Dependence of physicochemical properties and chemical composition of pig meat on the genotype and pre-slaughter live weight of pigs

Abstract

The article presents the results of analysis of the main chemical composition values (total moisture, dry matter, intramuscular fat, protein and ash contents) and physical properties (pH1, pH16, pH24, water-holding capacity) of the longest back muscle for different genotypes of pigs of different genetic combinations under two weight conditions (100 and 120 kg).It was found that the acidity levels and water-holding capacity of meat of animals from all study groups were within the limits established in the processing industry and fitted into the European category NOR (normal). Autolytic processes in the muscle tissues of high-intensity foreign genotypes are more intensive than those of native genotypes. An increase in the pre-slaughter liveweight from 100 to 120 kg had no effect on the water-holding capacity of meat, but its active acidity (pH) tended to decrease as the animals gained weight. It was found that the meat of pigs from intensive commercial genotypes of foreign selection had higher protein levels and lower fat and ash contents compared with meat of native pig breeds. With an increase in the pre-slaughter weight from 100 to 120 kg the intramuscular fat content in the meat of animals of all genotypes under study increased due to reduction in the protein and moisture levels. It was further found that the use of these genetic combinations led to a decrease in the water-holding capacity and active acidity levels. The meat of pigs produced by combination of native genotypes (UVB-1×UVB-2)×UVB-3 has the best physicochemical properties. Animals produced by mating a combination of sows (Yi ×Li ) and (Li ×Yi ) and boars of synthetic MaxGrow and MaxTer terminal lines had the highest protein levels in their meat both with the 100 kg and 120 kg pre-slaughter weight. Key words: meat, musculus longissimus dorsi, quality, physicochemical composition, terminal boars, active acidity, water-holding ability.