Productive Behavior and Carcass Yield of Mexican Tropical Hairless Creole Pigs Fed Different Diets

The objective of this research was to determine the in-pen behavior and carcass yield of MCPs fed two different diets and slaughtered at two different live weights. The MCP biotype has a slow growth rate because they are fed with forage resources and locally available unconventional feeds. Sixteen castrated MCPs were used: eight pigs under 40 kg live weight and eight pigs over 40 kg. The diets were prepared with corn, soy, vitamins, and minerals, different protein levels, and the same energy content. Pigs fed the corn-soybean diet had a higher daily feed intake (500 g/d) and a significantly increased daily weight gain (160 g/d) compared to pigs fed on the corn-only diet, achieving slaughter weight in less time (4.33 times faster in pigs slaughtered at 40 kg live weight and 2.44 times faster for pigs slaughtered at 80 kg live weight). Regarding carcass yield, fat was 10% higher in pigs slaughtered at 80 kg compared to those at 40 kg. Soybean meal feeding improved the in-pen performance of MCPs but did not improve carcass yield. At higher slaughter weights, fat yield increased, but meat yield did not change.