Veterinary session

The aim of our research conducted in Hungary between the second half of 2023 and the first half of 2024 was to prove that TN Duroc outperforms its competitors in most production/ performance indicators and meat quality parameters with line-specific feeding regime. Abroad, where TN Duroc boars have been in production for some years and the offsprings receive the right feed for them, our previous item sentence can be verified. We wanted to prove the same in Hungary. Unfortunately, neither farm was willing to introduce line-specific feeding, but we were still able to compare the performance of TN Duroc and its competing successors under the same conditions. TN Duroc's most important breeding goals include increasing robustness, efficient finisher performance, meat quality indicators, carcass yield and impact on litter size.

In accordance with these breeding goals, it can be stated that during the farrowing phase, TN Duroc boar animals seem to have a positive effect on litter size, they have a higher growth rate, and they surpass other genetics in robustness, as they have a lower mortality rate. They also retain their higher growth vigor on nursery, I can report better daily weight gain and specific feed efficacy values. Evaluating the fattening phase, TN Duroc loses out slightly to competing genetics in daily weight gain. At the slaughterhouse, mixed results can be summed up, as fewer confiscated carcasses at slaughter and a bit (but not significantly) higher percentage of lean meat speak in favor of competing genetics. However, in the present study, TN Duroc offsprings have larger loin diameters and smaller back fat thicknesses during slaughterhouse measurements. In order to demonstrate better feed utilization and higher daily weight gain during the finisher phase, as well as better results in meat quality indicators, it would be necessary to compare different genetics with TN Duroc line specific feeding.

In conclusion, we have partially achieved our objective, proving that even under the same conditions but not favorable to TN Duroc, TN Duroc can outperform its competitors in many production indicators and meat quality indicators.