ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
The QingYu pig is well known for its excellent
meat quality attributes in Sichuan province,
China. In order to improve its
production efficiency, the
determination of genetic factors contributing to quantifiable economic traits of
livestock is important. Moreover, the cross-
breeding of QingYu
pigs with western breeds possessing strong
growth attributes is an efficient way to improve the performance of this breed.
METHODS:
Here, the genetic
parameters of several important reproductive traits of QingYu
pigs were estimated, include total number born (TNB), number born alive, litter
birth weight, individual
birth weight, number of piglets weaned, litter
weaning weight, and individual
weaning weight. The data was analyzed using the ASReml 3.0
software (NSW Inc., Sydney,
Australia). Furthermore, the effects of crossing Berkshire with QingYu (BQ)
pigs on carcass and
meat quality traits, as well as the effects of slaughter weight on carcass and
meat quality of BQ were characterized.
RESULTS:
QingYu
pigs exhibited superior reproductive traits. The TNB available to QingYu
pigs was more than 8 per
parity. The observed repeatability of the reproductive traits of the QingYu
pigs was between 0.10 and 0.23. The significantly correlated genetic and phenotypic of
reproduction traits were consistent. Interestingly, the BQ
pigs exhibited improved carcass quality, with a significant increase in loin
muscle area, lean percentage and reduction in
sebum percentage. As a result, BQ had higher L45min, lower
cooking scores, and lower drip loss. In addition, the loin
muscle area, body length, and
sebum percentage were significantly higher in 90 and 100 kg
animals.
Cooking loss showed a significant increase at 80 kg, and marbling increased significantly from 90 kg.
CONCLUSION:
The results of this study suggest that QingYu
pigs exhibit excellent reproductive properties and heritability of these traits. Crossing with Berkshire is an efficient strategy to improve the carcass and
meat quality of QingYu
pigs for commercial operations. Furthermore, it appears as though the optimal slaughter weight of BQ
pigs is at approximately 90 kg.