Antioxidants and fatty acid deposition and instrumental colour as affected by subcutaneous backfat layers and slaughtering age of Iberian x Duroc crossed pigs under Montanera

Abstract

The effect of various slaughtering age options on the quality characteristics of subcutaneous backfat layers from Iberian x Duroc crossbred pigs under Montanera system was assessed. Three batches (IBxD16, IBxD14 and IBxD12) were established to start the Montanera with 14, 12 and 10 months of age and similar weight. After slaughter at 16, 14 and 12 months respectively, a piece of backfat was taken from each animal, and subsequently separated into outer, inner and subinner layers, and quality traits were performed in each one separately. Higher C18:1 n-9, MUFA, α- and γ-tocopherol were found in animals slaughtered with 16 months in the subinner backfat, which might be suitable to Iberian slaughtering age traceability. Lightness and redness varied with the age of the animal, for which showed an inverse pattern, and backfat layer, while yellowness only according to the latter.