A note on the comparative performance of pigs sired by Piétrain × Large White and Large White boars

Abstract

ABSTRACTA Piétrain × Large White boar and a Large White boar were placed on each of 12 farms where the breeding females were crossbred white sows. Cooperators were requested to obtain 10 litters by each sire and record their performance to slaughter at 60 kg live weight. Breed of sire did not affect litter size or piglet body weight at birth or at weaning, age of progeny at slaughter, carcass mid-line fat depths or colour and condition of the ‘eye muscle’. Piétrain crosses had higher carcass yields (1·8%) and larger eye muscles in cross-section (13·2%) than Large White crosses. They also had less depth of fat above the eye muscle (14 %) but this did not confer any advantage in commercial evaluations.