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- Title
Effects of immunological castration (Improvest) on changes in dressing percentage and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs.
- Authors
Boler, D. D.; Puls, L.; Clark, D. L.; Ellis, M.; Schroetter, A. L.; Matzat, P. D.; Killefer, J.; McKeith, F. K.; Dilger, A. C.
- Abstract
The objective was to determine which tissue components contributed to the reduction in carcass yield of immunologically castrated (1?) barrows when compared to physically castrated (PC) barrows. The carcass yield of an 1? barrow is less than the carcass yield of a PC barrow. This has historically been attributed to the presence of testicles, but the testes have only accounted for approximately 0.25% of live weight. This experiment included PC barrows, intact males, 1? barrows, 1? barrows fed ractopamine hydrochloride, and gilts. When the pigs reached 15 wk old, they were weighed, assigned to treatments (intact male or 1? barrow), and penned in groups of 4 pigs per pen. Pigs designated for immunological castration were given injections at approximately 16 wk old and approximately 20 wk old. Pigs were eligible for harvest 33 d after the second injection when the average weight of the pen reached 130 kg. Immunologically castrated barrows lost on average 0.7% units more live weight during transport and lairage than PC barrows, intact males, or gilts. Physically castrated barrows had a 1.43% unit advantage over 1? barrows in carcass yield. The differences in yield can be attributed to differences in testicles, reproductive tract, intestinal mass, gut fill, and some visceral organs. Testicle weight accounted for a 0.28% unit reduction in carcass yield of 1? barrows when compared to PC barrows. Additional reproductive tract weights accounted for differences of 0.10% units. Intestinal mass (empty large intestine, small intestine, and stomach) was 0.2% units heavier in 1? barrows when compared to PC barrows. Livers from 1? barrows were 200 g heavier (P < 0.05) and kidneys were 40 g heavier than the same organs in PC barrows. These 2 organs combined for a 0.15% unit difference in carcass yield between 1? and PC barrows. Gut fill, testicles, reproductive tract, intestinal mass, and the liver and kidney accounted for 0.97 of 1.43% unit differences in carcass yield between 1? and PC barrows. Immunologically castrated barrows had less marbling than PC barrows, but there were no other differences in pork quality parameters. Cutability differences were less than reported in previous experiments, but 1? barrows still had a 1.0% unit advantage in lean cutting yield and a 0.7% unit advantage in carcass cutting yield when compared to PC barrows.
- Subjects
CASTRATION; SWINE carcasses; TISSUE analysis; WEIGHT of swine; RACTOPAMINE; SWINE nutrition; COMPARATIVE studies
- Publication
Journal of Animal Science, 2014, Vol 92, Issue 1, p359
- ISSN
0021-8812
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2527/jas.2013-6863