QUANTITATIVE INDICATORS OF PIG CARCASSES OF DANISH AND CANADIAN ORIGIN WITH DIFFERENT PRE-SLAUGHTER LIVE WEIGHTS

Abstract

The article studied the quality of pig carcasses of Danish and Canadian origin, fattened under industrial pig production conditions and slaughtered at pre-slaughter weights of 110 and 130 kg. It was found that animals slaughtered at a live weight of 110 kg had 4.2% higher weight loss during transportation in gilts compared to barrows, and 0.7% higher weight loss in Danish pigs compared to their Canadian counterparts. A significant advantage was found in Danish pigs, with a higher loin weight of 8.8% and 1.0% more meat yield in the carcass, although they experienced a 0.7% increase in weight loss during transportation and fasting. At the same time, Danish gilts significantly outperformed barrows of the same genotype in terms of slaughter yield by 2.4%, loin eye area by 4.3%, and loin weight by 7.3%, but showed 0.6% higher weight loss during transportation. In contrast, Canadian barrows had significantly lower transportation weight losses by 4.8%. When pre-slaughter weight increased to 130 kg, Danish pigs demonstrated significant advantages in bacon half length by 0.8%, loin eye area by 6.8%, loin weight by 4.4%, along with 1.6% higher live weight losses during transportation. When comparing gilts and barrows slaughtered at this live weight of 130 kg, Danish-origin gilts showed significant advantages over barrows in terms of chilled carcass weight by 2.3%, ham weight by 5.3%, and loin weight by 7.6%.