Crecimiento en montanera y características de la canal de cerdos ibéricos retinto del Andévalo

Abstract

In a first experiment three groups of Iberian pigs castrated males of “Retinto del Andévalo” line were used. At the beginning of free-range feeding “montanera” pigs weight was different: 88.12 kg (group of low weight), 119.64 kg (group of medium weight) and 146.43 kg (group of high weight). Low-weight and medium weight pig groups had an average daily gain higher than those high-weight pigs. On the other hand, in a second experiment, slaughter weights of “Retinto del Andévalo” line pigs, that were fattened under “montanera” conditions, were registered during consecutive six years (n=100). The carcasses were classified according to slaughter weight (high weight > 185 kg, medium weight from 165 to 185 kg and low weight < 165 kg). The year had significant effect on carcass characteristics. The carcass yield was significantly lower in the pig group slaughtered with low weight. The weight of hams, forelegs and loins increased significantly with slaughter weight. Nevertheless, the slaughter weight had not significant influence on weight of sirloins, and forelegs weight/hams weight ratio. The percentage of hams, forelegs, loins and sirloins respect to carcass weight decreased as increased carcass weight. The alometric coefficients of hams, forelegs, loins and sirloins regarding carcass weight were 0.563, 0.479, 0.422 and 0,353, respectively. The forelegs weight/hams weight ratio increased up to 134 kg of carcass weight and decreased afterwards for higher carcass weights. It is concluded that in pigs slaughter around 160 kg of live weight is interesting to increase the major joints proportion of the cascass and no penalize the foreleg weight/ham weight ratio.