Abstract
Autochthonous pig breeds provide products of differentiated quality, among which quality control is difficult to perform and insufficient for current market requirements. The present research evaluates the predictive ability of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, combined with chemometric methods as a rapid and affordable tool to assure traceability and quality control. Thus, NIR technology was assessed for intact and minced muscle Longissimus thoracis et lumborum samples collected from 12 European autochthonous pig breeds for the quantification of lipid content and fatty acid composition. Different tests were performed using different numbers of samples for calibration and validation. The best predictive ability was found using minced presentation and set with 80% of the samples for the calibration and the remaining 20% for the external validation test for the following traits: lipid content and saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, which attained both the highest determination coefficients (0.89, 0.61, and 0.65, respectively) and the lowest root mean square errors in external validation (0.62, 1.82, and 1.36, respectively). Lower predictive ability was observed for intact muscles. These results could contribute to improve the management of autochthonous breeds and to ensure quality of their products by traditional meat industry chains.
Highlights
The increasing consumer demand for meat products derived from autochthonous breeds reared in extensive systems may be due to the positive perception of society towards these breeds, regarding the conservation of the environment and animal welfare [1,2], as well as their high quality products in terms of organoleptic, health, and sensory features [3].The quality of meat products from autochthonous pig breeds derives from different production factors linked to rearing areas, such as outdoor production systems and feeding regimen, mainly based on natural resources, and from genetic backgrounds [4]
As depicted in the graph, the absorbance of intact samples is higher than that of minced samples which is in concordance with previous studies carried out in Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscle samples from Iberian pigs [15]
NIR meat spectra determined broader peaks when compared to other agri-food products, the fat (1190 nm), protein (1500 nm), and water
Summary
The increasing consumer demand for meat products derived from autochthonous breeds reared in extensive systems may be due to the positive perception of society towards these breeds, regarding the conservation of the environment and animal welfare [1,2], as well as their high quality products in terms of organoleptic, health, and sensory features [3].The quality of meat products from autochthonous pig breeds derives from different production factors linked to rearing areas, such as outdoor production systems and feeding regimen, mainly based on natural resources, and from genetic backgrounds [4]. The increasing consumer demand for meat products derived from autochthonous breeds reared in extensive systems may be due to the positive perception of society towards these breeds, regarding the conservation of the environment and animal welfare [1,2], as well as their high quality products in terms of organoleptic, health, and sensory features [3]. Even if autochthonous breeds are characterized by local production, mainly derived from small populations, their commercial projection should not be. An example of this possibility is the Iberian pig, an autochthonous pig breed from the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, which is well renowned in Europe [5]. Quality control is claimed by consumers [7] but is one of the objectives of the processing industries in synergy, with the traceability protocols as part of the quality controls required for a European and international diffusion of these products [8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
