D. Steinhauf

The effect of high environmental temperatures on fattening performance and growth of boars

Abstract Fifty-eight boars of the “German Landrace” breed were fattened between 70 and 110 kg in individual housing at ambient temperatures of 15°C or 35°C with 60% relative humidity in both cases. The animals under warm conditions showed increased growth of the skeleton and reduced growth of the heart, liver, kidneys, spleen and stomach. The feed intake was strongly restricted by the high temperature, while water consumption showed an extremely high variance. Correspondingly the daily gains were strongly depressed, although the feed conversion ratios of the warm- and cold-housed animals were not significantly different. The fat thickness of the warm-housed animals was significantly lower.

Observations of the Apparent Antagonism between Meat Producing Capacity and Meat Quality in Pigs

It is a well-known fact that in meat production, especially pork production, negative associations exist between meat producing capacity or muscularity on the one hand and the traits of meat quality on the other. This relationship manifests itself in different ways. Negative correlations have been observed between muscularity and meat quality in many investigations, and during the course of the selection for higher muscularity one can notice the deterioration of meat quality. This process can be traced back even to the last century (1,2). The increasing frequency of pale, soft, exudative (PSE) muscle is not limited to certain climatic regions nor continents but pertains, as far as is known, to all populations of domestic pigs. It is more pronounced the higher the meat productive capacity.