Effects of Limited Feeding on Market Hogs: Performance and Quantitative and Qualitative Carcass Characteristics

During the winter of 1963–64, 136 pigs were randomly allotted to two replications consisting of eight levels of feeding (full feed, 2.27 kg. once per day, 2.04 kg. once per day, 1.81 kg. once per day, 1.13 kg. twice per day, 1.02 kg. twice per day, 0.91 kg. twice per day, and 1.81 kg. once per day until reaching 72 kg. bodyweight, then full feed) to study their effects on the performance and quantitative and qualitative carcass characteristics of market hogs. At 90 kg. bodyweight, the pigs were slaughtered and information obtained, with data being analyzed by the analysis of variance. Swine fed a limited amount of feed, once per day, were less efficient in utilizing the feed than pigs fed twice per day. Restricting the feed intake of swine decreased average daily gain and dressing percent; tended to decrease backfat thickness and to increase loin eye area; but had no effect on U.S.D.A. grade, ham fat thickness, specific gravity, ham-loin index on a liveweight basis, or ham-loin index on a carcass weight basis. Limiting the feed of pigs significantly decreased the percent fat trim on both the live and carcass weight basis, but did not significantly affect percent lean cuts or percent primal cuts on either basis. Restricted feeding also tended to increase occurrence of pale, soft, exudative pork and percent cooking loss of loin roasts, but did not affect the marbling, percent moisture, percent ether extract, and pH of the l. dorsior the shear force and palatability values of cooked roasts.