Lechon Data Recovery of the Yookah Native Pigs of KSU Native Pig R&D Project

This study was conducted to determine the lechon data recovery of the YOOKAH native pigs of KSU Native Pig R&D Project. This study is part of data gathering tool of the on-going Native Pig R&D Program entitled “Conservation, Improvement and Profitable Utilization of the Phil. Native Pigs”, funded by DOST-PCAARRD. Morphometric measurements of the thirty three (33) lechon animals weighing 15-20 kg were gathered and recorded, of which are 18 castrated males and 15 females. Data gathering covered a period of three (3) years from June 2015 to July 2018. Data gathering was done during the pre-slaughter at the KSU native pig station, post-slaughter and lechon data were taken at Daliyong's lechonan. The researchers only used one lechonan to maintain the consistency of the procedure during the slaughter, evisceration and pit roasting. A tape measure and digital weighing scale was used during the data gathering. The total shrinkage of head length from live to lechon is recorded at 3.22 cm, the body length is recorded at 6.54 cm and the heart girth was recorded at 8.91 cm. The total shrinkage in body weight is recoded at 49.7% or a total of 8.98 kilograms. Most of the loss occurred during the evisceration process, the loss occurred during the pit roasting is due to the loss of water from the carcass of the animal. Leaner animals such as native pigs have leaner body with less fat thus loss during the roasting procedure is lesser. Recommendation for further studies should focus on the comparison between the morphometric measurements and organoleptic comparison between the native pig lechon and commercial lechon to support these findings.