Short communication. Prediction of weight of major cuts by mean slaughter or carcass weight in Iberian pigs

Resumen

The aim of this study was to assess the possibility of predicting the weight of major joints in the carcass of Iberian pigs. One hundred and nineteen castrated Iberian pigs of the Torbiscal line, fattened under free-range conditions, were used. Simple regression analyses were carried out to find the relationships between slaughter or carcass weight with ham, foreleg and loin weights. The best predictions were obtained by linear and quadratic functions. To determine the accuracy of the regression equations data from 20 free-ranged Iberian pigs barrows of the Torbiscal line and 12 of the Guadyerbas line were used. A good prediction of ham weight was obtained both with linear and quadratic functions in Torbiscal pigs when the slaughter or carcass weight was considered as independent variable. However, in these pigs the prediction of loin weight was weak. For the Guadyerbas line the slaughter weight, in linear and quadratic functions, predicted adequately ham weight, but overestimated foreleg weight. It is concluded that slaughter or carcass weight can be used to predict ham weight in Iberian pigs. Since genetic line affects the accuracy of the regression equations, specific equations should be developed for each line.