Abstract

GOMEZ-FERNANDEZ, J.; TOMAS, C.; GOMEZ-IZQUIERDO, E.  and  MERCADO, E. de. Immunocastration effect on the weight of carcass and main lean cuts in Iberian females. Arch. zootec. [online]. 2013, vol.62, n.240, pp.611-614. ISSN 1885-4494.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S0004-05922013000400016.

A total of 192 Iberian females (Duroc^*Iberian), with 110 days of age and 45 ± 3.41 kg BW, were used to study the effect of immunocastration in yield of carcass and prime lean cuts. There were three treatments: surgically castrated females (CC), entire females (CE), and inmunocastrated females (CI) the experimental design was a complete randomized blocks with 48 replicates total (4 pigs in each), 12 replicates per block and 16 per treatment. The feed, the same for all animals, was suministered ad libitum. After sacrifice, 31 pigs were selected for each treatment to assess the performance of carcass and main lean cuts. Treatment CI tended to improve slaughter and carcass weights (p<0.10), with the same weight of hams and forelegs that CE (p>0.05) and significantly less in the CC (p<0.05). By contrast, the loins were heavier in CE than in CI and CC (3.05 vs.2.82, 2.71 kg, respectively; p<0.05). Regression equations were established relating the carcass weight with hams, forelegs and loins weights. The best relationships between variables were obtained with linear functions in the case of ham and foreleg (R²>55 %; p<0.05). For loin, linear and non-significantly in CC (p>0.05) and quadratic for CE and CI (p<0.05). The immunocastration favors the growth of Iberian female; the surgical castration is the least interesting option.

Keywords : Foreleg; Ham; Loin; Performance.

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