0
Reducing the production costs in pig production is a serious concern for the whole swine industry, including processing sector. The incorporation of by-products (BP) in the feed and the use of a feeding strategy based on compensatory growth (CG), which consists in a feed restriction followed by a grow up, are known to reduce the production cost. The objective of this study was to measure the impact of CG on carcass characteristics and meat quality of pigs fed diets containing between 30 and 40% of BP (DDGS, canola meal and wheat shorts). A total of 72 pigs from a fat breeding scheme (FAT; barrows=18, females=18) and a lean breeding scheme (LEAN; barrows=18, females=18) were used. At an initial weight of 25 kg, pigs were randomly assigned to one of the three dietary treatments, until slaughter at 120 kg. The control group received feed containing no BP and was not exposed to CG; the BP group received feeds containing BP, but was not subjected to CG and finally, the animals of the BP+CG group were fed with BP and were subjected to CG. The CG was induced by a 30% restriction of digestible lysine, phosphorus and calcium, from day 14 to day 28. Pigs had ad libitum access to water and feed throughout the trial until slaughter. Quality measures on carcass and meat were done on a sample of the longissimus dorsi muscle 24 h postmortem.
The results showed that the animals of the LEAN breeding scheme had a lean yield 3% higher and a loin eye area 4.5 cm2 higher than the animals of the FAT breeding scheme. However, their meat was less red and showed lower marbling (P<0.05) than the FAT pigs. Carcass weight and backfat thickness were higher in barrows but the lean yield was 2.2% lower compared to females (P< 0.05). It was also observed that the presence of BP led to a decrease in the muscle depth, drip loss and meat marbling (P< 0.05). No significant difference was observed between BP+CG and BP groups, which means that CG had no effect on carcass characteristics and meat quality.
According to those results, a feeding strategy using compensatory growth coupled with the incorporation of by- products in feeds has little effect on quality measurements in fattening pigs.
Bussières, A., Guay, F., and Fortier, M. P. (2014). Effects on carcass quality of a compensatory growth strategy with use of by-products in fattening pigs. Meat Science, 96(1), 125. (Abstract) doi:10.1016/j.meatsci.2013.05.063