Thermal Environment Effects on Growing-Finishing Swine Part IICarcass Composition and Organ Weights

SIXTY crossbred gilts were reared two per pen in five pens each at environmental temperatures of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30C. Animals initially weighed an average of 43.6 kg and were slaughtered at an average weight of 86.7 kg. Gilts reared at 15C had carcasses with maximum fat tissue and minimum lean tissue and those reared at 30C had minimum fat and maximum lean tissue. Weights of organs decreased with increasing temperatures from 5 to 30C, indicating a reduction in the maintenance costs with increasing temperature.