• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.227-230
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• 1991

A comparative study was conducted in total thirty six large while weaner pigs of about 15 kg body weight namely boars, barrows and gilts to evaluate best sex and economic slaughter weight with one standard ration. In 159 days study period feed consumption, growth, feed conversion ratio and carcass quality were judged in all sexes of pigs at 50, 70 and 90 kg body weight. It was noted that upto 70 kg body weight the growth in boars and gills 46.0 and 49.0 kg and feed conversion ratio 4.83 and 4.81 were superior and economical over the barrows, which were 45.5 kg and 4.95. Later on there were too many fluctuations in growth and feed conversion ratio in all sexes of pigs, which would be uneconomical. Carcass quality was also better in boars and gilts than barrows, No boar taint was noted in most of the boar carcasses. Hence it is concluded that boars and gilts can be raised upto the 70 kg body weight for economic pork production.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.1452-1458
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• 2004

An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of sex and market weight on performance, carcass characteristics and pork quality. A total of 224 crossbred pigs (initially 26.64 kg BW) were allotted in a $2{\times}4$ factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block (RCB) design. The variables were sex (gilts and barrows) and different market weights (100, 110, 120 and 130 kg). Average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were significantly higher (p<0.01) in barrows than gilts, ADFI and feed conversion ratio (FCR) increased as body weight increased (p<0.05). Gender differences were observed in carcass characteristics. Backfat thickness and drip loss were greater in barrows (p<0.01), while loin eye area (p<0.01), flavor score (p<0.05) and lean content (p<0.001) were higher in gilts. Carcass grade and water holding capacity were the highest in 110 kg market weight pigs. The 100 kg arket weight pigs showed lower juiciness, tenderness, shear forces and total palatability than the other market weights (p<0.01). Hunter values (L*, a* and b*) were increased as market weight increased (p<0.05). Hunter a* value was greater in gilts (p<0.01) but L* value and b* value were not affected by sex of pigs. Net profit [(carcass weight${\times}$price by carcass grade)-(total feed cost+cost of purchased pig)] was higher in gilts than barrows (p<0.01), and was higher (p<0.05) in the pigs marketed at 110 and 120 kg market weight compared with 100 kg market weight. These results demonstrated that gilts showed higher carcass characteristics, pork quality, feed cost per kg body weight gain and net profit compared with barrows. Moreover, 110 or 120 kg body weight would be the recommended market weight based on pork quality and net profit for swine producers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.1181-1187
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• 2016

The objective of the study was to evaluate fattening performance, carcass value and meat quality in pigs of Prestice Black-Pied breed in relation to slaughter weight (SW) and gender (barrows and gilts, resp.). Pigs were divided into weight categories: SW1 (75 to 99.9 kg), SW2 (100 to 109.9 kg) and SW3 (110 to 130 kg) and all individual traits were analyzed by the general linear model procedure (SAS 9.3). Average SW of each weight group was as follows: SW1 94.2 kg, SW2 105.8 kg, and SW3 115.2 kg. Differences among average backfat thickness of 36.07 mm in SW1, 40.16 mm in SW2, and 43.21 mm in SW3 were significant (p<0.01). Lean meat content was 48.94% (SW1), 48.78% (SW2), and 48.76% (SW3). Pigs were slaughtered at average weight of 105.7 kg for barrows and 104.4 kg for gilts. Average backfat thickness for barrows was 40.90 mm and 38.72 mm for gilts (significant difference p<0.05). Lean meat content was 48.75% in barrows and 48.91% in gilts. The values of pH45, characterizing the meat of very good quality. The loin in SW3 was darker than the muscles of SW1 and SW2. Drip loss was the lowest in SW1 (1.96%), compared to the highest drip loss in SW3 (2.59%). Content of intramuscular fat was 2.68% in SW3, 2.79% in SW2, and SW1 had the lowest content 2.47%. The values of pH45, colour lightness and drip loss were similar in both genders. However barrows had higher intramuscular fat content by 0.31% than gilts (p<0.05).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.401-407
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• 2013

Two experiments were conducted to determine an optimum Lys:calorie ratio (g of total dietary Lys/Mcal of DE) for growing barrows and gilts in cool and hot seasons in a commercial environment. In Exp. 1, 96 barrows and 96 gilts were randomly allocated in 1 of 4 dietary treatments (2.7, 3.0, 3.3, 3.6 g of Lys/Mcal of DE). Each treatment had 12 replicate pens with 4 pigs per pen. The experiment lasted for 34 d in the cool season (March 12th to April 15th). Diets were based on corn-wheat-soybean meal. Lys:calorie ratio were attained by adjusting the amount of corn and soybean and supplementation of crystalline Lys. Total Lys intake and available Lys intake were increased (p<.05) as dietary Lys:calorie ratio increased. The BUN concentration on d 34 for barrows, and BUN change for barrows and gilts linearly increased (p<0.05) in response to increasing dietary Lys:calorie ratio. For gilts, back fat was decreased and then increased (Quadratically, p<0.05) as increasing dietary lys:calorie ratio. Exp. 2 had a similar design as Exp. 1 with the exception that Exp. 2 was conducted in hot season (June 30th to September 11th) for 42 d. Diet of Exp. 2 was the same as Exp. 1. Total Lys intake and available Lys intake increased (p<0.05) as dietary Lys:calorie increased. On d 42, the BUN concentration increased (p<0.05) in response to the increasing dietary Lys:calorie ratio. In conclusion, dietary Lys:calorie ratio of 2.7 g of Lys/Mcal of DE could satisfy the requirement of 25 to 50 kg growing pigs. Increasing dietary Lys:calorie ratio could increase BUN concentration in growing pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2000

This study was conducted to evaluate changes in the lysine to digestible energy (DE) ratio on performance, apparent ileal and fecal nutrient digestibilities as well as blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and to estimate optimal lysine:DE ratios for growing pigs of different sexes. A total of 150 pigs ($(Landrace{\times}Yorkshire){\times}Duroc$, 16.78 kg average body weight, 75 barrows and 75 gilts) was randomly allotted into a $2{\times}3$ (sex by diet) factorial design. Three diets were formulated to contain a crude protein level of 19%, a DE level of 3.5 Mcal/kg with three lysine:DE ratios of 3.2 (low), 3.5 (middle) and 3.8 (high) g lysine/Mcal DE per kg diet for both barrows and gilts throughout the study. With increasing dietary lysine:DE ratio, the average daily gain (ADG) of barrows decreased but there was no significant difference among treatments (p>0.05). However, ADG was significantly higher in gilts fed the diet containing the high lysine:DE ratio (p<0.05), followed by the middle and low lysine:DE ratio dietary groups. No significant effects of lysine:DE ratios on feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion (F/G) were observed for barrows and gilts during overall period (p>0.05), while the optimal F/G was found in barrows fed diets of low and in gilts fed high lysine:DE ratio. Blood urea nitrogen had a positive relationship with growth rate. The results showed that the optimal lysine:DE ratios were 3.2 and 3.8 g lysine/Mcal DE per kg diet for barrows and gilts of 16 to 57 kg body weight, respectively.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.57-72
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• 2005

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of nutrient density diets and sex on carcass and pork quality characteristics in finishing pigs. A total of 96 pigs(58.04 $\pm$ 6.85 kg) were divided into 2 groups(gilts and barrows), each sex group was assigned to 3 nutrient density(high : 18.5%, middle : 16.0% and low: 14.0% CP, respectively) and raised up to 1l0kg live weight. Each treatment had four replicates with three or five pigs per replicate. The treatments comprised the feeding regimes of 1) the low density diet for 60 days, 2) the middle nutrient density diet for the 30 days followed by a low nutrient density diet for the remaining 30 days and 3) the high nutrient density diet for the 30 days followed by a middle nutrient density diet for the remaining 30 days. Pigs were conventionally slaughtered, and then chilled overnight. Carcass characteristics and grades were determined on those carcasses, and pork loin muscle was removed from each left side at 5th to 13th rib for quality evaluation were evaluated. There were no differences in the carcass weight between sex and nutrient density. Dressing percent of L-L(gilts) treatment was significantly higher than that of other treatments(P< 0.05). Barrows showed a thicker back fat thickness than gilts. There were no difference in intramuscular fat, subcutaneous fat and springiness between sex and nutrient density. Intermuscular fat of barrows groups was significantly higher than the gilts groups(P < 0.05). In the meat quality characteristics, there were no difference in general composition, meat and fat color between sex and nutrient density. pH of L-L(gilts) treatment was significantly higher than that of other treatments(P < 0.05). Cooking loss and shear force value of H-M(barrows) treatment were significantly higher than those of other treatments(P< 0.05). Purge loss of barrows groups was significantly higher than the gilts groups(P < 0.05). Myoglobin content of H-M treatment was significantly lower than L-L and M-L treatments(P< 0.05). Texture of H-M treatment was higher than L-L and M-L treatments. The content of myristic, palmitic, palmitoleic and oleic acid were significantly higher in the barrows groups(P< 0.05). However, stearic, linoleic and arachidonic acid were significantly higher in the gilts(P < 0.05). Amino acid content of L-L treatment was significantly higher than M-L and H-M treatments(P < 0.05). In conclusion, carcass and pork quality characteristics were affected by sex and nutrient density.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.740-752
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• 2023

Objective: Dietary phytase increases bioavailability of phytate-bound phosphorus (P) in pig nutrition affecting dietary calcium (Ca) to P ratio, intestinal uptake, and systemic utilization of both minerals, which may contribute to improper bone mineralization. We used phytase to assess long-term effects of two dietary available P (aP) levels using a one-phase feeding system on gene expression related to Ca and P homeostasis along the intestinal tract and in the kidney, short-chain fatty acids in stomach, cecum, and colon, serum, and bone parameters in growing gilts and barrows. Methods: Growing pigs (37.9±6.2 kg) had either free access to a diet without (Con; 75 gilts and 69 barrows) or with phytase (650 phytase units; n = 72/diet) for 56 days. Samples of blood, duodenal, jejunal, ileal, cecal, and colonic mucosa and digesta, kidney, and metacarpal bones were collected from 24 pigs (6 gilts and 6 barrows per diet). Results: Phytase decreased daily feed intake and average daily gain, whereas aP intake increased with phytase versus Con diet (p<0.05). Gilts had higher colonic expression of TRPV5, CDH1, CLDN4, ZO1, and OCLN and renal expression of TRPV5 and SLC34A3 compared to barrows (p<0.05). Phytase increased duodenal expression of TRPV5, TRPV6, CALB1, PMCA1b, CDH1, CLDN4, ZO1, and OCLN compared to Con diet (p<0.05). Furthermore, phytase increased expression of SCL34A2 in cecum and of FGF23 and CLDN4 in colon compared to Con diet (p<0.05). Alongside, phytase decreased gastric propionate, cecal valerate, and colonic caproate versus Con diet (p<0.05). Phytase reduced cortical wall thickness and index of metacarpal bones (p<0.05). Conclusion: Gene expression results suggested an intestinal adaptation to increased dietary aP amount by increasing duodenal trans- and paracellular Ca absorption to balance the systemically available Ca and P levels, whereas no adaption of relevant gene expression in kidney occurred. Greater average daily gain in barrows related to higher feed intake.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1643-1648
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• 2006

To investigate the effects of feeding restricted on growth, carcass characteristics and plasma profiles in an attempt for optimum responses, a total of 108 cross-bred finishing barrows [(Landrace${\times}$Yorkshire)${\times}$Duroc]weighing an average of $46.88{\pm}0.52kg$ were assigned in a randomized complete block (RCB) design to one of four treatments with three replicates and nine pigs per pen. Feeding regimens were, 1) ad libitum from 50 kg to market weight (Ad 3/3), 2) restricted feeding from 90 kg to market weight (Ad 2/3), 3) restricted feeding from 70 kg to market weight (Ad 1/3), and 4) restricted feeding from 50 kg to market weight (Ad 0/3). During the experimental period, average daily feed intake (ADFI) was decreased from 2.53 kg (AD 3/3) to 2.09 kg (AD 0/3) with increasing restricted feeding duration of (p<0.05). Average daily gain (ADG) of AD 3/3 (0.79 kg) was significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of AD 1/3 (0.74 kg) or AD 0/3 (0.72 kg). Feed efficiency was not influenced by restriction regimens. Blood IGF-I concentrations were increased from 74.14 to 134.25 (167.36-115.66) ng/ml as body weight increased. Blood leptin concentrations were affected by feed intake level and coincided with blood IGF-I concentrations. Most of carcass characteristics were not significantly affected by restricted feeding, however cooking losses in AD 1/3 and Ad 0/3 treatment diet were higher than those in Ad 3/3 and Ad 2/3. In addition, there was a trend that backfat thickness was lowered in proportional to decreasing feed intake (p>0.05). In conclusion, restricted feeding improved feed efficiency after 50 kg body weight without deteriorating the pork quality of barrows.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.191-198
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• 2010

A total of 96 non-lean-type (Yorkshire $\times$ Landrace) $\times$ Duroc gilts and barrows weighing approximately 80 kg were randomly allocated to 24 pens under a 2 (sex) $\times$ 3 [diet; 3.4, 3.2, and 3.0 Mcal DE/kg {'high'-, 'medium'-, and 'low'-energy diets (HE, ME, and LE), respectively}] factorial arrangement of treatments. All animals were slaughtered approximately at 115 kg, after which carcass quality traits and grades and physicochemical and sensory characteristics of the loin related to meat quality were analyzed. The ADG and gain:feed were not affected by the sex or dietary treatment, whereas ADFI was greater in the ME vs HE group. Backfat thickness was greater in barrows vs gilts and also in ME and HE vs LE only in barrows. Enumerated carcass marbling and quality grade, which were highly correlated (r=0.56; P<0.01), were greater in barrows vs gilts. Physicochemical characteristics including the color, pH, drip loss and contents of moisture, protein, and fat of fresh loin, as well as sensory characteristics of fresh and cooked loin, were not affected by the sex or dietary treatment, except for shear force for cooked loin which was greater (P<0.05) in LE and ME vs HE. In conclusion, it is thought that ME is comparable to HE in terms of the effect on growth and carcass quality of finishing pigs, but that the relative effect of LE vs ME needs to be further studied.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.58-64
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• 2011

This study evaluated the effects of the handle width(shoulder width, 1.25${\times}$shoulder width, 1.5${\times}$shoulder width), height(3 levels : knee, medium, knuckle) and horizontal angle($0^{\circ}$, $10^{\circ}$) on the pushing, lifting, and twisting strengths which were required for carrying single or two wheel barrows. Twelve healthy college students(male) participated in the experiment. In each experimental condition($3{\times}3{\times}2$=18), the subjects exerted three forces(pushing, lifting, and twisting clockwise). The experimental conditions and three forces were tested in random order, and a minimum 2 minutes of rest was provided between exertions. Results showed that the mean and maximum pushing forces showed greater values when the horizontal angle was $0^{\circ}$ than $10^{\circ}$(p=0.016). However, the three independent variables had no statistically significant effects on the lifting forces(p>0.1). The mean and maximum twisting forces increased as the handle width became larger(p<0.05). Also, there was a marginal effect of the horizontal angle(p=0.065) on the twisting force. From the results of this study, the horizontal angle of $0^{\circ}$ and the wider handle width were suggested for the design of single-wheel barrows.