Growth rate, carcass performance and meat quality of Ban pigs and crossbred F1(Mong Cai x Ban) pig raised in Hoa Binh province

The study was carried out in Doc Lap commune, Ky Son district, Hoa Binh province from 2010 to 2011. The aim of the study was to compare the growth rate, carcass performance and meat quality between fattening pigs of local breed (called Ban pig) and F1 crossbred pig (Mong Cai boar × Ban sow). The results showed that over the same period of age, the growth rate of both F1 (MC × B) crossbred and Ban pig were considerably low, and the average daily gain (ADG) of the crossbred (125.30 g) was remakably higher than Ban pig (65.50 g) (P<0.05). Other indicators of meat quality such as percentage of water loss, pH45, pH24 and colour of meat were within normal range of pork. It was clearly shown that using Mong Cai boar crossbred with Ban sow has improved the growth rate and carcass performance of fattening pigs. The crossing formula (Mong Cai boar × Ban sow) was recommended for popular adoption in mountainous areas of Hoa Binh province, where most of Muong communities reside.