• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.1663-1673
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• 2021

Objective: Pork belly is considered as the most commercially important and preferable primal cut by consumers worldwide. Thus, this study was conducted to determine the effects of fat levels on the meat quality characteristics of pork bellies. Methods: Seventy-eight growing-finishing pigs collected from different commercial pig farms were slaughtered and used in the present study. After slaughter 24 h, bellies were fabricated according to the Korean Pork Cutting Specification, and immediately sampled for analysis of their fat content. Based on the fat levels, the bellies were segregated into three different groups: low fat (LF, fat ≤20%, n = 15), medium fat (MF, fat 21% to 30%, n = 30), and high fat (HF, fat ≥31%, n = 33). The bellies were then analyzed for meat quality traits, fatty acids, flavor compounds and eating quality properties. Results: The HF group had lower moisture and cooking loss levels compared to the other groups (p<0.05). The LF group presented higher proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to the other groups (p<0.05). The LF group showed higher amounts of the Maillard reaction-derived flavor compounds (e.g., 2,5-dimethyl pyrazine, 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethyl, and 4-methylthiazole) associated with meaty and roasty flavors whereas, the HF group showed higher amounts of oleic acid- derived compounds (e.g., nonanal and octanal) associated with the fatty and oily flavors. Interestingly, significantly higher scores for all the eating quality attributes (flavor, juiciness, tenderness, and overall acceptance) were found in the HF group compared to those in the LF or MF group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The high-fat bellies (fat ≥31%) had a better technological quality and eating quality compared to the low-fat bellies (fat ≤20%). Thus, increasing the fat content may improve the technological quality and eating quality traits of pork bellies, however, this increase may also result in more trimmed loss due to excessively deposited body fat.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.809-815
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• 2023

This study was conducted to find out the correlation between meat quality and muscle fat ratio in pork part meat (pork belly and shoulder butt) using CT (computed tomography) imaging technique. After 24 hours from slaughter, pork loin and belly were individually prepared from the left semiconductors of 26 pigs for CT measurement. The image obtained from CT scans was checked through the picture archiving and communications system (PACS). The volume of muscle and fat in the pork belly and shoulder butt of cross-sectional images taken by CT was estimated using Vitrea workstation version 7. This assemblage was further processed through Vitrea post-processing software to automatically calculate the volumes (Fig. 1). The volumes were measured in milliliters (mL). In addition to volume calculation, a three-dimensional reconstruction of the organ under consideration was generated. Pearson's correlation coefficient was analyzed to evaluate the relationship by region (pork belly, pork shoulder butt), and statistical processing was performed using GraphPad Prism 8. The muscle-fat ratios of pork belly taken by CT was 1 : 0.86, while that of pork shoulder butt was 1 : 0.37. As a result of CT analysis of the correlation coefficient between pork belly and shoulder butt compared to the muscle-fat ratio, the correlation coefficient was 0.5679 (R² = 0.3295, p < 0.01). CT imaging provided very good estimates of muscle contents in cuts and in the whole carcass.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.187-192
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• 2024

This research aimed to investigate the relationship between meat quality and muscle-to-fat ratio in specific cuts of pork (pork belly and Boston butt) utilizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Twenty-eight pigs were selected, and 24 hours post-slaughter, pork belly and Boston butt samples were individually extracted from the left half carcass for MRI assessment. The MRI scans were reviewed using the Picture Archiving and Communications System. Muscle and fat volumes in the pork belly and Boston butt from the cross-sectional images captured by MRI were estimated using Vitrea workstation version 7. Subsequently, these data were processed using Vitrea post-processing software to automatically determine the volumes, measured in milliliters (mL). Additionally, a three-dimensional reconstruction of the organ being studied was generated. The relationship between regions (pork belly and Boston butt) was assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient, and statistical analysis was conducted using Graph Pad Prism 8. The muscle-to-fat ratio determined by MRI for pork belly was 1 : 0.64, whereas for Boston butt it was 1 : 0.35. Results of comparing the muscle-fat ratio, the correlation coefficient between pork belly and Boston butt was found to be 0.6127 (R² = 0.3754, p < 0.001) based on MRI analysis. As a result of measuring the muscle-to-fat ratio using MRI as a non-destructive approach, there was a positive correlation between the muscle-to-fat ratios of pork belly and Boston butt.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.210-217
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• 2005

This study was designed to evaluate the quality comparison of emulsion-type sausages made from different Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) sources. The pigs were fed a supplemented concentrate diet with a RVS supplement of $4\%$ feed for 5 weeks before slaughter. The RVS extract was prepared from 100g of RVS sawdust and 1L of distilled water for 48 hours. Emulsion-type sausages were made using lean meat or dietary RVS han1 lean $(51.07\%)$, ice water or RVS extract $(19.63\%)$, back fat $(26.60\%)$ and other additives $(2.70\%)$. The treated sausages were divided into non-dietary meat with water (T1, Control), dietary RVS meat with water (T2), non-dietary meat with RVS extract (T3), and dietary meat with RVS extract (T4). The crude fat was significantly lower (p<0.05) in dietary RVS meat-added sausages (T2, T4) than in control sausage (T1). The lightness ($L^{\ast}$) and redness ($a^{\ast}$) were significantly lower (p<0.05) in RVS extract-added sausages (T3, T4) during refrigerated storage. The $a^{\ast}$ value was higher (p<0.05) in T2 than in the other treatments. The VBN and TBARS values were significantly lower in RVS extract-added sausages (T3, T4) during refrigerated storage. The hardness, adhesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness were significantly lower (p<0.05) in T2 than in the other treatments. This results showed that feeding of RVS in diet and/or RVS extract had a significant impact on the quality of emulsion-type sausage. The RVS extract-added emulsion-type sausages (T3, T4) showed dark and reddish color although they were more effective in delaying the protein deterioration and lipid oxidation. Consequently, the sausage prepared from pigs fed $4\%$ RVS with water (T2) was more effective in increasing the $a^{\ast}$ value, textural properties, and delaying the protein deterioration, lipid oxidation than that without RVS in diet.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.175-188
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• 2005

This study investigated the effects of silkworm droppings (SWD) added diet feeding on quality characteristics of pork loin meat Pigs were divided into 7 treatment groups (10 pigs/group) and subjected to one of seven treatment diets $(0,\;1\%,\;2\%\;and\; 3\%\;SWD\;for\;4 weeks,\;1\%\;2\%\;3\%$ SWD for 8 weeks, SWD diets; total fed diets) before slaughter. Pork loin were collected from the animals (110kg body weight) slaughtered at a commercial slaughterhouse. Pork loin meat were packaged aerobically and then stored at $4^{\circ}C$ for 2, 5, 8, or 12 days. Samples were analyzed for general composition, texture characteristics and physico-chemical properties. pH value was not significantly different between the control and SWD treatment groups. pH of control and SWD treatment groups were increased as the storage period passed General composition, cooking loss and texture was not significantly different between the control and SWD treatment groups. WHC of SWD treatment group was higher than that of control group. WHC of control and SWD treatment groups were significantly decreased as the storage period passed (p<0.05). Meat and fat color (CIE $L^{\ast}$, $a^{\ast}$, $b^{\ast}$) were no significant differences between the control and SWD treatment groups. $L^{\ast}$ and $b^{\ast}$ value of meat color were decreased as the storage period passed There was a not significantly difference in shear force value among control and SWD treatment groups. Shear force value was decreased significantly during storage in all treatment groups. In all results, dietary SWD-supplementation was not affected in general components, texture characteristics and physico-chemical properties. It is suggested that dietary SWD-supplementation could produce of high quality pork.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.329-336
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• 2009

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between measurements of color and water-holding capacity (WHC) in pork loin. A total of 419 pork loins were sampled from crossbred (Landrace$\times$Jeju native black pig) F2 pigs at a commercial slaughter house. Meat color measurements (CIE $L^*$, $a^*$, $b^*$), chroma ($C^*$) and hue angle (h) were measured with the Minolta Chromameter and WHC was measured by filter paper fluid, drip loss and cooking loss. Also pH, moisture content and crude fat content were measured at 24 hr postmortem. CIE $L^*$, $b^*$ and h values had positive correlation with drip loss (r=0.52, 0.42), but CIE $a^*$ and $C^*$ values were not related to drip loss. Results showed that CIE $L^*$, $b^*$, and h color system was better than CIE $L^*$, $a^*$, $b^*$ color system to predict WHC, especially drip loss. pH was negatively correlated to drip loss (-0.42) and CIE $L^*$ (-0.67). Although CIE $L^*$ and pH were correlated to drip loss, the accuracy of their estimates for drip loss was 27% and 17%, respectively. Consequently, it was confirmed that meat color and WHC were not perfectly related and suggested that CIE $L^*$, $b^*$, and h color space should not be used independently to predict WHC of pork loin.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.213-220
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• 2014

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of high n-3 or n-6 diet on free fatty acid profile and meat quality traits of pork loin. The 20 heads of commercial $Landrace{\times}Yorkshire{\times}Duroc(LYD)$ crossbreed pigs ($90.9{\pm}2.4BWkg$) were divided into four groups by added fat and oils, such as 5% tallow (Control), 5% linseed oil (T1), 5% safflower oil (T2), and mixture of linseed oil (2.5%) + safflower oil (2.5%) (T3), then reared 4 weeks. Pork loins were taken after slaughter, then sliced in 2 cm thickness and put in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) bag for analysis. T1 showed significantly high concentration of linolenic acid ($2.35{\pm}0.21%$) (p<0.05). The total amount of saturated fatty acids (SFA), mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and poly-unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) was significantly high in T1 ($36.05{\pm}1.18%$), C ($22.60{\pm}2.11%$) and T2 ($47.80{\pm}1.29%$), respectively (p<0.05). However, the ratio of n-6:n-3 was significantly low in T1 ($11.57{\pm}0.90$) than that of T2 ($37.56{\pm}12.51$) (p<0.05). There was no signigicant difference in lightness, redness, pH, water holding capacity and cooking loss between treatments (p>0.05). However, the yellowness of T2 was significantly higher than others (p<0.05). From those results, it was considered that feeding high n-3 and n-6 fatty acid diet to pig enables modify fatty acid profile of pork without any side effect on meat quality.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.133-139
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between color grade in Korea Institute for Animal Products Quality Evaluation (KAPE) and instrumental color values ($L^*$, $a^*$, $b^*$, ${\Delta}C$ and H) in porcine longissimus dorsi muscle. A total of 538 pigs were selected to classify and to measure the instrumental color values from commercial public slaughter house. All of the instrumental color traits were decreased with increase of color grade (p<0.05). The color grade 1 group had the highest $L^*$ value (65.23) and the color grade 6 group had the lowest $L^*$ value (45.29) among the color grade groups (p<0.05). The color grade had the negative correlation with all the instrumental color traits (p<0.001) and the correlation coefficient between color grade and $L^*$ value was -0.83. In conclusion, instrumental color traits is highly related to color grade, and especially $L^*$ value is an important indicator for both porcine carcass grading and color grading systems in KAPE.