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Effects of index selection at bacon weight on early growth rate and body composition in Large White pigs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

Ruth Henderson ,
C. T. Whittemore ,
M. Ellis ,
W. C. Smith  and
R. Laird
Ruth Henderson
Affiliation:
Edinburgh School of Agriculture, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
C. T. Whittemore
Affiliation:
Edinburgh School of Agriculture, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
M. Ellis
Affiliation:
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU
W. C. Smith
Affiliation:
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU
R. Laird
Affiliation:
West of Scotland Agricultural College, Auchincruive, Ayr KA6 5HW
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Abstract

Consistent age differences at around 27 kg live weight have been found between control (C) and selection (S) line boars of the Large White breed in a coordinated breed improvement programme (89·8 v. 94·6 days, P<001). After 10 generations of index selection on feeding ad libitum, a sample of 20 boars from the programme, 10 C and 10 S, were slaughtered at 27·6 (s.e. 0·48) kg live weight for a more comprehensive examination of this finding. Physical dissection of the carcass and whole body chemical analysis were carried out. Differences between C and S boars were apparent even at this light weight: S boars were older than C (92·7 v. 83·5 days, P<0·01), contained less dissected fat (2·93 v. 3·58kg, P<005) and chemical lipid (315 v. 3·59kg, P<0·05), and had a higher lean proportion (0·477 v. 0·458, P<0·01). There was no significant difference between lines in weight of dissected lean or whole body protein. Index selection has clearly affected early growth and body composition, which questions current assumptions underlying pig testing methods.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 35 , Issue 1 , August 1982 , pp. 81 - 85
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1982

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References

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