The Effects of immunocastration on male pig yield parameters and meat quality

  • Jelena Janjic University in Belgrade - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
  • Jelena Ciric University in Belgrade - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
  • Jelena Aleksic University in Belgrade - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
  • Jelena Aleksic University in Belgrade - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
  • Natasa Glamoclija University in Belgrade - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
  • Marija Starcevic University in Belgrade - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
  • Anita Radovanovic University in Belgrade - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
  • Milan Z Baltic University in Belgrade - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Keywords: immunocastration, yield, quality, pork

Abstract

 

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of immunocastration on pork meat and carcass quality, compared to meat from surgically castrated males and entire males. Ninety (Duroc x Pietrain) x (Landrace x Yorkshire) crossbred pigs were assigned to three experimental groups: surgically castrated males (barrows; castrated up to the seventh day of age), entire males (males), and vaccinated males (immunocastrates). Carcass and meat quality characteristics such as weight of hot and chilled carcass, meat yield, chilling loss and chemical parameters were examined. Surgically castrated pigs had significantly lower (p<0.01; p<0.05) weight before slaughter, than males and immunocastrates, and also lower (p<0.01) warm carcass weight than males. The average carcass meatiness of castrates was significantly lower (p<0.01) than the average meatiness of males and immunocastrates. Chilling loss of barrows was significantly lower (p<0.01) than chilling loss of males or immunocastrates. It was also found that the chilling loss of immunocastrates was significantly lower (p<0.05) than chilling loss of males. According to the results obtained, it can be concluded that immunocastration could be a good alternative to surgical castration considering meat and carcass quality characteristics.

Published
2017-07-26
How to Cite
Janjic, J., Ciric, J., Aleksic, J., Aleksic, J., Glamoclija, N., Starcevic, M., Radovanovic, A., & Baltic, M. (2017). The Effects of immunocastration on male pig yield parameters and meat quality. Scientific Journal "Meat Technology&quot;, 58(1), 1-9. Retrieved from http://www.journalmeattechnology.com/index.php/meat_technology/article/view/47
Section
Original scientific paper