Tanzania Journal of Agricultural Sciences 2000, Vol. 3(1) : 47-54
Rates of tissue gain and body composition of 18 entire (E) and 18 castrated (C) male pigs, fed at one of
two levels offeeding (high (H) or low (L)), were investigated in a 2x2factorial experiment. Calorimetric,
energy and rlitrogen balances were carried out on each animal at 30, 60 and 90 kg live weight. The animals
were slaughtered at 95 kg and their body composition was determined. The higher feeding level resulted
in greater (P < 0.001) rates of body weight gain, protein andfat deposition in all treatment combinations.
Castration was associated with decreased and increased potentialfor protein andfat deposition,
respectively. Mean values of shoulder fat thickness, loinfat and subcutaneousfat (P2) were greater
(P< 0.01 )for the animalsfed at the high compared with thosefed at the low level and thesefat measurements
were greater in the castrated than the entire male pigs. Relative to the slaughter method, the balance
method overestimated and underestimated the rates of protein andfat deposition by 0.16 and 0.10,
respectively.