Effect of the feeding level during the fattening phase on the productive parameters, carcass characteristics and quality of fat in heavy pigs.

摘要

The study was conducted to determine the effect of restricted feeding carried out at the beginning or at the end of the finishing period on the production performance, carcass characteristics and fat quality of Iberian pigs fatteners. During the finishing period (77 days, from 100 to 150 kg of liveweight), the Iberian pigs were fed with R+AL (restricted feeding from the beginning of finishing period to 43 days later and ad libitum feeding from 44 days to the slaughter); AL+R (ad libitum feeding from the beginning of the finishing period to 43 days later and restricted feeding from 44 days to slaughter); and constant feeding. The productive results (slaughter weight, average daily gain and carcass weight) were higher (P<0.001) in C pigs than in R+AL and AL+R diets. The treatment had no significant influence on carcass characteristics except for the backfat thickness and ham weight with respect to carcass weight. The concentration of C18:1n-9 and total MUFA proportions observed in subcutaneous backfat were higher in AL+R and C groups than in R+AL (P<0.05), while the C18:0 and total saturated fatty acids levels were lower in AL+R and C pigs than in R+AL (P<0.01). The dietary treatment had no significant effect on the fatty acids proportions detected in the intramuscular and liver fat. It is suggested that further studies are needed on the effect of restricted feeding on pig production performance.