Enhancement of Pork Quality from Pigs Fed Feeds Supplemented with Antioxidants Containing Defatted Sesame Dregs and Dried Barley Leaves

Abstract

Moisture content, crude fat content, fatty acid composition, pH, water-holding capacity, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBsf), and meat color were measured to evaluate the quality of meats from pigs fed a special diet of feed supplemented with defatted sesame dregs and barley leaf (DSBL). Slight differences in moisture content, water-holding capacity, color, and pH were seen in meats from the pigs fed the special diet. However, the DSBL (5% each of defatted sesame dregs and barley leaf in feed) supplemented diet considerably improved pork quality as evaluated using WBsf values, suggesting that these supplements contain antioxidants. Crude fat content in meats from the pigs decreased with increased percentages of DSBL in the diets. Generally, compositional decrease was observed in margaric, stearic and linoleic acids in the meats from the pigs fed the special diet. The results suggest that supplementing antioxidants in feeds improve pork quality.