The effect of sex, slaughter weight and weight gains in PEN-AR-LAN fatteners on their slaughter value

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of sex, body weight and growth rates on basic fattening and slaughter indexes in PEN-AR-LAN fatteners. The research was conducted on 274 PEN-AR-LAN hybrid fatteners coming from sows of the Naima maternal line and was sired by boars of the P-76 meat line. Recorded fattening and slaughter performance values indicated that PEN-AR-LAN hybrid pigs could be good material for the production of fatteners. The highly significant effect of sex on back fat thickness and meat content and significant effect on the loin eye area were shown. Gilts were characterized by higher meatiness (56.2 vs. 53.4%) and lower back fat thickness (16.4 vs. 20.3 mm) than castrated males. Fatteners with lower slaughter weight were characterized by thinner backfat and smaller height of the loin 'eye'. No significant effect of the slaughter weight on the meat content in the carcass was found. Fatteners with daily weight gains below 700 g had the thinner backfat amounting to 16.7 mm (at P <= 0.01) in comparison with 19.6 and 19.5 mm for animals with higher weight gains. Animals with lower weight gains had the higher meatiness (55.7%, at P <= 0.01) in comparison with animals of higher weight gains (54.2 and 53.7%).