Thirty five Duroc x Large White (DUxLW)
and 43 Commercial Hybrid x Large White
(CHxLW) were fed two diets differing for the
content of crude protein (CP), with the aim to
evaluate the effects of these diets on growth,
carcass and thigh traits. Pigs were allotted to
two groups and fed high protein (HP) and low
protein (LP) diet. Within each dietary group, 3
diets were formulated, for the initial phase of
growth (from 79 to 112 days, 17.3% and 15.4%
CP as fed basis for the HP and LP diet, respectively),
for the intermediated phase of growth
(from 113 to 196 days, 15.1% and 13.7% CP as
fed basis for the HP and LP diet, respectively)
and for the finishing period (from 197 to 272
days, 13.4% and 11.4% CP as fed basis for the
HP and LP diet, respectively). HP diets were
supplemented with Lysine, LP were supplemented
also with Methionine and Threonine.
Pigs were slaughtered at nine months of age.
Body weight (BW), average daily gain, total
feed intake and feed conversion ratio were not
affected by diet. Carcass weight, thigh weight,
backfat and lean thickness and lean percentage
(Fat-O-Meater, FOM) were not affected by
dietary treatments, whilst backfat thickness
and FOM were significantly higher (P<0.01) in
DUxLW and CHxLW pigs genotype respectively.
A reduction of about 15% (12% to 17%) of the
dietary CP recommended by nutritional
requirements does not affect the main productive
performances and carcass characteristics
of pigs slaughtered at around 160 kg of BW.
