Abstract

Kolbroek pigs have numerous advantages as an indigenous breed including its contributions to food security. However, there are numerous concerns over the current feed regime that compromises its growth performance and carcass quality. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the growth performance traits, attainment of puberty, backfat thickness (BFT), and carcass traits when boar fed diets supplemented with 10% (standard diet), 13% and 16% crude protein. Fifteen pigs per protein diets were individually housed and fed ad-libitum for eight weeks in a complete randomised design. Average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured on a weekly basis. At the end of the trial, all boars were slaughtered and carcass quality parameters measured. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated between growth performance parameters. Our data revealed that there was an increase in final body weight, ADG, ADFI accompanied by decreases in BFT and the age of attainment of puberty. There was also a positive correlation between ADFI and ADG (r = 0.78) accompanied by a low positive correlation between ADG and BFT (r = 0.12) with a high negative correlation between FCR and ADG (r = -0.94). The water holding capacity (WHC), dressing percentage and marbling mass appeared to decrease while the eye muscle area increased with protein supplementation of the diet. There were also increases in the lungs, liver, small plus large intestines and stomach with no changes in the pancreas and heart tissues. Accompanying these was observations that the meat colour lightness improved accompanied by a decline in meat redness and yellowness. In conclusion, supplementation of boar diet with increasing crude protein improved the carcass quality and growth performance of Kolbroek boars.

Highlights

  • Kolbroek pigs are popular among local pig breeders

  • This study was conducted to evaluate the growth performance traits, attainment of puberty, backfat thickness (BFT), and carcass traits when boar fed diets supplemented with 10%, 13% and 16% crude protein

  • Our data revealed that there was an increase in final body weight, Average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) accompanied by decreases in BFT and the age of attainment of puberty

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Summary

Introduction

Kolbroek pigs are popular among local pig breeders. It forms part of national assets, which are being conserved to maintain the breed genetically pure. Kolbroek pigs are a South African indigenous pig breed that possesses valuable traits, such as longevity, disease tolerance and adaptability to harsh environmental conditions in addition to its contributions to food security [1]. They are small sized, weighing about 0.5 kg at birth and about 45.5 kg at one year of age [2]. There are observations that Kolbroek pigs are less efficient as protein sources because of their tendency to put on excess back fat [5] These may be because the standardised protein requirement for Kolbroek boars has not been ascertained [3]. The body weight of a boar is an important indicator of its growth, health and readiness to go to market [9]

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