The effect of sex and slaughter weight on intramuscular fat content and its relationship to carcass traits of pigs
2007
Bahelka, I.,Vyskumny Ustav Zivocisnej Vyroby, Nitra (Slovak Republic) | Hanusova, E.,Vyskumny Ustav Zivocisnej Vyroby, Nitra (Slovak Republic) | Peskovicova, D.,Vyskumny Ustav Zivocisnej Vyroby, Nitra (Slovak Republic) | Demo, P.,Vyskumny Ustav Zivocisnej Vyroby, Nitra (Slovak Republic)
Carcass quality and intramuscular fat content of castrates and gilts were compared and a possible dependence of intramuscular fat content on sex and slaughter weight was determined in pigs. A total of 129 pigs of three different genotypes were included in the experiment. After slaughter, the carcasses were weighed and backfat thickness was measured. On the next day, carcass dissection described by Walstra and Merkus (1995) was determined. Four prime cuts (shoulder, loin, ham and belly) were further dissected to meat, bones and fat with skin. Intramuscular fat content was analysed in a laboratory from MLLT samples (100 g). The results were statistically analysed using SAS/STAT and a linear model was used to find the dependence of intramuscular fat content. Correlation coefficients between carcass traits and intramuscular fat were also calculated. Sex of pigs and particularly lean meat weight and the weight of fatty parts had a significant effect on intramuscular fat content, while no effect of the genotype and slaughter weight was observed. Significant differences between castrates and gilts were found in almost all observed traits, e.g. average backfat thickness (29.01 vs. 25.56 mm), percentage of meat (52.77 vs. 57.68%) and intramuscular fat content (2.49 vs. 2.00%). As the percentage of intramuscular fat is not sufficient (2.25%), it would be desirable to include this trait in selection strategies.
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