Carcasses from CF and CM were heavier (94.4 vs. 91.6 kg; P < 0.05) and fatter (24.5 vs. 21.6 cm for BF, and 21.4 vs. 17.7 cm for GM fat, respectively; P < 0.05) than carcasses from IF. Loin yield was greater for IF than for CF and CM (7.2 vs. 6.9%; P < 0.01) but no differences among classes were found for weight or yield of hams or shoulders. Carcass yield, carcass length, and length and circumference of the ham were similar for IF, CF, and CM. In addition, no differences among classes were found for pH45, pH24, or shrink loss of primal cuts (Table 3). On the other hand, an increase
in SW from 114 to 122 kg increased carcass weight (P < 0.001), GM fat (P < 0.05), and carcass length (P < 0.001), and tended to improve carcass yield (P < 0.10). However, percentage of primal cuts in the carcass and BF thickness were not affected by SW (Table 3). There was a tendency for a greater pH45 in pigs slaughtered at 122 kg of BW (P = 0.08). In addition, cold shrinkage