueiredo, F.O.; Pires da Costa, J.S., Universidade do Porto, Vairão (Portugal). Pólo Ciências Agrárias
The effects of grass utilization in the diets on performance of finishing Bísaro pigs was studied. A total of 22 pigs (16 castrated males and 6 females) was housed outdoors and fed ad libitum on a growing diet and then transferred to an indoor system (with free access to an outdoor area) for 49 days, with 3 treatments: 100 per cent concentrate (C), 75 per cent concentrate plus ad libitum grass (CE75), 50 per cent concentrate plus ad libitum grass (CE50). The grass was supplied and its intake registered on a daily basis. Every 14 days, the pigs were weighted and their backfat measured. After slaughter, yield and half left carcass characteristics were controlled. During the outdoor growing phase, the ADG was 513 g per day. During the indoor finishing phase, the increase was proportional to the reduction of concentrate in the diet. The ADG and the fat deposition were significantly different in the 3 treatments. The empty body weight was also proportional to the intake of concentrate. Comparatively to the weight of the body parts, pigs that had higher intake of grass and lower of concentrate showed a higher per cent of shoulder and the pH 45min of CE carcasses was significantly higher. As a conclusion, concentrate substitution for grass showed a slower growing rate, thinner carcasses and a high technological quality
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