Currently, in pork auctions in Korea, only carcass weight and backfat thickness
provide information on meat quantity, while the production volume of primal cuts
and fat contents remains largely unknown. This study aims to predict the
production of primal cuts in pigs and investigate how these carcass traits
affect pricing. Using the VCS2000, the production of shoulder blade, loin,
belly, shoulder picnic, and ham was measured for gilts (17,257 pigs) and barrows
(16,365 pigs) of LYD (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc) pigs. Single
and multiple regression analysis were conducted to analyze the relationship
between the primal cuts and carcass weight. The study also examined the
correlation between each primal cut, backfat thickness (1st thoracic vertebra
backfat thickness, grading backfat thickness, and Multi-brached muscle middle
backfat thickness), pork belly fat percentage, total fat yield, and auction
price. A multiple regression analysis was conducted between the carcass traits
that showed a high correlation and the auction price. After conducting a single
regression analysis on the primal cuts of gilt and barrow, all coefficients of
determination (R
2
) were 0.77 or higher. In the multiple regression
analysis, the R
2
value was 0.98 or higher. The correlation
coefficient between the carcass weights and the auction price exceeded 0.70,
while the correlation coefficients between the primal cuts and the auction
prices were above 0.65. In terms of fat content, the backfat thickness of gilt
exhibited a correlation coefficient of 0.70, and all other items had a
correlation coefficient of 0.47 or higher. The correlation coefficients between
the Forequarter, Middle, and Hindquarter and the auction price were 0.62 or
higher. The R
2
values of the multiple regression analysis between
carcass traits and auction price were 0.5 or higher for gilts and 0.4 or higher
for barrows. The regression equations between carcass weight and primal cuts
derived in this study exhibited high determination coefficients, suggesting that
they could serve as reliable means to predict primal cut production from pig
carcasses. Elucidating the correlation between primal cuts, fat contents and
auction prices can provide economic indicators for pork and assist in guiding
the direction of pig farming.
