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Fat changes in breeding sows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

C. T. Whittemore
Affiliation:
Edinburgh School of Agriculture, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
M. F. Franklin
Affiliation:
ARC Unit of Statistics, James Clerk Maxwell Building, May field Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JZ
B. S. Pearce
Affiliation:
Meat and Livestock Commission, PO Box 44, Bletchley MK2 2EF
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Abstract

One hundred and eight crossbred sows from nine different commercial sources were monitored over two parities for changes in live weight and fatness. All sows were given a common nutritional regime. Thirty sows were slaughtered and physically dissected. After weaning the second litter, mean carcass measurements ( ± s.d.) were: live weight, 139±9·5kg; lean mass, 26·6 ± 2·8kg; subcutaneous fat mass, 4·l ± l·7kg; ultrasonic P2 backfat depth (USP2), 11·3±2·8mm; total dissected fat (kg) = 0·63 ± 0·073 USP2 —1·1 ±0·85(r = 0·85). Between mating (parity 1) and weaning (parity 2) sows gained 22kg live weight and lost 6·8mm backfat. There were significant differences between sources with respect to fatness, despite standardized feeding. It is suggested that for breeding pigs such as these, starting their reproductive life with limited fat reserves (16·4 ± 3·0mm USP2 at 92 ± 6kg live weight), a conventional fat-exploiting feeding regime is unlikely to be appropriate.

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Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1980

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