In this study three experiments were carried out to determine the effect that gender and feeding strategy had on growth performance and pork quality. The first trial consisted of 108 pigs in pens of six. They were either fed freely until they reached market or given a restricted diet of 70% or 85% of the free diet until they weighed 60kgs, at which point they were put on the free diet. Pigs on the restricted diet took longer to reach 60kgs than pigs on the free diet. But pigs on the restricted diet had faster growth after they reached 60kgs and were switched to a free diet, so in the end the days to market were fairly similar. The pigs on the restricted diet had less feed intake so feed efficiency was better. During the trail, compensatory gain during the finishing phase for barrows was more than gilts, but feed intake and feed efficiency was similar.Hot carcass weight, dressing percent and loin depth (final probe) were similar for each feeding strategy. Indicators revealed that meat tenderness was better for limit fed pigs. A disease outbreak made the second trials results uncompilable so a third trail was undertaken.The third trial consisted of one restricted diet of 70% of free diet based on body weight and one conventional diet that was free fed. Again it was found that the free diet had better growth results up to 60kgs, and the limited diet pigs had better gains after reaching 60kgs. Overall gains were less for the limited pigs as they were on a sustained limited feeding period. Overall intake was similar for each diet. Feed costs were lower for the restricted diet but after accounting for increased days to market the costs were similar. A proposed hypothesis was confirmed, stating that there should be 42 days of full feeding to maximize muscle protein degradation and improve meat tenderness.