An exemplary view on the influence of genotype and feeding on growth performance, carcass quality, and meat quality in organic pig fattening

In organic pig fattening the choice of a suitable genotype and an adequate diet depends on the marketing goal and influences product quality (carcass and meat quality) and the economic success of the farmer. Carcass quality-dominated, respectively meat quantity-oriented, organic marketing goals require modern genotypes with high body protein synthesis capacity, i.e., low Duroc gene proportions. Diets must be of high nutrient value, meaning high quality amino acid pattern, which result in a more or less high external nutrient input into the organic agricultural system. Meat quality-dominated marketing targets, which have to accept less lean meat-rich carcasses, tolerate genotypes with lower body protein synthesis capacity, i.e., high Duroc gene proportions, and demand more extensive diets with lower amino acid quality up to pure on-farm diets, resulting in a low external input system.