Growth and carcass characteristics as well as meat and fat quality of three types of pigs under different feeding regimens

To clarify the relationship between growth, carcass characteristics as well as meat and fat quality opposite to genotype and feeding regimen, three crossbred genotypes were performance tested. Moreover this experiment was expected to render information about the economical result of the crossbred genotypes. The sire breeds were chosen according to their differences in meat performance: Pietrain (PI) represented a lean type, the Swiss Large White (LW) stood for an intermediate and Duroc (DU) for a less meaty type. The Swiss Landrace (SL) was used as dam breed. 500 crossbred animals were tested under three different feeding intensities (low = RAT, medium = ALR, according to appetite e.g. ad lib = ADL) from 25 to 103 kg live weight. According to the experimental plan, lean meat content was mainly determined by genotype, whereas feed intake and average daily gains were influenced above all by feeding regimen. When fed to scale, a smaller maintenance requirement for less meaty types could be established. Lower feed consumption in PI x SL crosses was connected with reduced daily gains, less subcutaneous and intramuscular fat, but also with higher lean meat content and a lower feed conversion ratio. Meat quality was mainly determined by genotype, only intramuscular fat content and fat quality traits were influenced by the feeding regimen. Production of first quality pig meat requires a restricted lean meat content and an increased daily intake. Considering fat quality traits, an optimal feed conversion ratio must be established. An increase of average daily gain does not seem to have any negative effect on the meat quality traits investigated. Under conventional payment systems meaty animals of the PI x SL cross had the highest gross margins. It was concluded that a quality paying system including on one hand lean meat content and on the other meat and fat quality traits tends to minimize the differences in the gross margins between different genotypes.