Intramuscular fat content has little influence on the eating quality of fresh pork loin chops

Posted in: Meat Quality by admin on January 1, 2008 | No Comments

In this study fresh pork loins (n = 290) were selected from a commercial packing facility based on subjective marbling of the intact loin and 24-h pH to determine the influence of marbling on quality measurements, including color, marbling, and firmness, ultimate pH, and drip loss, were determined after aging. Results from a trained panel indicate that the percentage of extractable lipid did not correlate strongly with perceived tenderness, juiciness,
or pork flavor for this group of pork loins that was controlled for genetics, pH, management, and day of slaughter.

U.S. Market Potential for Dried Distillers Grain with Solubles

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Meeting the demand: An estimation of potential future greenhouse gas emissions from meat production

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While a number of papers have estimated meat consumption patterns,3 this paper makes the following contributions to the literature on consumption patterns and the environment. First, I include data on prices to capture price elasticity effects. Second, I add a parameter for lagged consumption in order to observe howmuch of meat consumption is due to either partial adjustment or persistence effects. Third, I differentiate meat into beef, chicken and pig products and estimate separate equations. Fourth, I forecast meat consumption using these estimates to the years 2010, 2020 and 2030. I bring together data on greenhouse gas production for the US and Europe in order to approximate the present and forecast the future potential environmental impact of meat consumption under a CAFO system. The main findings of the paper are as follows. First, if current consumption patterns continue, the amount of total
meat consumed in the year 2030 will be 72% higher than the amount consumed in 2000, lead mostly by large increases in
chicken and pig consumption. Second, the production of this meat in 2030, under CAFO systems, will produce almost 1.9
billion tonnes of greenhouse gases. Finally, while there are some solutions to limit this effect, they will be very difficult to implement. Thus, if nations are serious about cutting their production of greenhouse gases, meeting future meat demand will need to be a serious area of discussion for policy makers.

Mortality, death interval, survivals, and herd factors for death in gilts and sows in commercial breeding herds

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The objectives of this study were to measure death intervals and survival, to determine mortality rate and mortality risks, and to investigate the association of herd factors with mortality risk in individual female pigs. This study was conducted by obtaining female data with lifetime records of 65,621 females born between 1999 and 2002, and herd data with mean measurements of 5 yr from 2000 to 2004 in 105 herds. Annualized mortality rate was calculated as the number of dead females divided by the sum of life days in all gilts and sows, multiplied by 365 d. Mortality risk was calculated as the number of dead females divided by the number of surviving females at farrowing in each parity. Death interval in gilts was defined as the number of days from birth to death, and that in sows was the number of days from the last farrowing to death. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to obtain the survival probability by parity. Logistic
regression analyses were used to investigate the association of herd factors with mortality risk in individual females in each parity. Of the 65,621 females, the mortality risk was 9.9%, and the annualized mortality rate was 3.9%. Of the 6,501 dead females, death intervals in gilts and sows were 294.7 and 55.0 d, respectively. In gilts, survival probability rapidly decreased at 33 and 50 wk of age, around the first mating and the first parturition. In contrast, survival probability
in sows decreased at wk 1 after farrowing, and rapidly decreased at wk 20 and 21 after farrowing in all parity groups that were around a subsequent peripartum period. The percentages of death on wk 0, 1, and 2 after the last farrowing in all the dead sows were 6.5, 23.5, and 10.1%, respectively. Approximately 10% of deaths also occurred from wk 20 to 21 after the last farrowing. Death interval in parity ¡Ý5 was the shortest among all parity groups (49.2 d; P < 0.05). Mortality risks in parities 0 and 1 were 1.44 and 1.83%, respectively. As parity increased from 2 to ¡Ý5, mortality risk increased from 1.63 to 5.90%. Herd factors (greater herd mortality, less herd productivity, and smaller herd size) were
associated with greater mortality risk in individual females in parity 0 to ¡Ý5, parity 4 and ¡Ý5, and parity 1
to 4, respectively (P < 0.05). In conclusion, females in peripartum periods, gilts, and high-parity sows are at
a greater risk of dying. Increased care should be implemented for prefarrowing females and early-lactating
sows.

For more information the full article can be found at http://jas.fass.org/

Prevention and treatment of tail biting in weaned piglets

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In most countries the tails of young pigs are docked to prevent tail biting later in life (McGlone et al., 1990). Tail docking is not only painful for the animals; it also conceals the presence of a more chronic animal welfare problem, namely behavioural deprivation and boredom. Several studies suggest that environmental enrichment, especially the provision of straw, reduces the chance of tail biting (Van Putten, 1969) and tail biting behaviour (e.g. Bøe, 1993; Petersen et al., 1995). However, most pig husbandry systems in Western Europe cannot be equipped with large amounts of straw, because this would block their slurry-based manure systems. Other enrichment devices were developed for these systems, such as the provision of iron chains, rubber hoses, car tires and wooden beams. Such ‘toys’ may provide some occupation and reduce general pen mate-directed behaviours (Sambraus and Kuchenhoff, 1992), but the degree depends on the provided materials. Van de Weerd et al. (2003) investigated 74 different enrichment objects during 5 days in order to find the characteristics that the favoured objects had in common. They found that the main characteristics for intense use were; among other things, ingestibility, chew ability and destructability. Zonderland et al. (2003) suggested that a combination of flexibility and destructability might be relevant material characteristics to attract the pigs’ attention. This may help to reduce tail biting as tail biting has been suggested to be redirected exploration behaviour (Van Putten, 1980). Since tail biting was regularly observed among the weaned piglets at the Pig Research Unit of the Animal Sciences Group in Lelystad, the Unit offered a unique opportunity to study tail biting directly. In addition to preventing tail biting, a need exists for more scientific information on curative treatments once tail biting has started to limit the negative consequences of a tail biting outbreak. Therefore, in this experiment the effects of two curative treatments (removing the biter and twice daily straw provision) were tested in pens subjected to four different preventive measures against tail biting (suspended chain, suspended rubber hose, straw rack and twice daily straw provision). Regarding the straw treatments, it was tried to combine partly slatted floors with the provision of small amounts of long straw without blocking the slurry-based manure system. In total, 960 undocked weaned piglets (10 piglets per pen) were observed during 5 weeks. Tail lesions (none, bite marks and wounds) were recorded daily. The incidence of pens with wounded pig tails was significantly lower when straw was provided twice daily (8% of pens) compared to the chain (58% of pens) and rubber hose (54% of pens) treatment, but did not differ significantly from the straw rack treatment (29% of pens). Tails with bite marks were significantly less common in pens with twice daily straw (16% of pens) compared to chain (88% of pens), rubber hose (79% of pens) and straw rack (75% of pens). No significant difference was found between the curative treatments. Both treatments showed a reduced incidence of red fresh blood on the tails at days 1–9 following curative treatment, compared to day 0. However, neither curative treatment eliminated tail biting entirely. In conclusion, this study indicates that tail biting is best prevented with a small amount of straw, provided twice daily, and to a lesser extent with a straw rack, compared to providing a chain or a rubber hose. Once tail biting has occurred, providing a small amount of straw twice daily and removing the biter appears to be equally effective.

For more information the full article can be found at http://journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/applan/issues

Differential vocal responses to physical and mental stressors in domestic pigs (Sus scrofa)

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Focussing on vocal expressions of distress, the present study examined vocal responses of 10-week-old domestic pigs during a classical conditioning paradigm, where a neutral light stimulus (conditioned stimulus) was repeatedly followed by a short electric shock (unconditioned stimulus). It is concluded that vocalisation elicited during stressful situations can serve as a differentiated indicator of stressor quality and can be used for the instantaneous assessment of the internal states of pigs.

For more information the full article can be found at http://journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/applan/issues

Effect of δ-aminolevulinic acid on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood parameters and the immune response of weanling pigs challenged with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide

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In this study, the effect of dietary supplementation of ALA on growth performance, nutrients digestibility and
blood characteristics was assessed in weanling pigs. A secondary objective was to evaluate whether dietary
Delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) supplementation could improve immune responses during a period of inflammatory challenge. This study found that exogenous supplementation of δ- aminolevulinic acid in weanling pig diets resulted in
elevation of iron status and specific immune system parameters. Results suggest that δ-aminolevulinic acid has potential as a immunity enhancer in the diet of weanling pigs. This study was conducted under normal conditions (without iron deficiency); therefore, further research is necessary to evaluate the effect of δ- aminolevulinic acid on iron-deficient nursery pigs and its efficacy under commercial farm conditions where a greater disease challenge is present. In addition, the exact mechanism of δ-aminolevulinic acid action needs further investigation.

For more information the full article can be found at http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/livsci

Estimates of genetic parameters for kyphosis in two crossbred swine populations

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This study estimated genetic parameters for degree of kyphosis from Duroc-Landrace F2 population and from a composite population composed of Duroc, Large White and 2 sources of Landrace. It was concluded that selection to decrease kyphosis should be effective and would not be expected to affect the number of ribs, lumbar vertebrae, nipple, or carcass length. Also, the selection for growth should not affect the incidence of kyphosis.

Response to dietary phosphorus deficiency is affected by genetic background in growing pigs

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This study was conducted to examine how genetics influence phosphorus utilization. At the end of the trial, carcass traits, meat quality, bone strength, and ash percentage were determined. The data indicated different mechanisms of phosphorus utlization between the genetic lines. Elucidating these mechanisms may lead to strategies to increase efficiency of growth in a more environmentally friendly manner.

Citrulline and intestinal fatty acid-binding protein: Longitudinal markers of postweaning small intestinal function in pigs?

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The objective of the current study was
to investigate whether plasma citrulline or intestinal
fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) concentrations
might be used as longitudinal markers for small intestinal
function in piglets after weaning. Plasma citrulline
and I-FABP concentrations were measured longitudinally
in weaned and unweaned piglets, and related to
intestinal absorption values (i.e., plasma mannitol and
d-xylose concentrations in a sugar absorption test).
Within each litter (n = 10), 2 piglets with a close-tolitter-
average BW were selected. At 20.8 ± 0.4 d of age,
the selected piglets per litter were either weaned conventionally
(CW) or remained with the sow (UNW).
One day before, and 0.5, 2, 4, and 7 d after weaning
of the CW piglets, the selected piglets of both groups
were subjected to a sugar absorption test. After a 2-h
fast, piglets were administered an oral dose of 2 mL/
kg of sugar solution, containing 50 mg/kg of mannitol
and 100 mg/kg of d-xylose. One hour after administration,
a blood sample was collected from a jugular vein
for determination of plasma I-FABP, citrulline, mannitol,
and d-xylose concentrations. Plasma I-FABP concentration
showed great variation within treatments,
and no difference was observed in plasma I-FABP concentrations
between the CW and UNW treatments (P
= 0.63). The absorption of d-xylose was not different
between treatments (P = 0.83). Mannitol absorption,
however, was less in the weaned CW piglets compared
with the UNW piglets (P = 0.003), with the nadir on d
4 postweaning. Weaning also reduced plasma citrulline
concentrations in the CW treatment compared with the
UNW treatment (P < 0.001). On d 4 and 7 postweaning, plasma citrulline concentrations of CW piglets were less (P < 0.001 and P = 0.0013) than preweaning values. Furthermore, in the CW treatment, plasma citrulline concentrations correlated with plasma mannitol concentrations at d 4 postweaning (r = 0.89, P = 0.008) and overall (r = 0.76, P = 0.001). Based on these results, plasma citrulline concentration seems to be a possible marker for monitoring intestinal function in pigs after weaning.