Environmental effects on pig performance, meat quality, and muscle characteristics

The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of diverse production systems on pig performance, muscle characteristics, and their relation to pork quality measures. Birth and rearing conditions were evaluated using 48 barrows during the fall/winter months. Pigs were farrowed in either indoor crates or outdoor huts. At weaning, indoor- and outdoor-born pigs were allotted randomly to treatments arranged in a 2 x 2 factorial design with two birth (indoor vs. outdoor) and rearing (indoor vs. outdoor) environments. Pigs housed indoors were on concrete-slatted flooring (1.2 m2/pig), and pigs housed outdoors were on an alfalfa pasture (212 m2/pig). Body weight data were collected. Muscle samples were removed within 1 h postmortem from the longissimus (LM) and semimembranosus (SM) muscles. Muscle samples were stained histochemically to identify type I, IIA, and IIB/X muscle fibers. Boneless loins were collected from the left side of each carcass and aged for 14 d. Objective and subjective color measurements were taken on the longissimus muscle at the 10th rib on d 14 postmortem. Loin chops were evaluated for sensory attributes, shear force, and retail display features. Pigs born outdoors were heavier and had a greater ADG at most growth intervals postweaning (d 28, 56, and 112; P < 0.05) than pigs born indoors. Pigs reared outdoors were heavier (P = 0.02) at d 140 (120.1 vs. 112.9 +/- 4.9 kg), and had higher (P = 0.01) ADG (2.2 vs. 1.9 kg/d) and gain:feed ratios (0.41 vs. 0.37) than did pigs reared indoors. Birth x rearing environment interactions were not significant (P > 0.10) for most measures. Carcass and meat quality measures did not differ (P > 0.05) among treatment groups, but loin chops from outdoor born or reared pigs had higher (P < 0.05) a* values than chops from pigs born or reared indoors. The LM muscle of pigs born outdoors had a higher (P < 0.01) percentage of type I, and a lower (P < 0.05) percentage of type IIA fibers than did pigs born indoors. Pigs reared outdoors had a higher (P < 0.01) percentage of IIA fibers and a lower (P < 0.05) percentage of IIB/X fibers than did pigs reared indoors for the LM and SM muscles. Outdoor production systems may influence growth, pork color, and muscle fiber types.     

有机铬添加剂对猪生产性能和肉质的影响

长期以来,高瘦肉率、高生长速度一直是猪育种选育追求的主要目标。但随着人们生活水平的提高,消费者不仅注重瘦肉率,也注重猪肉品质。在养猪生产实践中,人们常在猪饲粮中添加某些添加剂来改善猪肉品质。近年来,国内兴起使用有机铬的热潮。一些研究表明,在猪饲粮添     

日粮脂肪类型与猪肉的品质

猪日粮中的不饱和脂肪酸可使猪肉含有同一种有益于人类健康的脂肪酸。然而，含有这些脂肪酸的植物油对肉质的影响尚未被人们充分了解。Jamlong Mitchaothai将通过本文阐述有关日粮脂肪类型与猪肉品质关系的最新研究成果。     

陆川猪胴体品质及肉质的研究

本试验旨在研究陆川猪胴体品质和肉质性状,为陆川猪保种和合理利用提供科学依据。对8头陆川猪的测定结果表明,10.75月龄陆川猪屠宰体重83.98 kg,胴体瘦肉率38.68%,肉色和大理石纹评分分别为3.1和4.71,pH1(宰后45 min的pH)和pH24(宰后24 h的pH)分别为5.86和5.73,肌内脂肪含量高达9.27%,肌纤维直径为31.51μm。每100 g背最长肌中氨基酸总量、鲜味氨基酸含量和必需氨基酸含量分别为17.89 g1、4.04 g7、.13 g,鲜味氨基酸占总氨基酸的比例和必需氨基酸占总氨基酸的比例分别为78.48%和39.85%。饱和脂肪酸组成主要是棕榈酸,其含量达到26.03%,不饱和脂肪酸组成主要是油酸(C18∶1)和亚油酸(C18∶2),其含量分别达45.06%和11.57%,其它脂肪酸含量相对较少。     

甜菜碱对育肥猪生长性能、胴体品质和肉质的影响

试验选用体重70 kg左右、日龄相近、体质良好的杜长大三元杂交猪45头,采用单因子随机设计,分为对照组、试验1、2、3、4组,每组3个重复,分别饲喂添加0、500、1000、1500、2000 mg/kg甜菜碱的日粮,试验期30 d,研究甜菜碱对肥育猪生长性能、胴体品质和肉质的影响。结果表明,与对照组相比,试验2、3、4组日均采食量、日增重、屠宰率、瘦肉率、肉色评分、大理石评分显著提高(P<0.05),背膘厚度显著降低(P<0.05),试验1组各项指标有所改善,但效果不显著(P>0.05),本试验表明,饲料中添加甜菜碱可提高育肥猪生长性能,改善胴体品质和肉品质,其中添加1500、2000 mg/kg的甜菜碱效果较为理想。     

Effects of the rearing system on the quality traits of the carcass, meat and fat of the Chato Murciano pig

To evaluate the performance of the Spanish autochthonous pig breed Chato Murciano under different rearing conditions, a total of 30 castrated male pigs were used. Eighteen pigs were reared in an outdoor system, and sent to slaughter with an average age of 210 days and live weight (LW) of 124.41 kg; and 12 pigs were reared in an indoor system, and slaughtered with 119.58 kg of LW and 236 days old. The pigs reared outdoors showed a better growing rate and final live weight in relation to age, as well as higher hot and cold carcass yields, and superior weights for the most valuable meat cuts, but their morphometric parameters were similar to those of the pigs reared indoors. The rearing system did not affect many of the meat quality traits (intramuscular fat (IMF) content, pH, color, tenderness and cooking loss), but drip losses were higher in the outdoor group. The levels of IMF found in this study in both rearing systems (2.65–3.19%) were notably lower than those from previous studies, probably due to differences in the diet used. The rearing system affected the mineral and fatty acid (FA) composition. The distribution of fatty acids in both groups, with a low Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (PUFA) content, can be expected to produce good quality processed products.     

提高猪的出栏体重可以改善肉质

<正>英国专家认为,猪胴体重每增加10%,每kg胴体重的生产成本能降低0.04英镑(MLC Report2003)。尽管这一数据来自于一个屠宰体重相对较小的非去势公猪市场的数据,但这一规律也适用于其他类型猪。     

影响猪肉品质的主要营养因素

猪肉的感官品质受遗传、营养、饲养及屠宰加工条件等多种因素的影响。近年来,国外关于肉品质的研究报道较多,尤其是在营养对肉品质的影响研究较活跃。国内研究相对较少。     

甜菜碱和胆碱对育肥猪胴体品质及肉品质的影响

试验采用两因素(甜菜碱、胆碱)2×3析因试验设计,选用81头健康的80kg左右的杜长大三元杂交猪,随机分成9组,每组3个重复。日粮中甜菜碱的添加水平为0、1000、1500mg/kg,胆碱的添加水平为0、250、500mg/kg,通过屠宰试验测定各项指标。结果表明,添加甜菜碱和胆碱组屠宰率、熟肉率增加,屠宰24h后的pH值和大理石纹评分稍有增加,背膘厚有所降低,同时添加甜菜碱1500mg/kg和胆碱500mg/kg总体效果最好。甜菜碱和胆碱对胴体品质和肉品质无互作效应。     

Effect of less intensive rearing conditions on litter characteristics, growth performance, carcase injuries and meat quality of broilers

1. The objective was to compare the effect of two litter types (wheat straw and wood shavings) and two different rearing conditions (Treated and Control) on welfare indicators, broiler performance, carcase injuries, particularly hock and foot pad dermatitis (FPD), litter characteristics and meat quality. 2. Treated conditions were characterised by a low stocking density (11 birds/m(2)), short photoperiod (16 h light: 8 h dark) and a large amount of litter (3 to 4.5 kg/m(2), respectively, for wheat straw or wood shavings). Control conditions were a high stocking density (14 birds/m(2)), long photoperiod (23 h light:1 h dark) and small amount of litter (2.3 to 3 kg/m(2), respectively, for wheat straw or wood shavings). In addition, the effects of two widely used litter materials, wheat straw and wood shavings, were investigated. 3. The combined effects of lower stocking density, greater amount of litter material and a photoperiod similar to the natural one, reduced the occurrence of FPD in Treated groups keeping the FPD score under the European threshold. 4. Improved rearing conditions led to faster growth rate associated with inferior feed efficiency, whereas litter type exerted negligible effects on broiler performance. 5. Litter moisture content, nitrogen and ammonia released by the litter were lower in Treated groups than Control groups. The use of wood shavings resulted in lower moisture and nitrogen concentrations in the litter.     

Diverse production system and social status effects on pig immunity and behavior

Pig performance, immunity, and behavior may be influenced by production system and social status. A conventional indoor housing system was compared with an outdoor system to determine the effects of diverse production systems on pig performance, behavior, and immunity. At 21 days of age, weight matched pigs reared in a conventional indoor or an outdoor production system were weaned and randomly selected for use in the present study. Six replicate pens were evaluated per treatment, with two littermate female pigs in each pen. Social status was determined at 7 weeks of age by a feed competition test. Pig behavior was recorded for 24 h using a scan sample technique. At 9 weeks of age, blood samples were taken from indoor- and outdoor-reared pigs and immune assays performed. Both indoor- and outdoor-reared pigs were given a sheep red blood cell (SRBC) challenge at 6 and 8 weeks of age, and antibody titers to SRBC were measured at 6, 7, and 9 weeks of age. Performance data were recorded throughout the study period. Body weight and average daily gain were not influenced by the production system in which the pig was reared. The production system effected standing, lying, drinking, and oral/nasal/facial behaviors. The production system influenced the expression of certain behaviors depending on the time of day. Immune and blood measures were affected by production system. The percentage of phagocytosis was greater (P ≤ 0.05) and antibody titers to SRBC challenge tended to be greater (P = 0.066) among outdoor-reared pigs compared with indoor-reared pigs. Outdoor reared pigs had higher hemoglobin concentrations (P < 0.005), percentage of hematocrit (P < 0.005), mean corpuscular volume (P < 0.005), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (P < 0.005) compared with indoor-reared pigs. Furthermore, dominance order influenced the immune system. Dominant pigs had greater phytohemagglutinin stimulated lymphocyte proliferation (P < 0.01) and baseline antibody titers to sheep red blood cells (P < 0.05) compared with submissive pigs. In conclusion, in the present study body weight and average daily gain were similar among diverse production systems. However, pig behavior and immune system were significantly influenced by the production system. Dominance order influenced the immune system regardless of the production system.     

Effects of different rearing systems on growth performance,carcass traits,meat quality and serum biochemical parameters of Chaohu ducks

This study was conducted using a total of 360 22‐day‐old Chaohu ducks to evaluate the effect of rearing system on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality and serum parameters of male and female Chaohu ducks. The birds were divided and raised in separate pens according to sex and rearing system, with three replicate pens of 30 male or 30 female ducks per pen for each rearing system. The rearing systems consisted of a floor rearing system (FRS) and a net rearing system (NRS). Results showed that ducks raised in NRS had better growth performance, whereas, ducks raised in FRS exhibited better carcass traits and meat color, and lower intramuscular fat. For the serum parameters, NRS significantly decreased high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol content, and enhanced total protein and triacylglycerol contents. Male ducks had lower abdominal fat percentage, and higher growth performance and shear force, but there were no other significant differences between sexes. No rearing system × sex interaction was observed in the present study, revealing that rearing system had the same effect on both sexes. In conclusion, NRS was beneficial to the growth performance of Chaohu ducks, whereas this system had some negative effects on carcass traits, meat quality and serum profiles.     

杂交对小梅山猪肉品质的影响

小梅山猪杂交后,除背最长肌嫩度改善外,其它肉品质指标都有不同程度下降,除背最长肌肉色外,全部肉品质指标均为小梅山猪大于约小梅猪,约小梅猪大于长约小梅猪.一些肉质性状间相关显著.背最长肌和半腱肌肌纤维直径均为长约小梅猪显著大于小梅山猪和约小梅猪,小梅山猪和约小梅猪差异不显著,全群猪肌纤维直径除与熟肉率呈正相关外,与其它肉质指标都呈负相关.     

Evaluating the quality of feed fats and oils and their effects on pig growth performance

Feed fats and oils provide significant amounts of energy to swine diets, but there is large variation in composition, quality, feeding value, and price among sources. Common measures of lipid quality include moisture, insolubles, and unsaponifiables (MIU), titer, and free fatty acid content, but provide limited information regarding their feeding value. Lipid peroxidation is an important quality factor related to animal growth performance and health, but maximum tolerable limits in various lipids have not been established. Several indicative assays can be used to detect the presence of various peroxidation compounds, but due to the complexity and numerous compounds produced and degraded during peroxidation process, no single method can adequately determine the extent of peroxidation. Until further information is available, using a combination of peroxide value, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and anisidine value appear to provide a reasonable assessment of the extent of peroxidation in a lipid at a reasonable cost. However, fatty acid composition of the lipid being evaluated should be considered when selecting specific assays. Predictive tests can also be used to estimate the stability or susceptibility of lipids to peroxidation and include active oxygen method, oil stability index, and oxygen bomb method. A review of 16 published studies with pigs has shown an average decrease of 11.4% in growth rate, 8.8% feed intake fed isocaloric diets containing peroxidized lipids compared to diets containing unperoxidized lipids of the same source. Furthermore, serum vitamin E content was generally reduced and serum TBARS content was increased when peroxidized lipids were fed in these studies, suggesting that feeding peroxidized lipids negatively affects metabolic oxidative status of pigs. However, it is unclear if antioxidants are useful additions to lipids to maintain optimal nutritional value, or if their addition to swine diets is beneficial in overcoming a metabolic oxidative challenge.     

不同窝箱环境对育成期水貂生长性能的影响

选择45日龄健康公母水貂各50只,随机分为5组,每组10个重复,其中A、AB、AC、AD组均为新型窝箱且构造各不相同,E组为传统窝箱。结果表明:窝箱环境对母貂的体重没有显著影响(P>0.05);AD组公貂的体重明显低于其他各组,与E组差异显著(P<0.05);不同组别水貂采食量所呈现的差异性基本上与水貂体重所呈现的差异性大体一致;窝箱环境对水貂干物质和蛋白质消化率没有显著性作用(P>0.05);不同组间母貂的氮代谢水平基本一致(P>0.05),E组公貂食入氮和粪氮最高,但在氮沉积和净蛋白利用率上与其他各组不存在显著性差异(P>0.05);AC窝箱干净度最高,各组间不存在显著性差异(P>0.05)。由此得出:窝箱环境不能影响饲粮营养物质的消化代谢能力,但能影响公貂的采食量及体重。     

Evaluating the quality of feed fats and oils and their effects on pig growth performance

Feed fats and oils provide significant amounts of energy to swine diets, but there is large variation in composition,quality, feeding value, and price among sources. Common measures of lipid quality include moisture, insolubles,and unsaponifiables(MIU), titer, and free fatty acid content, but provide limited information regarding their feeding value. Lipid peroxidation is an important quality factor related to animal growth performance and health, but maximum tolerable limits in various lipids have not been established. Several indicative assays can be used to detect the presence of various peroxidation compounds, but due to the complexity and numerous compounds produced and degraded during peroxidation process, no single method can adequately determine the extent of peroxidation. Until further information is available, using a combination of peroxide value, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS), and anisidine value appear to provide a reasonable assessment of the extent of peroxidation in a lipid at a reasonable cost. However, fatty acid composition of the lipid being evaluated should be considered when selecting specific assays. Predictive tests can also be used to estimate the stability or susceptibility of lipids to peroxidation and include active oxygen method, oil stability index, and oxygen bomb method. A review of 16 published studies with pigs has shown an average decrease of 11.4% in growth rate, 8.8% feed intake fed isocaloric diets containing peroxidized lipids compared to diets containing unperoxidized lipids of the same source.Furthermore, serum vitamin E content was generally reduced and serum TBARS content was increased when peroxidized lipids were fed in these studies, suggesting that feeding peroxidized lipids negatively affects metabolic oxidative status of pigs. However, it is unclear if antioxidants are useful additions to lipids to maintain optimal nutritional value, or if their addition to swine diets is beneficial in overcoming a metabolic oxidative challenge.     

Effect of genotype, sex and rearing temperature on carcase and meat quality of guinea fowl

1. The aim of our study was to analyse the effect of genotype (label and standard), sex and rearing temperature (simulating daily outdoor in the summer or winter) on the carcase and meat quality of guinea fowl. Using 20 animals per treatment, slaughtered at 96 d of age we measured the breast angle and the thickness of the skin on the wing membrane. Carcases were weighed and cut into parts according to a standardised procedure to determine the percentages of abdominal fat, breasts, wings and thighs with shanks. 2. At slaughter, standard guinea fowl were heavier than label guinea fowl and for both genotypes, the females were heavier than the males (+5.6%). The mean value of breast angle was 85 degrees. This value was significantly higher for the standard guinea fowls and for the females of both genotypes compared with males. Thus, female carcases, particularly standard females, were more compact. The skin was thicker for the standard guinea fowls (0.84 mm vs 0.77 mm) which could be due to more subcutaneous fat. 3. Carcase yield was higher for the males (68.7% vs 68.2%). The percentage of abdominal fat was higher for the standard guinea fowls (2.8% vs 2.4%) and for the females of both genotypes compared with males. The label guinea fowls had higher yields of breasts and thighs with shanks. For both lines, the breast and thigh meat of females was judged more tender and less stringy. 4. Low rearing temperature decreased growth performance but had no significant effect on carcase quality.     

Carcass quality and technological and sensory meat quality of once-bred gilts in a seasonal outdoor rearing system

Seasonal application of once-bred gilts for piglet and meat production outdoors could be a worthwhile alternative rearing form to normal commercial production. Compared with growing/finishing pigs, payment for sow carcasses is considerably reduced because of an assumed decrease in meat quality and processing properties. The purpose of this study was to compare maiden and once-bred gilts for carcass quality, and technological and sensory meat quality. The control group of 14 gilts (LW*L and LW*D) was reared indoors and slaughtered unmated at an average live weight of 145 kg. In contrast, 38 once-bred gilts of the same breeds were initially reared like the maiden control, inseminated and then housed outdoors from one month before farrowing until slaughter. Carcass traits, technological meat quality (pH, internal and surface reflectance, water holding capacity, commercial processing yield (total yield) and laboratory processing yield (Napole yield), WB shear force and chemical composition of M. longissimus dorsi were measured. Sensory meat quality (taste panel) of oven-baked M. longissimus dorsi and cured and smoked M. semimembranosus et adductor was investigated. Carcass quality traits such as higher lean meat content and lower backfat thickness were preferable with the once-bred gilts. For technological meat quality characteristics, once-bred gilts had lower thawing loss, Napole yield, dry matter and higher total work of WB shear force and intramuscular fat, compared to maiden gilts. In general, sensory meat quality was comparable between the two groups. In processed meat only, once-bred gilts had higher juiciness and salinity and unfavourable increased stringiness, compared to maiden gilts. Thus, once-bred gilts produce valuable carcasses and are suitable for an outdoor seasonal rearing system.     

Ob基因对松辽黑猪肉质和胴体性状的影响

以松辽黑猪为研究对象,分析Ob基因对其肉质和胴体性状的影响。测定30头松辽黑猪的9个肉质性状和6个胴体性状,用PCR-RFLP方法检测Ob基因型。结果显示,松辽黑猪TT基因型平均膘厚比CT基因型低,而肌内脂肪含量、瘦肉率则显著高于后者(P<0.05),其他肉质和胴体性状在Ob基因型间没有显著差异(P>0.05)。结果表明,Ob基因的TT基因型对猪的肉质和胴体性状具有显著的正遗传效应。     

Free-range rearing of pigs during the winter: adaptations in muscle fiber characteristics and effects on adipose tissue composition and meat quality traits

This research aimed to determine whether outdoor free-range rearing during the winter (average ambient temperature of 5 degrees C) vs. indoor housing (22 degrees C) affects meat quality, muscle metabolic traits, and muscle fiber characteristics. Forty Large White gilts and barrows were blocked by weight within each gender (20 per gender) and allotted randomly into two groups of pigs, with one reared indoors (IN) in individual pens (2.6 m2) and the other reared outdoors (OUT) from December to March in a 0.92-ha pasture. Both groups had free access to the same grower-finisher diet from 23 to 105 kg. At slaughter, adipose (backfat [BF] and omental fat [OF]) and muscle tissues (longissimus muscle [LM], rectus femoris [RF], and semitendinosus [ST]) were obtained from the right side of each carcass. Muscle fibers were stained and classified on the basis of stain reaction as slow-oxidative (SO), fast oxidative-glycolytic (FOG), and fast glycolytic (FG); fiber area and distribution were determined. Also assessed were carcass characteristics, initial and ultimate pH, L*a*b* values, drip loss percent, glycolytic potential (GP), and intramuscular lipid content, as well as the fatty acid profile of each muscle and adipose tissue. The OUT pigs had lower (P < 0.05) ADG and leaner (P < 0.05) carcasses than IN pigs. Rearing environment did not (P > 0.63) affect the intramuscular lipid content of the ST, but intramuscular lipid content was lower (P < 0.01) in the LM and tended to be higher (P = 0.06) in the RF of OUT than in those of IN pigs. In the BF outer layer of the OUT pigs, the higher PUFA content was compensated by both a lower (P < 0.01) saturated and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) content, whereas in the OF, LM, and dark portion of the ST, only the percentage of MUFA was decreased (P < 0.01). In all tissues of the OUT pigs, the linolenic acid content was higher (P < 0.01) and the n-6:n-3 ratio was lower (P < 0.01). The GP of all muscles was higher (P < 0.01), and the ultimate pH of the RF and ST was lower (P < 0.01), in OUT compared with IN pigs. Lightness (L*) values were lower (P < 0.01) in the LM. Percentages of drip loss were higher (P < 0.05) in the LM and light portion of the ST of OUT than in those of IN pigs. The LM and RF of OUT pigs had more (P < 0.01) FOG and fewer (P < 0.01) FG fibers than muscles of IN pigs. Results suggest that rearing pigs outdoors increases aerobic capacity of glycolytic muscles but has little concomitant influence on meat quality traits.