Evaluation of growth, carcass traits and reproductive organs of young boars in response to zeranol implantation.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of implants containing zeranol on growth rate, carcass composition, palatability and reproductive organ development of intact male pigs. In Exp. 1, three treatment groups were evaluated: control barrows, intact control boars and implanted boars (implanted at either 28, 56 or 112 d of age with one 12-mg dose of zeranol). In Exp. 2, four treatment groups were evaluated: control barrows, intact control boars, boars implanted at 28 d with 24 mg of zeranol (single implant) and boars implanted at 28 d and re-implanted at 56 and 112 d of age with 24 mg of zeranol (triple implant). Differences for average daily gain and carcass traits were not consistent between treatment groups with the exception of 10th rib fat, where barrows were fatter than boars. There were no differences among treatments due to zeranol for the reproductive organ characteristics, with the exception that bulbourethal gland and teat weights were heavier for boars in Exp. 2. Penis weights and lengths were lower for barrows in both experiments. Juiciness, tenderness, Warner-Bratzler shear force, pork flavor intensity and sensory scores were not consistently affected by male condition or zeranol treatment. In two of the three comparisons, implanted boars had higher off-flavor intensity scores in Exp. 1, but no treatment difference was observed in Exp. 2. Zeranol implantation did not result in significant changes in growth rate, development of reproductive organs or carcass characteristics of young boars.