Piglet birth weight, subsequent performance, carcass traits and pork quality: A meta-analytical study

Abstract The meta-analyses were carried out to study the effect of piglet birth weight on performance, carcass traits and pork quality. The database totaled 3294 piglets (28 articles published from 2000 to 2014). The piglets’ mean weight at birth was 1.45 kg. The weights were classified into three groups: heavy (average weight 1.80 kg), medium (1.48 kg) and light (1.09 kg). The publications selected for the meta-analyses presented results from experiments with at least two weight ranges at birth and organ weight and/or performance and/or carcass data. The piglets’ body and organ birth weights showed highly significant and positive correlations ( P P P P P P P P P