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The cardiovascular capacity of animals is considerably affected by the selection procedure for high lean meat production. To determine the genotype and live weight-related changes of some quantitative characteristics of the pig heart function, serial measurements were carried out. Intensive meat (Hungarian Large White×Belgian Landrace×Pietrain×Norvegian Landrace) and extensive fat type (Mangalica) pigs were examined using whole body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a spiral computer tomograph (CT). Based on our dynamic MRI examination, the following live weight-dependent significant differences were found. (1) The means of the measured left ventricular stroke volume values were at body weights of 30, 60 and 90 kg: 29.1, 41.2, 63.5 and 38.1, 54.0, 55.8 ml in case of meat- and fat-type pigs, respectively. (2) The average cardiac output (CO) values were: 3.8, 4.4, 5.8 and 3.1, 3.9, 3.8 l/min. (3) The estimated relative CO value (skeletal muscle tissue volume measured by CT/CO unit) of the meat- and fat-type pigs were 4.0, 5.6, 6.0 and 2.4, 3.9, 4.8 dm3/(l min−1), respectively, in sedentary conditions. The significant genotype effect measured with this in vivo method in the relative CO values demonstrates the usability of this technique in selection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]