The Effect of Increased Pork Hot Carcass Weights on Loin Quality and Palatability

Abstract

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of pork hot carcass weight on loin quality and palatability of top loin chops.Materials and MethodsThe pigs in this study were raised to exceed standard market weights. Pork loins (N = 200) were collected from 4 different hot carcass weight groups: light (LT; less than 111.8 kg), medium-light (MLT; 111.8- 119.1 kg), medium-heavy (MHVY; 119.1- 124.4), and a heavy (HVY; 124.4 and greater). Prior to fabrication, purge loss percentage, instrumental color, subjective color and marbling, and pH were taken for each loin. Following fabrication, chops were assigned to fat and moisture analysis, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), consumer sensory analysis, or trained sensory analysis. For WBSF, consumer, and trained panels, chops were thawed for 24 h prior to analysis. Chops were cooked on clam-shell style grills and removed from the heat with the internal temperature rising to a peak internal temperature of 71°C. Consumers (N = 197) evaluated each sample for tenderness, juiciness, flavor like, and overall liking on 0 to 100 continuous line scales. Consumers were also able to indicate “yes” or “no” if the chop was acceptable for all palatability traits and overall. Trained panelists evaluated each sample for initial juiciness, sustained juiciness, myofibrillar tenderness, connective tissue amount, overall tenderness, pork flavor, and off flavor on similar 0 to 100 continuous line scales.ResultsLoins from all weight groups differed (P 0.05) were found for loin instrumental color, subjective color, subjective marbling, purge loss percentage, pH, WBSF, moisture percentage, fat percentage, and drip loss. Carcass weight did not affect (P > 0.05) juiciness or flavor like ratings but did affect (P 0.05) to the percentage of chops rated acceptable for flavor and overall liking. Chops from the HVY weight carcasses had the greatest (P 0.05) with greater (P < 0.05) overall tenderness ratings compared to chops from LT carcasses.ConclusionThese results indicate that as hot carcass weight increased, there were no negative effects on loin quality, and top loin chops from heavier weight carcasses had improved tenderness and juiciness compared to chops from lighter carcasses. This provides evidence that as the hot carcass weights of pigs in the United States continue to increase there will be no negative effects on quality and palatability.