Relation between muscular development and muscle collagen content in pigs

Abstract

The relationship between muscle collagen content and muscular development was investigated in the pig using eight Large Whites, eight halothane-negative (HN) and eight halothane-positive (HP) Pietrain pigs. Three muscles varying in the degree of hypertrophy in Pietrain pigs as compared to Large White pigs were studied. Pietrain pigs had higher loin and ham percentages, as well as higher muscle to bone ratio in the ham than Large White pigs. A trend to lower collagen contents in Pietrain pigs as compared to Large White pigs was observed in biceps femoris and longissimus dorsi muscles, although the differences were not significant. On the whole, there does not seem to be any clear relationship between muscle collagen content and muscular development in the porcine species.