Lung lesions
The percentage of lung surface with pneumonia was largest in batches 3, 6, 7 and 8 (> 10%) (Table 1). The highest percentage of pigs with fissures was found in batch 6, and pleuritis in batches 3, 4 and 6. The degree of lesions was not related to time of the year, but to an infection as shown by examination of dead pigs (Animal Health Care Flanders). Data were regrouped by creating a new classification, i.e. lesions < 5% and lesions > 25%. The pigs in a batch matching the class variable are the replicates for the individually measured characteristics of meat quality in that class (Table 2).
Table 1.
Longitudinal study: the presence of pneumonia, fissures and pleuritis as revealed by post-mortem lung examination.