Forage chain management in rearing system of Cinta Senese

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of two different feed managements for Cinta Senese pig breed in order to limit the use of commercial mixture. A total of 34 castrated male pigs, 18 Cinta Senese and 16 Large White X Cinta Senese, were used. Animals were equally allotted within each genotype in two feeding systems: pasture or pen. Animals reared on pasture were fed following the forage chain with a supplement of commercial mixture whereas animals reared in pen were fed only commercial mixture. The amount of mixture for pastured animals was calculated based on the presence of the different grazing sources in each trial period. The animals were weighed once a month. Data were analysed by ANOVA using breed and rearing system as fixed effect and slaughter weight as continuous effect. Also, interaction breed*rearing system was tested but it never attained significance. At the end of the trial (278 d) pen groups ate a total of 627 kg/head of commercial mixture against 490 kg/head of pastured animals. At slaughtering no differences were found between groups for average daily gain; as regard genetic type, Cinta Senese pigs showed higher percentage of fat cuts, and lower of lean cuts than crossbreed (total fat cuts, 25.50 vs 23.30% and total lean cuts, 69.91 vs 71.61% respectively). The greater adiposity of pure breed was also confirmed in the sample join (portion of loin including subcutaneous fat) (P<0.05). Physical and chemical analyses were not different between genetic types. As regard the rearing system effect, the use of forage chain would seem to satisfy the nutritional requirements of the animals which present similar performance to animals in pens. In conclusion, the farm forage chain could be an optimal strategy for Cinta Senese pig rearing as it could lead to a reduction of the use of commercial mixture without affecting both animal performances and carcass quality, allowing to extend the grazing period and, consequently, reducing feed costs.