Carcass Characteristics and Primal Pork Cuts of Gilts, Boars, Immunocastrates and Barrows Using AutoFOM III Data of a Commercial Abattoir

The surgical castration of male piglets as a routine procedure in modern pig production is facing increasing societal criticism. Pork production with boars and immunocastrates are available alternatives, but both have low market shares as it is so far uncertain how the carcass characteristics and pr...

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Main Authors: Kevin Kress, Jens Hartung, Johannes Jasny, Volker Stefanski, Ulrike Weiler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-10-01
Series:Animals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/10/1912
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author Kevin Kress
Jens Hartung
Johannes Jasny
Volker Stefanski
Ulrike Weiler
author_facet Kevin Kress
Jens Hartung
Johannes Jasny
Volker Stefanski
Ulrike Weiler
author_sort Kevin Kress
collection DOAJ
description The surgical castration of male piglets as a routine procedure in modern pig production is facing increasing societal criticism. Pork production with boars and immunocastrates are available alternatives, but both have low market shares as it is so far uncertain how the carcass characteristics and primal pork cuts of boars and immunocastrates will be estimated in comparison to barrows and gilts. This article therefore evaluates the impact of sex group (gilts, boars, immunocastrates and barrows) on carcass characteristics and primal pork cuts using AutoFOM III data from a commercial abattoir. In our study, weekly slaughter data from a total of <i>n</i> = 36,994 pigs between 2018 and 2019 were analyzed. The results show that gilts had the highest amount of pork per carcass of all sex groups, whereas non-significant differences between boars, immunocastrates and barrows could be observed. Boars had the highest lean meat content, followed by gilts, immunocastrates and finally barrows with the lowest lean meat content. These results suggest that both immunocastration and pork production with boars are sustainable techniques that can replace pork production with barrows without affecting carcass quality.
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spelling doaj.art-b06aee5d23284b879da26143ce66fb992023-11-20T17:36:35ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152020-10-011010191210.3390/ani10101912Carcass Characteristics and Primal Pork Cuts of Gilts, Boars, Immunocastrates and Barrows Using AutoFOM III Data of a Commercial AbattoirKevin Kress0Jens Hartung1Johannes Jasny2Volker Stefanski3Ulrike Weiler4Department of Behavioral Physiology of Livestock (460f), Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 17, 70599 Stuttgart, GermanyDepartment of Biostatistics (340c), Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstraße 23, 70593 Stuttgart, GermanyDepartment of Agricultural Markets (420b), Institute of Agricultural Policy and Markets, University of Hohenheim, Schwerzstraße 46, 70593 Stuttgart, GermanyDepartment of Behavioral Physiology of Livestock (460f), Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 17, 70599 Stuttgart, GermanyDepartment of Behavioral Physiology of Livestock (460f), Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 17, 70599 Stuttgart, GermanyThe surgical castration of male piglets as a routine procedure in modern pig production is facing increasing societal criticism. Pork production with boars and immunocastrates are available alternatives, but both have low market shares as it is so far uncertain how the carcass characteristics and primal pork cuts of boars and immunocastrates will be estimated in comparison to barrows and gilts. This article therefore evaluates the impact of sex group (gilts, boars, immunocastrates and barrows) on carcass characteristics and primal pork cuts using AutoFOM III data from a commercial abattoir. In our study, weekly slaughter data from a total of <i>n</i> = 36,994 pigs between 2018 and 2019 were analyzed. The results show that gilts had the highest amount of pork per carcass of all sex groups, whereas non-significant differences between boars, immunocastrates and barrows could be observed. Boars had the highest lean meat content, followed by gilts, immunocastrates and finally barrows with the lowest lean meat content. These results suggest that both immunocastration and pork production with boars are sustainable techniques that can replace pork production with barrows without affecting carcass quality.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/10/1912AutoFOM IIIboarscarcass characteristicsentire male pigsimmunocastrationImprovac
spellingShingle Kevin Kress
Jens Hartung
Johannes Jasny
Volker Stefanski
Ulrike Weiler
Carcass Characteristics and Primal Pork Cuts of Gilts, Boars, Immunocastrates and Barrows Using AutoFOM III Data of a Commercial Abattoir
Animals
AutoFOM III
boars
carcass characteristics
entire male pigs
immunocastration
Improvac
title Carcass Characteristics and Primal Pork Cuts of Gilts, Boars, Immunocastrates and Barrows Using AutoFOM III Data of a Commercial Abattoir
title_full Carcass Characteristics and Primal Pork Cuts of Gilts, Boars, Immunocastrates and Barrows Using AutoFOM III Data of a Commercial Abattoir
title_fullStr Carcass Characteristics and Primal Pork Cuts of Gilts, Boars, Immunocastrates and Barrows Using AutoFOM III Data of a Commercial Abattoir
title_full_unstemmed Carcass Characteristics and Primal Pork Cuts of Gilts, Boars, Immunocastrates and Barrows Using AutoFOM III Data of a Commercial Abattoir
title_short Carcass Characteristics and Primal Pork Cuts of Gilts, Boars, Immunocastrates and Barrows Using AutoFOM III Data of a Commercial Abattoir
title_sort carcass characteristics and primal pork cuts of gilts boars immunocastrates and barrows using autofom iii data of a commercial abattoir
topic AutoFOM III
boars
carcass characteristics
entire male pigs
immunocastration
Improvac
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/10/1912
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