Open AccessGestational and lactational feeding strategies for gilts: Growth, carcass characteristics and meat quality of the progeny
Author(s) -
A. Fortin,
E. J. Clowes,
A. L. Schaefer
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
canadian journal of animal science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.377
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1918-1825
pISSN - 0008-3984
DOI - 10.4141/a01-093
Subject(s) - lactation , weaning , litter , gestation , zoology , biology , pregnancy , agronomy , genetics
This study was conducted to determine whether feeding gilts (1) at or above their National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council (NAS-NRC 1998) requirements during gestation, and (2) to lose a moderate (~10%) or large (~17%) amount of maternal protein during lactation had a residual effect on their progeny’s growth, carcass characteristics and pork quality at market weight. From each litter, the heaviest and lightest barrows and gilts were selected. The progeny of gilts fed above their requirements during gestation, and those that lost the least body protein during lactation were heavier at weaning; +0.3 kg (P 0.05) at day 35 or 85 post-weaning. But at slaughter, these animals had thinner (P 0.05) carcass characteristics and pork quality. Key words: Gilts, gestational and lactational protein, litter, growth, carcass characteristics and meat quality