Production results and technological meat quality for pigs in indoor andoutdoor rearing systems
Stern S; Heyer A; Andersson HK; Rydhmer L; Lundstrom K
Abstract The objective of the study was to compare production results andtechnological meat quality for pigs born outdoors and reared indoors or outdoors during the summerperiod. A total of 279 pigs was reared in a large pen on deep litter, or outdoors. Daily weight gainand lean meat percentage were higher for pigs outdoors than indoors during year one (864 vs. 841g;56.9 vs. 55.9%), but were similar for year two (859 vs. 844g; 55.9 vs. 55.6%). Outdoor pigs grewfaster when fed ad libitum , but slower during the second phase when restricted, with inferior feedconversion. Most technological meat quality traits (surface and internal reflectance, marbling, pHBF , filter paper wetness, cooking loss and maximal Warner-Bratzler shear force) were similarbetween rearing systems, whereas pH LD was higher indoors. Total work of Warner-Bratzler shear forcewas lower in outdoor reared pigs. Maternal sire breed (Duroc or Landrace) and sex (castrate orgilt) did not notably affect meat quality traits. RN genotype had a stronger impact on meat qualitythan rearing system. It can be concluded from the similarities in production results and meatquality in both systems, that both indoor and outdoor rearing are good alternatives for summerrearing of pigs.
Keywords Carcass traits; Growth; Organic production; Pork; Swine;Post-weaningbehavior; Carcass composition; Muscle; Performance;Growth; Environment; Hampshire; Traits; Level;Sire
Acta agriculturae Scandinavica. Section A, Animal science
0906-4702, Volume 53, Issue 4, 2003, Pages 166-174
