THE EFFECT OF DIETARY POULTRY OFFAL HYDROLYSATE ON THE FATTY ACID COMPOSITION AND MEAT QUALITY OF PORK

Abstract

Seventy-two feeder pigs, with a mean weight of 24.6 kg, were randomly allotted in groups of three to four dietary treatments to determine the effect of feeding poultry offal hydrolysate (POH) on fatty acid composition and meat quality. The four dietary treatments were: 0% POH (control), 5% POH, 10% POH and 15% POH on a dry matter basis. At slaughter (96.8 kg), the right loins from 60 pigs were retained for fatty acid analysis and meat quality evaluation. The longissimus dorsi muscle was dissected from each loin; 200 g were stored in an atmosphere of nitrogen and frozen for fatty acid analysis and 500 g were frozen for meat quality evaluation. Fat was extracted and methylated for fatty acid analysis. Separation and identification of individual fatty acid methyl esters was performed using gas chromatography. Sensory meat evaluation (pork flavour, off-flavour, tenderness and juiciness) was performed by 10 trained panelists. Warner-Bratzler shear evaluation and free moisture analyses were performed. The fatty acids in pork appear to exhibit a sensitive response to changes in dietary fat. Linear trends for fatty acids in the pork were, for the most part, opposite to trends in the diets. Inclusion of POH resulted in an increase in the total polyunsaturates present in the pork. There was no effect (P > 0.05) due to dietary treatment on flavour, tenderness or juiciness of the pork. No significant differences were found among the Warner-Bratzler shear measurements or free moisture determinations. Changes in fatty acid profile of pork do not appear to affect eating quality when POH is included in the diet at levels of up to 15% DM. Key words: Poultry offal, pork, fatty acid, meat quality