Comparison of muscle fibre characteristics and production traits among offspring from Meishan dams mated to different sires

Abstract

This study evaluated how various porcine sires affected muscle fibre characteristics, with respect to production traits. Sires from Berkshire, Duroc, Meishan, and Yorkshire pigs were mated to Meishan dams (BM, DM, MM, and YM offspring, respectively). A total of 96 pigs were evaluated for muscle fibre characteristics and production traits. The progeny from Duroc and Yorkshire sires had the greatest number of total fibres (P<0.05) and exhibited less backfat thickness (P<0.001) and larger loin muscle areas (P<0.05) than BM pigs. The DM and BM crossbreds showed higher marbling (P<0.01), and colour scores (P<0.05), as well as lower shear force scores (P<0.001). The MM pigs had greater proportional area of type IIb muscle fibres (P<0.05), and also displayed higher drip loss (P<0.01), higher lightness (P<0.001), and a greater incidence of PSE pork (pale, soft, and exudative; 25%) than DM, BM, and YM. These results showed that a greater number of total muscle fibres without increasing the cross sectional area of fibres improved lean meat production, and that a lower proportion of type IIb fibres was associated with better meat quality. For these reasons, the Duroc sire × Meishan dam crossbreed emerged as the most appropriate mating type examined herein to simultaneously enhance both lean meat production and meat quality.