PSIII-10 The Effect of Sire Line on Grow-finish Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Meat Pricing Variables for Commercial Crossbred Pigs

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of sire line on wean-to-finish performance, carcass characteristics, and meat pricing variables. Pigs used for this study were the progeny of a commercial Landrace x Large White female mated to one of the following sire lines: a purebred Duroc line (Line S1), or a synthetic (Line S2) or purebred Duroc line (Line S3) originating from a different genetic source. An equivalent number of pigs (n =144) were used per group, for 432 pigs placed on test. Average initial weights per line were 6.67 ± 0.24, 6.67 ± 0.24, and 6.60 ± 0.24 for lines S1, S2, and S3, respectively. At placement, 8 pigs were assigned to each pen (split sex) and blocked by line and initial BW, with 18 replicates per line. Data were analyzed at the pen level using the PROC MIXED procedure of SAS, where the effects of line, sex, and line*sex were fitted as fixed effects and replicate was fitted as a random effect. Overall, piglets from line S2 (0.403 vs 0.381; P ≤ 0.0004) and line S3 (0.402 vs 0.381; P ≤ 0.001) had improved GF compared with piglets from line S1. The ADFI was greater in piglets from line S1 relative to piglets from line S2 (2.264 vs 2.117 kg; P ≤ 0.0001) and line S3 (2.264 vs 2.159 kg; P ≤ 0.004). The ADG, HCW, dressing yield, and loin depth were not different among treatment (P > 1.00). Piglets from line S3 had greater percent lean (57.12 vs 56.29 %; P ≤ 0.0001) and better carcass grade premium ($7.07 vs 6.60; P ≤ 0.0291) relative to piglets from line S1. In conclusion, line S1 piglets had greatest ADFI, but line S2 pigs and line S3 piglets had better feed efficiency. Line S3 pigs were leaner and had better carcass grade premium.