FATTENING AND SLAUGHTER QUALITIES OF PUREBRED AND HYBRID PIGS

G. Bachvarova, B. Benkov, M. Yanakieva, V. Doichev

Abstract: An experiment with 96 finishing pigs 45-111 kg of weight was performed. The pigs were divided into 4
groups according to their origin, as follows: group I Large White (LW), group II Sire Line (SL), group III
Large White x Sire Line (LWxSL) and group IV ((Large White x Landrace) x Sire Line) ((LWxL)xSL).
During the experimental period the pigs were kept in group pens, 12 pigs per pen, and were fed a pellet feed
containing 14% CP and 12.5 MJ ME/kg. After reaching 111 kg the pigs were slaughtered. The fattening and
slaughter performances were controlled.
Better average daily gain and better feed conversion ratio of the hybrid pigs compared to the purebred
pigs was observed.
The slaughter qualities of the new developed sire line were considerably better compared to Large
White. The slaughter performances of hybrid pigs were between Large White and the sire line, but closer to
the sire line.
It could be concluded that sire line boars are suitable for terminal position in the hybridization.

Keywords: heterosis; hybridization; reproduction performance; slaughter performance

Date published: 2022-08-12