An analysis of carcass measurements of post-war British bacon pigs

Abstract

( a ) Measurements made on sides of bacon exhibited since the war at the National Pig Breeders' Association carcass shows at Stirling and Peterborough and on various commercial sides have been analysed to investigate differences between the shows, the years and the sexes. ( b ) In the Large White exhibits the sides from gilts were on average longer, thicker in the belly, thinner in back fat and with better developed eye muscles than the sides from hogs. ( c ) The area of the eye muscle of the carcasses entered in these shows between 1948 and 1952 shows an unexplained decrease over this period. The width of the eye muscle is the only character showing a definite show difference, being larger at Stirling than at Peterborough.