Conclusions
Intact females can replace advantageously castrated females for
the production of high quality pieces destined to the dry curing
industry of Iberian pigs. A reduction in slaughter weight from
156 to 145 kg body weight improved pig performance and carcass
characteristics without any disadvantage on pork quality. Therefore,
the use of intact females and the slaughter at lighter weight
is recommended for Iberian pigs reared under intensive production
systems.