Effect of single-sex or mixed rearing and live weight on performance, technological meat quality and sexual maturity in entire male and female pigs fed raw potato starch

The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of rearing system (mixed or single-sex) on performance and carcass quality of entire male and female pigs slaughtered at around 90 or 115 kg live weight. We also studied the combined effect of live weight and dietary supplement of raw potato starch (RPS) on technological meat quality for both sexes, and boar taint compounds in entire male pigs. Furthermore, we investigated pre-slaughter routines (pen-wise or mixing with unfamiliar pigs) and sexual maturity. A total of 408 growing/finishing pigs were included in this two-year study. Performance did not differ significantly between entire male and female pigs irrespective of rearing system, except for daily weight gain in the interval from 90 kg to slaughter. Mixed pigs had significantly higher daily weight gain in this interval than single-sex pigs. Entire male pigs had higher carcass lean meat content than female pigs (1.6 percentage units). Technological meat quality differed only slightly betwe...