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The Economics of Production and Carcass Characteristics of Hogs Fed Two Energy Levels and Raised to Five Different Slaughter Weights
Thesis Abstract:
Sixty commercial crossbred weanlings (30 barrows and 30 gilts) were used to determine the rate and economy of gain, carcass and lean cut yields and cost of producing and slaughtering low and high energy-fed hogs raised to 50, 70, 90, 110 and 130 kg liveweight. The high and low energy rations contained 3000 and 2400 ME kcal/kg, respectively. Production and caracass data were analyzed with the use of a 2 x 5 factorial in a randomized complete block design with six replications.
Result showed that hight energy-fed hogs required slightly less number of feeding days and had slightly higher daily gain than those fed low energy ration. Low energy fed hogs had significantly higher total feeed consumed and lower feed efficiency and were older at slaughter time than those on the high energy ration.
Significant slaughter weight x energy level interaction were obseved on the feed consumption and age of animals at slaughter time.
High energy-fed hogs and significantly lighter carcass yield and slightly lower carcass chilling shrinking and thiker backfat.
Based on slaughter weight, high energy fed hogs had slightly higher lean cuts, lean trimming, spare ribs and neckbones, pig's feet and trail but lower belly and fat rtimming yields.
Low energy-fed hogs generally incurred higher production cost than high energy-fed pigs. Maximum profits were obtained from low and high energy-fed animals slaughter at 90 and 130 kg , respectively.