Pig Meat Quality as Affected by Genetics and Production Systems

1995 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ellis ◽  
F.K. Mckeith

The efficiency of pig production has increased considerably in recent years, but the improvement of meat quality has only recently begun to receive attention. Closer links between the producers and marketers of pigs are now resulting in a clearer understanding of the factors that lead to meat of high quality. Here, some of the major on-farm influences on meat quality are described, focussing on meat colour, water-holding capacity and eating quality.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lili Du ◽  
Tianpeng Chang ◽  
Bingxing An ◽  
Mang Liang ◽  
Xinghai Duan ◽  
...  

AbstractWater holding capacity (WHC) is an important sensory attribute that greatly influences meat quality. However, the molecular mechanism that regulates the beef WHC remains to be elucidated. In this study, the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscles of 49 Chinese Simmental beef cattle were measured for meat quality traits and subjected to RNA sequencing. WHC had significant correlation with 35 kg water loss (r = − 0.99, p < 0.01) and IMF content (r = 0.31, p < 0.05), but not with SF (r = − 0.20, p = 0.18) and pH (r = 0.11, p = 0.44). Eight individuals with the highest WHC (H-WHC) and the lowest WHC (L-WHC) were selected for transcriptome analysis. A total of 865 genes were identified as differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between two groups, of which 633 genes were up-regulated and 232 genes were down-regulated. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment revealed that DEGs were significantly enriched in 15 GO terms and 96 pathways. Additionally, based on protein–protein interaction (PPI) network, animal QTL database (QTLdb), and relevant literature, the study not only confirmed seven genes (HSPA12A, HSPA13, PPARγ, MYL2, MYPN, TPI, and ATP2A1) influenced WHC in accordance with previous studies, but also identified ATP2B4, ACTN1, ITGAV, TGFBR1, THBS1, and TEK as the most promising novel candidate genes affecting the WHC. These findings could offer important insight for exploring the molecular mechanism underlying the WHC trait and facilitate the improvement of beef quality.


1986 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 517-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Kempster ◽  
A. W. Dilworth ◽  
D. G. Evans ◽  
K. D. Fisher

ABSTRACTA trial was carried out to examine some of the factors involved in the possible deterioration in pig meat quality associated with the trend towards leaner carcasses. Five batches of pigs, each one as far as possible from the same producer, were identified at each of 10 abattoirs. Three gilts and three entire males were selected from each batch to show a range of fatness. Overall mean fat thickness measurements over the m, longissimus at the last rib (P2, mm) for lean, average and fat carcasses were 8·8, 11·6, and 16·9 (gilts) and 8·4, 11·7 and 15·5 (entire males). The overall mean carcass weight was 58 kg. Loin and leg joints were assessed for cutting and presentational characteristics by a panel of 45 butchers. Loin chops and shoulder and leg joints were assessed for eating characteristics by consumer panels involving a total of 500 families. Butchers judged the fat of lean carcasses to be softer and the meat to be floppier and with more tissue separation. Entire males also had slight disadvantages in these respects. Consumers found the chops of lean carcasses to be less juicy on average (0·16 lean carcasses were judged to have dry chops compared with 0·09 for fat carcasses) with a tendency towards toughness and less flavour. There were no differences in overall acceptability. Meat from the two sexes did not differ in eating quality or overall acceptability to consumers. The butchers were more critical of overlean carcasses than were consumers. The trial indicates that the trend towards leaner carcasses is likely to create butchery problems but not consumer dissatisfaction.


2005 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R.G. KÖHLER ◽  
R.J.S. FREITAS

Existem vários fatores estressantes que podem afetar a qualidade da carne e também há falta de informação sobre a quantidade de horas mínimas e máximas ideais de descanso no frigorífico para a reposição do esgotamento físico dos animais após o transporte. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo estudar o efeito da redução do tempo de permanência na pocilga do frigorífico sobre a qualidade da carne suína, avaliando-se as seguintes características: pH; capacidade de retenção de água (WHC). A redução de descanso de 9 horas para 3 horas de descanso no frigorífico não alteraram de modo significativo a qualidade da carne suína nas variáveis pH 45 minutos, pH 24 horas pós abate e na capacidade de retenção de água (WHC) pelos métodos Drip Loss e papel de filtro prensado de GRAU e HAMM, mas com a redução do tempo de descanso no frigorífico, pôdese obter outros ganhos (redução do estresse, escoriações de pele, hematomas, fraturas e outros) e em qualidade da carne. Pork meat quality after two times of lairage in slaugther Abstract There are several stressing factors that can affect the meat quality, and also a lack of information on the minimum and maximum ideal lairage time in the slaugther for the replacement of animal physical exhaustion after transportation. The reduction of 9 to 3 hours of lairage in the preslaugther did not significantly alter the pork meat quality in the variables pH 45 min, pH 24 h postslaugther, water-holding capacity (WHC) for the methods Drip Loss and filter paper press of GRAU & HAMM. However, with the reduction lairage time in the slaugther, other gains could be obtained (reduction of stress, skin excoriations, hematomas, fractures and others) as well as increase in meat quality.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 945 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Sardi ◽  
Alessandro Gastaldo ◽  
Marzia Borciani ◽  
Andrea Bertolini ◽  
Valeria Musi ◽  
...  

This study aimed at identifying possible pre-slaughter indicators and/or indexes to be used to predict pig stress response and meat quality variation. Data were collected on 44 shipments (loads) of Italian heavy pigs. For each shipment, several pre-slaughter parameters were recorded on farm, during transport, and at the slaughterhouse. Blood and meat samples were taken from 10 pigs from every of the 44 loads included in the study (N = 440). Blood samples were used to assess cortisol and creatine kinase levels, whereas meat samples were used to assess meat quality (pH, instrumental color, tenderness, water-holding capacity, and sensory analysis). Cluster analysis of blood parameters allowed the categorization of the shipments into two main clusters: Lower Stress (LS) and Higher Stress (HS). The variables/indexes statistically differing between the two clusters were: average vehicle speed during transport, welfare index at slaughter (i.e., “slaughter score”), overall transport and slaughter welfare index (TSWI), distance travelled, and behaviors (slips, falls, overlaps) during unloading, which appeared to be the best descriptors of the welfare conditions experienced by Italian heavy pigs during pre-slaughter handling. No consistent effects of the stress level experienced on meat quality was detected, which warrants the need for further studies conducted under more variable pre-slaughter conditions, with the aim of simplifying and improving the TSWI.


1995 ◽  
Vol 1995 ◽  
pp. 87-87
Author(s):  
C. Sanudo ◽  
I. Sierra ◽  
J.L. Olleta ◽  
L. Martin ◽  
M. Campo ◽  
...  

In Mediterranean countries weaning is an important decision both in meat and milk production systems. In previous work, using the Lacaune milk breed, unweaned lambs produced meat of better eating quality. In this study our aim was to determine the effect of weaning on carcass, meat and fat quality in a breed with a smaller milk production and in animals with free access to concentrate practically from birth.


2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (10) ◽  
pp. 952 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Liste ◽  
G. C. Miranda-de la Lama ◽  
M. M. Campo ◽  
M. Villarroel ◽  
E. Muela ◽  
...  

The study analysed the effect of lairage on some indicators of welfare and meat quality in lambs. Forty-eight lambs were divided into two treatments: T1 without lairage and T2 with 12 h of lairage. Blood samples were collected at slaughter to analyse cortisol, lactate, glucose, creatinine kinase, non-esterified fatty acid, white blood cells, red blood cells, haematocrit and ratio of neutrophil : lymphocytes. Meat from the M. longissimus was analysed in terms of pH 24 h post-mortem, water-holding capacity, texture and colour. Sensory analyses were performed by a trained panel. Lairage had a significant effect on stress response, but had no effect on haematological variables. The lambs with a lairage period before slaughter (T2) had significantly (P ≤ 0.001) lower values of cortisol at the time of slaughter. A similar result was observed for lactate and glucose, with T1 lambs showing significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher values than T2 lambs. The creatinine kinase activity and non-esterified fatty acid concentrations were highest in T2 lambs (P ≤ 0.05). Instrumental and sensory meat quality were not affected, with the exception of water-holding capacity and some meat colour indicators. The water-holding capacity was significantly higher for T2 (P ≤ 0.05), while T1 lambs had a higher yellow index (P ≤ 0.05) and hue (P ≤ 0.05). The results obtained in this study suggest that animals will be less stressed at the time of slaughter with an overnight lairage compared with slaughter on arrival at the abattoir. While stress at the time of slaughter can influence meat quality, these changes were small and always within the normal commercial range.


2012 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 385-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Jukna ◽  
J. Klementaviciūtė ◽  
E. Meskinytė-Kausilienė ◽  
N. Peciulaitienė ◽  
M. Samborskytė ◽  
...  

In this article are presented research data on comparative evaluation of meat quality of various poultry species. The study was made on 5 samples of ostrich, turkey and broiler meat. Samples were weighed 500 to 550 grams. Qualitative and nutritional properties of meat from different species of poultry were estimated. The chemical composition, pH, color, firmness, water holding capacity, cooking loss, drip loss of ostrich, turkey and broiler meat were analyzed. Meat quality studies were carried out according to generally accepted methodologies. Analyses have shown that the highest fat content was in the broiler meat (p <0.001). Ostrich, turkey and broiler meat acidity values were very similar, slightly more distinct in turkey meat (p <0.01). The lowest water holding capacity was established in ostrich, the highest in turkey meat (p <0.01). Comparison in regard to meat firmness, it was observed on the ostrich meat had the highest firmness (p <0.01). Also, the highest cholesterol content was established in the ostrich meat.


Author(s):  
Mirosław Banaszak ◽  
Jakub Biesek ◽  
Marek Adamski

AbstractLitter sanitation treatments and feed supplements that stimulate bird growth. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of zeolite (z) and halloysite (h) in feed and rye straw litter on growth performance, meat quality in chickens. 500 males Ross 308 were allocated to 5 groups (10 replicates). Feed for groups 2–5 was supplemented with halloysite and zeolite (25:75). The content of aluminosilicates in the feed was different depending on the feeding phase: 0.5, 1, 1.5, or 2%. The following doses were used in litter: 2, 0.800 kg/m2 h; 3, 0.400 kg/m2 h and 0.400 kg/m2 z; 4, 0.800 kg/m2 z; 5, 0.200 kg/m2 h, and 0.600 kg/m2 z. Growth, and meat quality were analysed. Body weight and body weight gain were higher in groups 2–5 than in group 1, while feed intake was lower in groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.05). Body weight, the weight of carcass, and most of its elements were higher in the experimental groups (p < 0.05). Breast muscles from group 1 were characterised by better water-holding capacity and higher protein content, while those from 4 had higher content of collagen and water (p < 0.05). Breast muscles from group 3 were characterized by lower yellowness than in 2 (p < 0.05). Leg muscles from group 1 were characterized by lower redness than in 4 (p < 0.05). Water-holding capacity was better in group 3 and protein content was higher in 2 (p < 0.05). The content of fat in leg muscle was lower in all experimental groups compared to control (p < 0.05). This indicates the suitability of aluminosilicates in poultry management practice, with better growth and meat quality.


2013 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 521-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oscar Ricardo Blumetto Velazco ◽  
Salvador Calvet Sanz ◽  
Fernando Estellés Barber ◽  
Arantxa Villagrá García

2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (No. 2) ◽  
pp. 51-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Dalle Zotte ◽  
G. Tasoniero ◽  
E. Puolanne ◽  
H. Remignon ◽  
M. Cecchinato ◽  
...  

The purposes of the study were to investigate the effects of Wooden Breast (WB) myodegeneration on poultry meat quality and to give a contribution in typing lesions morphology. At a poultry meat cutting facility, 474 carcasses of a high-breast-yield hybrid chickens were inspected for WB condition, and 30 normal (N) and 30 affected (WB) breast fillets (Pectoralis major) were randomly selected. The WB condition represented 53.2% of the examined carcasses. Weight, cross sectional area (CSA), pH, L*, a*, b* colour values, water-holding capacity, and Warner-Bratzler shear force were determined. Samples were also visually and histologically evaluated. Affected samples were heavier, thicker, paler (P &lt; 0.001), and characterized by palpatory hardness and lower water holding capacity (P &lt; 0.05). Macroscopically, abnormalities were primarily localized in the cranial portion of the fillet and defined by the presence of bulges, petechiae, fluid and clear exudate, and higher pH. Microscopically, the WB condition was characterized by muscle fibres with greater CSA (P &lt; 0.001) and higher giant fibres prevalence (P &lt; 0.01). Data suggest a relationship between breast weight and WB condition.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document