• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.1475-1481
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• 2019

Objective: The objective of the present study was to investigate pork quality from Hereford${\times}$Berkshire female and intact male pigs reared outdoors in an alternative production system. Methods: Berkshire purebred sows were artificially inseminated, once in the fall and again in the spring of the following year, with semen from Hereford boars and managed free of antibiotics in an outdoor hoop structure until the last month of pregnancy, after which they were moved to a pasture-based unit of 0.8 hectares with individual lots with a farrowing hut, shade, and water ad libitum. Piglets were weaned at 4 weeks of age and housed in a deep-bedded hoop structure, grouped by sex. Animals were harvested at market weight of 125 kg, approximately 200 days of age. Hot carcass weight was collected at the time of the harvest. After 24 hours of refrigeration, carcass characteristics were measured. Longissimus dorsi samples collected from the right side loin. Loins were cut into 2.54-cm thick chops and were used to measure marbling score, color score, drip loss, and ultimate pH. Sensory panel tests were conducted as well at North Carolina State University. For pork characteristics and sensory panel data, trial and sex were included in the statistical model as fixed effects. Hot carcass weight was included in the model as a covariate for backfat thickness. Results: Neither the subjective nor the objective color scores displayed any differences between the boars and the gilts. No difference was found for pH and marbling score between trials or sexes. Gilts had a thicker backfat measurement at the last lumbar and a narrower longissimus muscle area measurement when compared to the boars. The only difference in the sensory characteristics was found between the trials for texture and moisture scores. Conclusion: Consumers were not able to detect boar taint under the condition of this study, which is that the intact males were reared outdoors. Additional trials would be necessary; however, based on the results of the present study, outdoor rearing can be suggested as a solution to the issue of boar taint.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.734-737
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• 2005

This study was conducted to determine the effect of effective microorganism (EM) treatment in feeding system of swine on carcass characteristics. EM pork, which reared with EM additives and EM activated liquids, and conventional pork (non-EM pork) were stored at $4^{\circ}C$. Chemical composition and storage stability of EM pork were compared with conventional pork. Cholesterol content at EM pork was 71 mg/100 g, which is lower than that of conventional pork (83 mg/100 g) when the meats were stored at $4^{\circ}C$ refrigerator. And EM pork (0.165 MDA mg/kg) showed higher antioxidant effect than control pork (0.184 MDA mg/kg). And also protein denaturalization at EM pork showed lower rate $(3.19\;mg\%)$ than that of conventional pork $(4.9\;mg\%)$ when the meats were stored at $4^{\circ}C$ refrigerator, showing that inhibitory effect of protein denaturalization was increased up to $35\%$ over the conventional pork. These results show that the EM pork had superior traits in terms of cholesterol level, lipid oxidation and protein denaturalization to the conventional pork.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.34-40
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• 1980

In order to establish the frozen storage method of pork and contribute to the stabilization of pork price physicochemical changes and sensory evaluation of pork, stored at $-20^{\circ}C$ up to the period of 12 months, were analyzed every three months. The drip loss of frozen meat cuts was below 1% regardless of storage months. In the course of storage, pH of frozen half carcass rose a little, while that of meat cuts remained almost the same. WHC(water holding capacity) of frozen half carcass and meat cuts was in the range of $50{\sim}60\;and\;55{\sim}62%,$ respectively and VBN (volatile basic nitrogen) was about $11{\sim}18mg%,$ all of which did considerably change during the storage. TBA(thiobarbituric acid) value was not increased up to the 6th month of storage, but represented a considerable increase after the 9th month of storage, Both tenderness and juiciness of frozen pork were decreased after the 12th month of storage but the axxrptability of frozen pork to the consumers turned out fairly good.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.389-397
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• 2022

Carcass vascular rinsing and chilling involves infusing a chilled isotonic solution (98.5% water and a blend of mono- and di-saccharides and phosphates) into the vasculature immediately upon exsanguination. Primary purposes of carcass vascular rinsing are to (1) effectively remove residual blood from the carcass; (2) lower internal muscle temperature rapidly; and (3) optimize pH decline by effective delivery of glycolytic substrates in the rinse solution. Previous studies have revealed that the beef carcass vascular rinsing early postmortem positively affects meat quality, product shelflife, and food safety. Thus, the objective of this review is to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the physical and biochemical mechanisms associated with beef carcass vascular rinsing, focusing on the relationship between quality attributes (CIE L^*, a^*, b^*; chemical states of myoglobin; oxygen consumption and sarcomere length) and muscle metabolic response to various substrate solutions (Rinse & Chill^®, fructose, sodium phosphate, and dipotassium phosphate) that stimulate or inhibit the rate of glycolysis early postmortem. In addition, this review discusses the absence of metabolite residues (phosphorus, sodium, and glucose) related to the application of the chilled isotonic solution. This review primarily focuses on beef and as such extending the understanding of the mechanisms and meat quality effects discussed to other species associated with vascular rinsing, in particular pork, may be limited.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.1292-1302
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• 2017

Objective: This experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of rapeseed meal (RSM) supplementation in weaning pig diet on growth performance, blood profile, carcass characteristics and economic analysis on weaning to finishing pigs. Methods: A total of 120 cross bred ([Yorkshire${\times}$Landrace]${\times}$Duroc) weaning pigs were allotted to 5 treatments in a randomized complete block design. Each treatment had 4 replications with 6 pigs per pen. Five different levels of RSM (0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%) were used as dietary treatments. Results: Overall, no treatment showed significant differences in growth performance with increased dietary RSM levels. The concentration of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) decreased as dietary RSM levels increased in 6 weeks (linear response, p<0.01). Total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, triiodothyronine, and thyroxine showed no significant differences, neither were there any significant differences in the immune response (IgG and IgA). As the dietary RSM levels of weaning pig diet were increased, no differences were found among dietary treatments upon performing proximate analyses of the pork after finishing. The influence of RSM supplementation on nutrient digestibility and nitrogen retention were not affected by dietary RSM levels either. With increased dietary RSM levels in the weaning pig diet, no differences among dietary treatments were found after performing proximate analyses of the pork's physiochemical properties. In addition, there were no significant differences observed in pork colors, pH levels, and economic benefits. Conclusion: Consequently, this experiment demonstrated that weaning pig's diet containing RSM influenced BUN concentration, but there were no detrimental effects on the growth performance of weaning pigs with up to 8% RSM in the diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1634-1640
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to compare pork characteristics and to determine consumer acceptability of pork chops from antibiotic free Yorkshire crossbreds sired by Berkshire (BY), Large Black (LBY), Tamworth (TY) or Yorkshire (YY) boars and reared in hoop houses. The experiments were conducted at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCA&TSU) Farm in Greensboro, NC and the Cherry Research Station Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) Alternative Swine Unit in Goldsboro, NC (source of antibiotic free Yorkshire sows used at both places). Twenty-four sows were artificially inseminated at each location in each of three trials. Litters were weaned at 4 wks old, and reared within deep-bedded outdoor hoop houses. To compare pork characteristics, 104 randomly selected animals were harvested at a USDA-inspected abattoir at approximately 200 d of age. Variables measured included pH, color score, $L^*$, $a^*$, $b^*$, marbling score, drip loss, hot carcass weight, backfat thickness (BF), loin muscle area (LMA), and slice shear force. Sensory panel tests were also conducted at two time periods. The data was analyzed with GLM in SAS 9.01 including location, trial, and sire breed as fixed effects. Backfat thickness, LMA, color score and $a^*$ were different among breeding groups (p<0.05). The LBY pigs had thicker backfat and smaller LMA than the other breed types. The TY and YY had less backfat than all other breed groups. Color score was lower for YY than BY and LBY but intermediate for TY. The $a^*$ was lower for TY than other breeds except LBY which was intermediate. For one sensory panel test, YY pork was more preferred overall as well as for juiciness and texture compared to BY and LBY (p<0.05), but no impact of breed type was noted for the other test, with values similar for BY, LBY, TY and YY pork. This information may help small farmers make decisions about breed types to use for outdoor production.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.348-355
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investage the effects of dietary bamboo charcoal on the carcass characteristics and meat quality of fattening pigs. Fifty four crossed pigs of $61.0{\pm}1.0$ kg body weight (BW) were grouped and housed in 6 animals (3 barrows and 3 gilts) per pen and 3 replications per treatment. The basal diet (C) was supplied with 0.3% bamboo charcoal as treatment 1 (T1) and 0.6 % as treatment 2 (T2). The pigs were fed that experimental diet for 42 days, thereafter 10 longissimus dorsi (LD) per treatment were randomly collected at the time the pigs reached an average weight of $110.0{\pm}5.0$ kg. The carcass weight, backfat thickness, and the carcass grade were better (p<0.05) in the pigs fed bamboo charcoal than in C. The crude fat concentration of LD was higher (p<0.05) in T1 than in C. While the composition of stearic acid and arachidonic acid was lower (p<0.05) in treatments than in C, the composition of oleic acid and linoleic acid of treatments was higher (p<0.05) than C. The physico-chemical characteristics, such as meat color and amino acid composition of LD were not affected (p>0.05) by the supplemented bamboo charcoal. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with bamboo charcoal improved the carcass grade and fatty acids composition of pork meat from fattening pigs, where the composition of unsaturated fatty acids was increased, but that of saturated fatty acids was decreased.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.51-73
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• 2024

This study investigated how birth weight differences in piglets affected carcass and muscle fiber properties as well as meat quality at slaughter. Within litters, piglets were grouped according to their birth weight as either normal (NBW; 1.62-1.73 kg) or low (LBW; 1.18-1.29 kg). At 5 weeks of age, NBW piglets were randomly transitioned to control (C) or isocaloric high fat diets derived from non-dairy (HF), while LBW piglets were randomly transitioned to high fat diets derived from non-dairy (HF) or dairy sources (HFHD). Piglets were reared in individual pens under standardized housing and feeding conditions. Live weight was recorded weekly, and pigs were slaughtered at 12 weeks of age. Hot carcass weights, dressing percentages, lean meat yield, and primal cut proportions were determined. The m. longissimus thoracis was collected from the right side of the carcass for measurement of physical and chemical properties of meat and muscle fiber characteristics. Results indicated that LBW pigs compensated for their live weight compared to NBW pigs at 6 weeks of age. The mean muscle fiber diameter of LBW-HFHD group is significantly higher than NBW-C and NBW-HF group, and the type I muscle fiber diameter is significantly higher than NBW-C group. Dairy fat inclusion in LBW pig diet reduced carcass back fat thickness. This increased the calculated lean meat yield to be comparable to that of NBW pigs fed a commercial diet. Incorporating dairy-sourced high-fat into LBW pigs' diets appears to be an effective strategy for producing carcasses equivalent to NBW pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.898-904
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• 2006

Effects of sodium bicarbonate (SBC) injection on meat quality and functionality of porcine M. longissimus lumborum were investigated. Fifteen pigs ($100{\pm}5kg$) were randomly selected at a commercial slaughter plant. After slaughtering the loins were dissected from the carcass before chilling at approximately 30 minutes post mortem. The loins were divided into four cuts for sample treatment, and SBC of 0.25 M, 0.40 M and 0.75 M was injected (2% w/w) using a syringe. As SBC injection level was increased, muscle pH increased significantly (p<0.05). SBC injection decreased lightness ($L^*$) values on the surface of muscle. Moreover, with injection of SBC, drip loss %, cooking loss % and shear force were significantly (p<0.05) decreased, whereas WHC and $Na^+$ content were significantly (p<0.05) increased. From panel testing of uncooked pork loin, no significant differences (p>0.05) were found in aroma, off-flavor and drip between injection of SBC at different levels and the control, although color and acceptability were significantly lower (p<0.05) in control pork loin compare with injection of SBC at 0.75 M. In cooked pork loin from the panel test, aroma, flavour, off-flavour and juiciness were found to be similar (p>0.05) on all treatments, but tenderness and acceptability were significantly higher (p<0.05) with injection of SBC at 0.75 M than for control loin. Myofibrillar protein solubility of muscles treated with SBC was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of the control, although no significant differences (p>0.05) were found in sarcoplasmic protein solubility between the treatments. These results indicated that SBC injection into pre-rigor porcine M. longissimus lumborum could improve ultimate pork quality characteristics such as meat color, water-holding capacity, and could inhibit muscle protein denaturation due to an increase in muscle pH.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.431-437
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• 2006

This work was undertaken to study the effect of dietary fat source on the fatty acid profile of pork, and to evaluate the effect of inclusion of vitamin E in pig diets on lipid oxidation of pork tissue and processed pork products. Fifty-six pigs were allocated to four treatments, that included two dietary fat sources and two levels of vitamin E inclusion. Dietary fat was derived from either tallow, a source of saturated fatty acids (SFA), or from a mixture of soybean and linseed oils, which contain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Vitamin E was included at either 0% or 0.011% of the diet. Growth and carcass characteristics were not affected by the dietary treatments. Dietary fat source affected the fatty acid profile of the longissimus muscle and subcutaneous fat tissue, with the PUFA diet resulting in significantly more polyunsaturated fatty acids in the tissues, and more favourable ratios of SFA to PUFA and C18:2 to C18:3 in terms of human health considerations. Lipid oxidation was significantly greater in tissues and processed products from PUFA-fed pigs. Inclusion of vitamin E in the diets, however, reduced the extent of lipid oxidation in the meat and meat products. Dietary manipulation of the fatty acid profile of pigs is an effective means of altering the fat composition of pork in order to provide human consumers with a healthy product. Vitamin E is effective as an antioxidant agent, particularly where processed products are concerned.