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Sire breed comparisons for meat and eating quality traits in Australian pig populations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2008

K. L. Bunter*
Affiliation:
Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2351, Australia
C. Bennett
Affiliation:
QAF Meat Industries Pty Limited, Redlands Road, Corowa, NSW, 2646, Australia
B. G. Luxford
Affiliation:
QAF Meat Industries Pty Limited, Redlands Road, Corowa, NSW, 2646, Australia
H.-U. Graser
Affiliation:
Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2351, Australia
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Abstract

Sire breed comparisons for carcase (n = 1169), meat and eating quality (n = 686) traits were obtained using data recorded on progeny of known pedigree sired by Duroc (DU), Large White (LW), Landrace (LR) and Duroc Synthetic (DS) boars from crossbred (LW/LR) sows. Animals were reared in eco-shelters in large single-sex contemporary groups and slaughtered on an age constant basis at 22 weeks of age. Compared to progeny from other sire groups, animals sired by purebred Duroc boars tended to have improved eating quality traits (higher intramuscular fat and lower shear force) at the expense of poorer carcase characteristics (higher subcutaneous and belly fat). Animals sired by DS boars tended to be heavier and leaner than those sired by LW, LR or DU boars; intramuscular fat but not belly fat was correspondingly lower, while tenderness was generally consistent with that of the DU progeny. Significant variability of sire progeny groups within sire breed suggests that sire breed selection, potentially used for improving traits such as meat quality in commercial progeny, will be less accurate in the absence of sire-specific information, which is typically poorly recorded in this class of traits.

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Full Paper
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2008

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