Potentialities of producing lean meat by restricting both energy intake and water consumption of pigs

Abstract

SUMMARYAn experiment was made with growing pigs, to investigate the effect of water restriction in combination with self-fed diets of reduced energy content upon carcass quality.The diets compared contained 5 and 30% of lucerne hay and the water treatments were ad libitum or progressively restricted amounts during the finishing period (60–90 kg live weight).Both increasing the proportion of lucerne meal and restricting water intake reduced significantly depth of backfat and the weight of total subcutaneous fat. There was no interaction between the treatments.The results are discussed in the light of the findings of Cunningham & Friend (1966).