Abstract:
In Ghana, there is little or no data to empirically show the yield of pork for
processors and marketers to effectively trade and market pork on primal cut
basis. Information available on yield of pork for western countries maybe
different from pork in Ghana, hence this study. This study was experimental,
with a total of eighty (80) large white breed of pigs of six months from the
University of Cape Coast (UCC) Teaching and Research farm were weighed
and slaughtered, after which the yield of the primal cuts were assessed. A
secondary data on the patronage of primal cuts was retrieved from the Meat
Processing Unit of UCC and analysed using the one-way analysis of variance
procedure under the Minitab Statistical Package to find out the rate of
patronage of the various primal cuts. Tukey’s Pairwise Comparison was used
to separate means at 95% confidence level. The dressing percentage recorded
for the animals ranged from 61.8 to 65.2%. It was realised that heavier animals
produced better carcass weight and primal cuts. The yields of ham, shoulder,
loin chop, spareribs and fillet ranged from 6.3 to 9.7, 8.4 to 11.9, 2.9 to 4.4,
0.5 to 0.8 and 0.2 to 0.4 kilograms respectively. Data on pork patronage
revealed that, the ham and the shoulder are the most patronised primal cuts on
fresh weight basis, implying that such parts are most preferred in the fresh
forms. Butchers are advised to select heavier animals for slaughter, as these
yield better dressing percentages. Further studies should assess the carcass and
primal cut yields of different breeds of pigs reared in Ghana.
