Visceral organ weights of swine selected for reduced backfat thickness and increased growth rate

Abstract

Eight generations of Yorkshire swine and seven generations of Hampshire swine, involving a total of 2300 animals of which 1350 were selected for reduced backfat thickness and increased growth rate, had concurrent increases in visceral organ weights (heart, lungs, spleen, liver and kidney). Implications are that this could amount to 0.4 kg less weight per carcass. Key words: Pigs, organs, selection, Yorkshire, Hampshire