Since fat is neither economical to produce nor trim off the carcass, the selection of lean breeding stock is impor- tant. Boars and gilts should be clean over their loin edge; their shoulder blades should be easily seen; and they should be free from excessive waste in the cushion of their hams.
- Backfat probes and ultrasonic instruments are useful tools in determine fat.
- Figures 3 and 4 compare a trim, lean topped boar with a fat, wasty one.
- Notice the clean-patterned boar has evidence of muscle and skeletal expression, while the wasty one is smooth and lacks expression.