Loin Tissue Research Articles

A Study on Mineral Oil Hydrocarbons (MOH) Contamination in Pig Diets and Its Transfer to Back Fat and Loin Tissues.

This study assessed saturated mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH) and aromatic mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOAH) levels in grower-finisher feeds for pigs supplemented with 5% crude palm oil (CP), crude olive pomace oil (COP), olive pomace acid oil (OPA), or a blend of CP and OPA (50:50, w/w); the contribution of the lipid source to that contamination; and the ability of pigs to accumulate MOH in back fat and loin tissues after 60 days of trial. MOSH and MOAH were analyzed with liquid chromatography (LC)-gas chromatography (GC)-flame ionization detection (FID) after sample preparation. Among the lipid sources, CP had the lowest MOH levels, but CP feeds showed the highest contamination. This, along with the different MOSH profiles, indicated the presence of more significant contamination sources in the feeds than the lipid source. The higher MOH contamination in CP feeds was reflected in the highest MOSH levels in pig back fat, whereas MOAH were not detected in animal tissues. Also, MOSH bioaccumulation in pig tissues was influenced by the carbon chain length. In conclusion, feed manufacturing processes can determine the MOSH contamination present in animal adipose tissues that can be included in human diets.

Selection of Exposure Parameters for a HIFU Ablation System Using an Array of Thermocouples and Numerical Simulations

Image-guided High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) technique is dynamically developing technology for treating solid tumors due to its non-invasive nature. Before a HIFU ablation system is ready for use, the exposure parameters of the HIFU beam capable of destroying the treated tissue without damaging the surrounding tissues should be selected to ensure the safety of therapy. The purpose of this work was to select the threshold acoustic power as well as the step and rate of movement of the HIFU beam, generated by a transducer intended to be used in the HIFU ablation system being developed, by using an array of thermocouples and numerical simulations. For experiments a bowl-shaped 64-mm, 1.05 MHz HIFU transducer with a 62.6 mm focal length (f-number 0.98) generated pulsed waves propagating in two-layer media: water/ex vivo pork loin tissue (50 mm/40 mm) was used. To determine a threshold power of the HIFU beam capable of creating the necrotic lesion in a small volume within the tested tissue during less than 3 s each tissue sample was sonicated by multiple parallel HIFU beams of different acoustic power focused at a depth of 12.6 mm below the tissue surface. Location of the maximum heating as well as the relaxation time of the tested tissue were determined from temperature variations recorded during and after sonication by five thermo-couples placed along the acoustic axis of each HIFU beam as well as from numerical simulations. The obtained results enabled to assess the location of each necrotic lesion as well as to determine the step and rate of the HIFU beam movement. The location and extent of the necrotic lesions created was verified using ultrasound images of tissue after sonication and visual inspection after cutting the samples. The threshold acoustic power of the HIFU beam capable of creating the local necrotic lesion in the tested tissue within 3 s without damaging of surrounding tissues was found to be 24 W, and the pause between sonications was found to be more than 40 s. (f-number 0.98) and propagated in two-layer media: water/ex vivo pork loin tissue (50mm/40mm). The thickness of a water layer was determined from a nonlinear propagation model. To determine a threshold power of the HIFU beam capable of creating a necrotic lesion in small volume within a tested tissue during exposure less than 3s the tissue samples were sonicated by parallel HIFU beams with a varied acoustic power (8W - 36W) focused at a depth of 12.6 mm below the tissue surface. The location of the maximum heating spot induced by these beams as well as the tissue relaxation time were determined from temperatures recorded by a thermocouple array placed on the acoustic axis of each HIFU beam. The results obtained enabled to detect the location of necrotic lesions as well as the scanning speed of the tumor by means of the HIFU beam focus. The location of necrotic lesions was verified by ultrasonic images of tissue samples after their sonication and by visual inspection of visible lesions after cutting the samples. Results of the experiments showed that the threshold acoustic power of the HIFU beam capable of creating local necrotic lesion in the ex vivo pork loin tissue within 3s without damaging of surrounding tissue structures amounted to 24 W, and the interval between exposures, resulting from the relaxation time of tissue, was above 40 seconds.

Muscle Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Molecular Pathways Related to Oxidative Phosphorylation, Antioxidant Defense, Fatness and Growth in Mangalitsa and Moravka Pigs.

Simple SummaryThe study of gene expression at the transcriptome level provides rich information on the genes and metabolic pathways influencing relevant phenotypic traits. This study deals with the comparison of muscle transcriptome between two autochthonous pig breeds from Serbia (Mangalitsa and Moravka) as well as between Mangalitsa pigs fed a tannin-supplemented diet vs. a control one. The results provide a wide characterization of genes, pathways and potential regulatory mechanisms affecting muscle traits which differ among the experimental groups. The generated information improves the scientific knowledge on the cellular and metabolic basis of muscle growth, oxidative stability and fatness in pigs, and provides abundant candidate genes which could be responsible for phenotypic variation, and could be useful in future studies and selection approaches.This work was aimed at evaluating loin transcriptome and metabolic pathway differences between the two main Serbian local pig breeds with divergent characteristics regarding muscle growth and fatness, as well as exploring nutrigenomic effects of tannin supplementation in Mangalitsa (MA) pigs. The study comprised 24 Mangalitsa and 10 Moravka (MO) males, which were kept under identical management conditions. Mangalitsa animals were divided in two nutritional groups (n = 12) receiving a standard (control) or tannin–supplemented diet (1.5%; MAT). Moravka pigs were fed the standard mixture. All animals were slaughtered at a similar age; 120 kg of average live weight (LW) and loin tissue was used for RNA-seq analysis. Results showed 306 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) according to breed, enriched in genes involved in growth, lipid metabolism, protein metabolism and muscle development, such as PDK4, FABP4, MYOD1 and STAT3, as well as a relevant number of genes involved in mitochondrial respiratory activity (MT-NDs, NDUFAs among others). Oxidative phosphorylation was the most significantly affected pathway, activated in Mangalitsa muscle, revealing the basis of a different muscle metabolism. Also, many other relevant pathways were affected by breed and involved in oxidative stress response, fat accumulation and development of skeletal muscle. Results also allowed the identification of potential regulators and causal networks such as those controlled by FLCN, PPARGC1A or PRKAB1 with relevant regulatory roles on DEGs involved in mitochondrial and lipid metabolism, or IL3 and TRAF2 potentially controlling DEGs involved in muscle development. The Tannin effect on transcriptome was small, with only 23 DEGs, but included interesting ones involved in lipid deposition such as PPARGC1B. The results indicate a significant effect of the breed on muscle tissue gene expression, affecting relevant biological pathways and allowing the identification of strong regulatory candidate genes to underlie the gene expression and phenotypic differences between the compared groups.

Presence of Toxoplasma gondii in Pork Intended for Human Consumption in Tropical Southern Mexico.

Toxoplasmosis is caused by the protozoon Toxoplasma gondii, which is one of the most widespread parasites that infect animals and humans worldwide. One of the main routes of infection for humans is through the consumption of infected meat containing bradyzoites in tissue cysts. Pork is one of the foremost meat types associated with outbreaks of acute toxoplasmosis in humans. Sixty blood samples were collected from finished pigs at slaughter and their sera was evaluated by an indirect-IgG ELISA. Matched muscle samples were obtained from the tongue and loin. Whole blood and tissue samples were evaluated to search for T. gondii DNA using a nested-polymerase chain reaction. Seroprevalence of T. gondii was 96.6% (58/60) of sampled pigs. Meanwhile, T. gondii DNA was present in 23.21% of tongue tissue samples (13/56), 7% of loin tissues (4/57), and 0% in blood samples (0/44), respectively. Two pigs were serologically indeterminate. This is the first report of the presence of T. gondii DNA in tissue samples obtained from finalized pigs. Results from the present study suggest a high exposure to T. gondii in pigs intended for human consumption from the tropical region of Mexico. Thus, the consumption of some undercooked pork meat meals typical from the southern region of Mexico could represent a significant risk for acquiring infection for the human population.

The effect of sex, carcass mass, back fat thickness and lean meat content on pork ham and loin characteristics

Abstract. This study was designed to determine the ratio of ham and loin in half-carcasses and the tissue composition of these cuts. The research material consisted of 140 pig carcasses. The experimental materials were derived from the Polish commercial population of fattener pigs. Genetic material representing the most commonly slaughtered fatteners in Poland. Fatteners for the study came from several suppliers. All fatteners were kept in similar farms complying with principles of animal welfare. The right half-carcasses were divided into different groups, regardless of sex, half-carcass mass, back fat thickness and lean meat content class. Ham and loin obtained from carcasses were subjected to a detailed dissection, and the percentage of ham and loin in the carcass and the overall percentage of of the cuts in relation to the entire half-carcass were calculated. Gilts were characterized by a higher content of ham in half-carcasses than barrows (P ≤ 0.01). The increase in back fat thickness reduced the content of ham in half-carcasses and increased the content of loin (P ≤ 0.01). A similar trend was shown for the lean meat content class parameter. Additionally, interaction (P ≤ 0.01) between back fat thickness and meat content with respect to the percentage content of loin in carcasses was noted. Gilts were characterised by about a 1.38 % higher proportion of muscles in the ham (P ≤ 0.05) and a 0.47 % lower proportion of intermuscular fat (P ≤ 0.01). An average increase of five point in back fat thickness increases the amount of subcutaneous fat with skin (P ≤ 0.01) and intermuscular fat (P ≤ 0.01) and reduces muscle (P ≤ 0.01) and bone (P ≤ 0.05 and P ≤ 0.01) levels. The interaction of percentage content of muscles in ham was observed (P = 0.04). The meat content class of carcasses did not only affect the level of bones in ham. It was confirmed that sex affected all the analysed dissection elements of the loin. Back fat thickness and meat content classes were present in almost identical amounts in loin tissues (P ≤ 0.05 and P ≤ 0.01). Half-carcass mass showed a strong negative correlation with bone content in ham and loin (r = −0.35 and r = −0.21, respectively). Back fat thickness and meat content strongly and inversely correlated with the content of ham and loin in half-carcasses (r = −0.41 and r = 0.59 for back fat thickness; r = 0.66 and r = −0.57 for lean meat content). Close and inverse correlations of back fat thickness and lean meat content were observed with regard to their content in ham and loin (P ≤ 0.01).

광전자증폭관에 의한 키토산 첨가 사료를 사용한 양돈 생체조직에서의 육질 품질 비교 측정

키토산 첨가 혼합사료를 섭취한 양돈 근육 조직과 일반 사료를 섭취한 조직에서의 품질을 비교하기 위한 방법으로 생체광자를 이용한 광전자증폭관(Photomultiplier Tube, PMT) 기기를 사용하여 측정한 결과 서로 다른 결과를 얻었다. 키토산 첨가제를 사용한 돼지 등심조직에서의 육질 비교를 PMT와 현미경을 사용하여 측정한 결과 키토산 첨가 혼합 사료를 먹인 돼지 등심 조직의 생체광자 양을 측정한 결과 서로 상이한 수치를 얻을 수 있었다. 이것으로 조직의 품질을 비교 측정이 가능했다. 또한 이조직의 형태를 해부현미경으로 관찰한 결과 키토산 첨가 혼합사료 근육 조직의 육질이 더 섬세하고 촘촘하여 지방질이 적고 맛이 좋다는 것을 알 수 있었다. 따라서 PMT에 의한 조직 육질 측정은 생화학적 상태변화를 측정하는 새로운 분석법의 하나가 될 것으로 기대되어진다. Effect of chitosan with sirloin specimens from chitosan-fed and normal-fed pig. The specimens were observed by a optical microscope and their biophoton was measured by a photomultiplier(PMT)tube. Results of experiments showed that specimens of the chitosan-fed pig had lower biophoton rate than that of the normal-fed pig. As a result of the organization were also shown pictures Chitosan as a pork loin tissue and fat in the flesh less delicate and compactness is found that tastes good. Thus by PMT fleshy tissue biochemical measurements to measure the change of state to be one of the new method is to be expected.

Rendimentos de cortes, proporção tecidual da carcaça e composição centesimal da carne de caprinos jovens em função do grupo racial e do peso corporal de abate

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar as proporções de cortes comerciais, tecidos do lombo e composição da carne de cabritos de cinco grupos raciais: Alpino, ½ Boer + ½ Alpino (½ BA), ½ Anglo Nubiano + ½ Alpino (½ ANA), ¾ Boer + ¼ Alpino (¾ BA), ¼ Boer + ¼ Alpino + ½ Anglo Nubiano (Tricross), submetidos a três pesos de abate (25, 30 e 35kg) em sistema de confinamento, com utilização de dieta completa. O cruzamento das raças Boer e Anglo Nubiana com fêmeas Alpinas apenas melhorou, nos cabritos, os rendimentos de cortes considerados de terceira categoria, como pescoço e costela. Pesos corporais de abate entre 30 e 35kg devem ser preferidos por aumentarem a proporção de lombo, reduzirem a proporção de pescoço nos Alpinos e aumentarem a de perna em Alpinos e ¾ Boer, além de proporcionarem quantidades adequadas de músculo e gordura intermuscular.

Quality Indicators of Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) Venison in Relation to Sex

Quality of roe deer venison was evaluated based on chemical composition, technological parameters, pH values and colour. Loin (M. longissimus dorsi) and leg (M. gluteus medius) samples were taken from 14 males and 11 females of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.). Highly signifi cant differences between samples from the two parts of body were found only in pH (120 h post mortem). Highly signifi cant differences between sexes were found in colour values of L* in leg samples at 72 h and loin samples at 120 h, and of a* in loin samples at 72 h. The content of haem pigments ranged from 2.56 to 3.84 mg/g, highly signifi cant differences were found in leg samples. Dry matter content was higher in male venison compared with female venison. Highly signifi cant differences between sexes were found in loin fat content (p<0.05) and in total collagen content (p<0.01) in leg muscles. The fat content, total and pure proteins and collagen content were higher for males. In both sexes, statistically signifi cantly higher drip loss was found in loin tissues, while cooking loss was higher in leg samples. With respect to sex differences, drip loss of both muscle types was higher in male roe deers, while cooking loss was higher only in loin muscle of females. In our experiment, hardness in excess of 40.00 N was found out in roe deer venison. The highest maximum hardness was found in male leg.

Nutritional value of flaxseed meal for swine and its effects on the fatty acid profile of the carcass1

Four experiments were conducted to determine the nutritional value of flaxseed meal [FSM; 133 g of ether extract (EE) and 343 g of CP/kg of DM] for swine. In Exp. 1, apparent fecal digestibility (AD) of DM and EE, and the DE and NE contents were determined in growing pigs (n = 32; initial BW, 70 +/- 3 kg) and gestating sows (n = 24; parities, 2 to 4). Diets contained 0, 100, 200, or 300 g of FSM/kg at the expense of wheat, barley, and soybean meal. Fecal samples were collected for 3 d after a 9-d adaptation. The AD for DM and EE were 72.0 +/- 0.4% and 67.4 +/- 4.7%, respectively, for growing pigs and 68.0 +/- 0.5% and 48.9 +/- 1.9% for sows. The DE content was 3.51 and 3.54 Mcal/kg for growing pigs and gestating sows, and NE was estimated to be 2.43 and 2.44 Mcal/kg for growing pigs and sows, respectively. Five ileally cannulated barrows (initial BW, 38 +/- 3 kg) were fed semi-synthetic diets containing 400 g of FSM/kg for a 7-d period (4-d adaptation and 3-d collection) then 7 d of N-free diet to determine basal endogenous N losses in Exp. 2. Standardized ileal digestible AA contents were 29.6 +/- 1.0, 5.7 +/- 0.3, 12.1 +/- 0.8, 16.8 +/- 1.0, 10.3 +/- 0.4, 5.3 +/- 0.3, 14.0 +/- 0.7, 9.4 +/- 0.5, 2.9 +/- 0.2, and 13.8 +/- 0.8 g/kg of dry FSM for Arg, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Thr, Trp, and Val, respectively. In Exp. 3, the AD of P and the effects of phytase inclusion on P availability were determined. Five groups of 8 barrows (initial BW, 45 +/- 4 kg) were fed a 300 g of FSM/kg semi-synthetic diet with increasing concentrations of exogenous phytase [0, 575, 1,185, 2,400 and 2,570 phytase units (FTU)/kg]. The AD of P increased from 21 to 61% (P < 0.001). Broken-line analysis estimated the optimal phytase inclusion rate to be 1,415 FTU/kg of diet. Growth performance and carcass fatty acid (FA) profiles of pigs fed FSM were determined in Exp. 4. Two hundred pigs (100 barrows and 100 gilts; initial BW, 32 +/- 4 kg), blocked by sex, were housed in groups of 5 pigs per pen and fed 1 of 4 diets containing 0, 50, 100, or 150 g of FSM/kg. Six market pigs per diet were selected for carcass FA analysis. The ADG, ADFI, and G:F were not affected by dietary FSM (P > 0.05). Increasing FSM in the diet from 0 to 150 g of FSM/kg increased the alpha-linolenic acid content from 11.1 +/- 0.2 to 47.4 +/- 1.2 mg/g of backfat (P < 0.001) and from 5.0 +/- 0.1 to 10.1 +/- 0.6 mg/g of loin tissue (P < 0.001). Flaxseed meal despite its deficiency in lysine can be included up to 150 g/kg of diets for swine and will contribute to the enrichment of the carcass with n-3 fatty acids.

The Effects of Flaxseed Oil and Derivatives on In Vitro Gas Production, Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Meat Quality of Finishing Steers

Two studies were conducted to determine the effects of flax oil and its derivatives on finishing feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and in vitro gas production. In trial 1, Holstein-Jersey steers (n = 60, 452kg initial BW) were fed steam-flaked corn diets with no supplemental fat (CON), flax oil (OIL), lipase-treated flax oil (L-OIL), or linseed soapstock (SOAP) for 90 d. Following slaughter, loin sections were removed from one side of each animal for fatty acid analysis. Dry matter intakes were highest for CON, lowest for L-OIL, and intermediate for steers fed OIL and SOAP (P < 0.01). No differences among treatments existed for ADG, G:F, final BW, or carcass characteristics (P > 0.48). Steers fed diets supplemented with flax lipids produced loin steaks with higher concentrations of alpha-linolenic acid and total omega-3 fatty acids compared with CON steers (P < 0.001). In trial 2, gas production from CON, OIL, L-OIL, SOAP, and ground flax was examined. Gas production for the SOAP treatment was less compared with all other treatments (P < 0.01) Gas production increased over time for all treatments (P < 0.001). Hydrolyzing flax oil with lipase decreased DMI compared with other treatments, but supplementing flax oil and flax oil derivatives increased concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids in loin tissues of feedlot steers. Linseed soap-stock and lipase-treated oil were inferior to flax oil as a strategy to increase omega-3 fatty acid concentrations in beef tissue.

Characterization of a Leuconostoc gelidum bacteriophage from pork

A new bacteriophage (phage ggg) and its host, Leuconostoc gelidum LRC-BD, were isolated from vacuum-packaged pork loins. Homogenates of pork loin tissue were enriched with L. gelidum LRC-BD to isolate phages. Cultural, biochemical and genetic methods were used to compare L. gelidum LRC-BD and the type strain, L. gelidum ATCC 49366. The phages were characterized by host range, morphology and phage–bacterial interaction in All Purpose Tween (APT) broth and on pork adipose tissue. With the exception of its inability to produce dextran from sucrose and the fermentation of l-arabinose, L. gelidum LRC-BD was culturally and biochemically similar to L. gelidum ATCC 49366. DNA-relatedness of the strains was confirmed by sequencing of the 16s rRNA gene. Electron microscopic observation revealed that phage ggg was a member of the Siphoviridae. The host range was limited to L. gelidum isolates from meats. Phages were able to replicate and limit the growth of L. gelidum LRC-BD in APT broth incubated aerobically and anaerobically at 4 °C, with a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.001. When inoculated pork adipose tissue was stored at 4 °C in air or vacuum, phages could multiply but a higher MOI (0.01 to 1000) was necessary to limit the growth of L. gelidum LRC-BD. Naturally occurring phages may affect the numbers of L. gelidum and other lactic acid bacteria residing in meats and thereby alter the storage quality or the preservative potential of competitive strains.

Carcass characteristics of suckling lambs protected by the PGI “ Lechazo de Castilla y León” European quality label: Effect of breed, sex and carcass weight

In the Region of “Castilla y León” (Spain), as in other Mediterranean areas, fresh suckling lamb meat is regarded as having a high edible quality. The EU granted this product a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) “Lechazo de Castilla y León” in 1999. In this study, several carcass characteristics of suckling lambs protected by this PGI were determined, while the effects of breed, sex, and carcass weight were studied. Some differences in carcass characteristics within the three PGI authorized breeds have been detected. Neither carcass weight nor conformation measurements were good predictors of the composition of the PGI protected suckling lamb carcasses. The best predictors were fatness and composition of the leg and loin tissues, although dissection of these joints is not feasible on a daily basis. Lastly, some differences, due to sex and weight were identified in conformation, fat percentage, jointing and joint composition. Differences were, however, rather small, due to the lambs’ young age and low variation in carcass weight.

Effects of Antemortem Ingestion of Ethanol on Insect Successional Patterns and Development ofPhormia regina(Diptera: Calliphoridae)

The effects of antemortem ingestion of ethanol by domestic pigs, Sus scrofa L., on postmortem insect successional patterns and the development of Phormia regina (Meigen) were studied during summer 2003 in Blacksburg, VA. Insect samples were collected from the carcasses of ethanol-treated and untreated pigs for 10 d postmortem during two successional studies. In total, 32 insect taxa were collected during the two studies, with 29 and 27 taxa observed on the carcasses of ethanol-treated and untreated pigs, respectively. The earliest arrivers to both carcass types were dipterans. This group was represented by six families, with P. regina and Phaenicia coeruleiviridis (Macquart) being the most common calliphorids. Beetles in six families were collected on the carcasses of ethanol-treated pigs, but only three of the families were collected on carcasses of the untreated pigs. Permutation analyses to test the null hypothesis of no similarity between successional patterns of insect taxa from carcasses of ethanol-treated and untreated pigs showed that the successional patterns were similar between carcass types in the first (P = 0.003) and the second (P = 0.01) studies. The results of the development study of P. regina maggots in the field show that there was a significant difference between the distributions of length for maggots reared on loin tissue from ethanol-treated and untreated pigs. Maggots that fed on tissue from ethanol-treated pigs took approximately 11.9 h longer to reach the pupal stage than maggots that fed on tissue from untreated pigs. The longer developmental time for maggots on tissue from ethanol-treated pigs was due mainly to the longer postfeeding period of the third instar.

The Effect of Protein Source and Formaldehyde Treatment on Growth and Carcass Composition of Awassi Lambs

A trial with twenty-four newly weaned Awassi lambs (initial body weight=21.5±0.8 kg) was conducted using a 3×2 factorial design to study the effect of feeding three sources of protein supplements (soybean meal (SBM), sunflower seed meal (SSM), and cottonseed meal (CSM)), either untreated or formaldehyde-treated on the growth performance and carcass traits of Awassi lambs. Lambs were randomly assigned to one of the six diets (4 lambs/treatment diet) and were individually fed for a period of 107 days. Experimental diets were isonitrogenous and isocaloric. Final live weight and average daily gain (ADG) were affected by both source of protein and formaldehyde treatment (undegradable protein). Lambs fed untreated diets had better (p<0.01) daily gain compared to those fed formaldehyde-treated diets. Similarly total feed intake per animal was significantly (p<0.05) affected by protein source and formaldehyde treatment. Formaldehyde treatment caused a significant decrease (p<0.01) in feed intake compared to lambs fed untreated diets. Feed requirement per unit of gain was not affected by formaldehyde treatment during all periods of the experiment except for the second period (the second 28 day period), whereby untreated SBM, SSM and CSM had better feed conversion ratio (FCR) than the treated groups. Source of protein had a moderate effect (p<0.10) on FCR, but had a significant effect (p<0.05) on hot and cold carcass weight, digestive tract empty weight and liver weight, with lambs fed SBM having higher values than lambs fed SSM and CSM diets. Supplementation with undegradable protein had a significant effect (p<0.05) on dressing-out percentage (p<0.05), final live weight, and hot and cold carcass weight (p<0.01). The lower values pertain to lambs fed treated diets compared to lambs fed untreated diets. In general, there were no significant differences among all carcass linear dimensions, carcass cut weights and dissected loin tissue weights for both treatments (protein source and formaldehyde treatment). Supplementation with undegradable protein but not the source of protein resulted in significantly higher dissected leg total bone weight (p<0.05), tibia and femur weight (p<0.05), and femur length (p<0.01) at the same carcass weight. Results suggest that the treatment of SBM, SSM and CSM with formaldehyde did not improve efficiency of feed utilization, lamb performance or carcass traits and that the SBM diet resulted in an increase in lamb performance compared to other experimental diets. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2004. Vol 17, No. 8 : 1080-1087)

Analysis of Hanwoo Loin Proteome by 2-D Gel Electrophoresis and Peptide Mass Fingerprinting

A proteomic map of Hanwoo loin was obtained using 2-D SDS-PAGE and mass spectrometric analysis: 27 bovine proteins plus 2 proteins having similarities to other mammal proteins out of 52 proteins analyzed. The identified proteins consisted of 50% basic house keeping proteins involved in metabolism, 30% muscle proteins, and other miscellaneous proteins. Many proteins on the 2-D gel with different molecular weights and isoelectric points were identified as same proteins due to posttranslational modification. As many of the identified house keeping proteins showed the high sequence similarities to other mammal equivalent proteins, searching the mammal databases could confirm the annotation. The preliminary identification of the proteome in bovine loin tissue could reveal the functions of proteins at over 50% of chance with high fidelities. Using the established loin proteome map, proteomic difference between 1 yr and 2 yr Hanwoo loin tissues were compared on 2D gel. Regardless of the difficulty normalizing protein concentrations and sample-to-sample variations, three unidentified proteins and myoglobin were selected as up-regulated proteins during the fat deposition period. This study contributes to a more thorough and holistic understanding of beef meat, helping to build the basis for future identification of new markers for good quality meat.

Duration of feeding conjugated linoleic acid influences growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of finishing barrows.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) was fed to growing-finishing barrows (n = 92) at 0.75% of the diet. A commercial CLA preparation (CLA 60) containing 60% CLA isomers was included at 1.25% to provide 0.75% CLA in the diet. The inclusion of CLA in diets was initiated at various BW and fed until slaughter. Growth, carcass, meat quality, physical, chemical, and sensory data were collected and analyzed. Treatments T1, T2, T3, and T4 included the last 0, 29, 56 and 87 kg, respectively, of weight gain before slaughter. Average daily gain and feed intake were not affected (P > or = 0.06) by CLA, but gain:feed responded quadratically (P = 0.05), over the entire BW gain (28 to 115 kg) with pigs of T2 and T3 having the greatest gain:feed. Loin muscle area increased (P = 0.01) linearly with increasing weight gain while fed CLA, and 10th rib, first rib, and last rib fat depth decreased (P < or = 0.05) linearly. Subjective quality measures on loin muscles increased linearly for marbling (P < 0.05) and tended to increase for firmness (P = 0.07) with increasing weight gain while barrows were fed CLA. Objective Hunter color values for loin chops from T1 and T4 were not different for L* (P = 0.12) or a* (P = 0.08) values but were higher (P < 0.05) for b* values with CLA feeding. Lipid oxidation values of loin muscle tissue were lower (P < 0.05) for pigs fed CLA (T1 vs T4). Increasing the period of weight gain while feeding CLA linearly increased (P < 0.01) saturated fatty acids and CLA isomers in loin tissue and linearly increased (P < 0.01) saturated fatty acids and CLA isomers in subcutaneous adipose tissue. Sensory panel characteristics of loin chops were not changed (P > 0.05) by feeding CLA. Increased gain:feed, increased loin muscle area, decreased fat depth, and improvements in marbling and firmness with CLA feeding could result in improved profitability of pork production systems.

Effect of inorganic or organic selenium at two dietary levels on reproductive performance and tissue selenium concentrations in first-parity gilts and their progeny.

A 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments in a randomized complete block design was conducted at two time periods using a total of 43 first-parity gilts. Two sources of Se (selenite or Se-enriched yeast) were added at .1 or .3 ppm to corn-soybean meal diets to evaluate reproductive performance and gilt and progeny tissue Se contents. Treatment diets were initially provided approximately 60 d before breeding. Gilts were bled at periodic intervals and serum glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and Se concentrations were determined. Milk was collected at parturition and at weekly intervals to weaning (21 d) for Se analysis. Liver and loin tissues were collected from stillborn (n = 17) and neonatal pigs (n = 19) before colostrum consumption. Three pigs from each litter were bled at weaning, and six pigs per treatment group were killed (two/litter) and tissue (liver, loin, kidney) collected. Three to four sows per treatment were killed at weaning and tissue (loin, liver, pancreas, kidney) collected. Tissues collected from each were analyzed for Se. Dietary Se level or Se source had no effect (P > .15) on gilt reproductive performance. Gilt serum GSH-Px activity was generally similar at the .1 and .3 ppm Se level for either Se source, whereas serum Se was consistently higher when the dietary Se level was .3 ppm. Colostrum Se content was unaffected by Se source and Se level, but milk Se increased as the dietary Se level increased and when the Se-enriched yeast source was fed, resulting in an interaction response (P < .01). Loin tissue had similar Se contents between stillborn and neonatal pigs. Loin Se content was higher when dietary Se level increased (P < .05) and when the Se-enriched yeast source (P < .01) was fed to gestating gilts. Weanling pig lion Se content increased as dietary Se level increased (P < .01) and when the Se-enriched yeast source was fed (P < .01). A higher liver Se content in weaned pigs also resulted when the dietary Se level was .3 ppm (P < .08) and when the Se-yeast (P < .01) was provided. Weanling pig serum GSH-Px activity was similar regardless of the Se level or Se source fed to the dam, but serum Se increased when the .3 ppm Se level and the Se-yeast was fed to the gilt. If GSH-Px activity is used as the criterion to evaluate Se adequacy, then .1 ppm Se from either Se source was adequate, but if higher milk Se or pig tissue content is desired, then a .3 ppm Se level from the Se-enriched yeast source was superior to inorganic Se.

Electromagnetic scanning of pork carcasses in an on-line industrial configuration.

The objective of this study was to test and validate electromagnetic scanning of whole pork carcasses in an on-line, integrated, industrial configuration. The electromagnetic (EM) scanner was installed in two pork processing facilities (Plant A and Plant B). Plant A was a small pork fabrication plant that further processed chilled pork carcasses. Carcasses were delivered to Plant A by refrigerated trucks. The amount of EM energy absorbed by the carcasses was recorded as they were conveyed through the EM field. A plot of the absorption units over time (EM scan curve) was used to obtain predictive variables for estimating carcass and primal cut composition. Forty-eight whole, chilled carcasses (Group A) were electromagnetically scanned and conveyed onto the fabrication line. The average percentage carcass lean for Group A was 49.1% (range = 36.5 to 59.5%). Right carcass sides were removed from the processing line, fabricated into primal cuts, and dissected into fat, lean, and bone. Prediction equations were developed from EM scans for weight of total dissected carcass lean (R2 = .830; root mean square error = 1.80 kg), percentage of carcass lean (R2 = .820; root mean square error = 2.29%), and weight of dissected ham, longissimus muscle, and shoulder lean. In Plant B, the electromagnetic scanner was installed at the end of a pork slaughter line to ensure carcass scanning at a consistent carcass temperature. Fifty whole, pre-rigor eviscerated carcasses (Group B) were electromagnetically scanned before entering the chill cooler where fat and loin tissue depths were obtained by an optical grading probe. The average percentage carcass lean for Group B was 46.7% (range = 30.1 to 57.3%). Prediction equations were developed from EM scans for weight of total dissected carcass lean (R2 = .904; root mean square error = 1.59 kg), percentage of carcass lean (R2 = .863; root mean square error = 2.05%), and weight of dissected ham, loin, and shoulder lean. Statistical equations developed for the prediction of dissected primal cut lean were superior from EM scans of Group B (prerigor) carcasses. Electromagnetic scanning proved more statistically efficient than optical probes for predicting weight of dissected carcass lean and percentage of carcass lean. Statistical comparison of EM scan equations from Groups A and B are not completely valid because two different populations of carcasses were tested at different times of the year. The results of this study show that EM scanning has the potential to accurately predict pork carcass composition in a fully automated, on-line industrial configuration.

Contribution of Lactobacillus plantarum and Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides to Atypical Odors of Beef Strip Loins

Sterile beef strip loin tissue was inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum or Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides, placed in sterile sample bottles which were purged with CO2, and stored up to 28 days at 3°C. Volatile compounds detected in the headspace of these samples included acetone, toluene, acetic acid, ethyl acetate, a C7 hydrocarbon, and trichloromethane. The profile of volatiles in packaged sterile loin tissue stored for up to 28 days was similar. However, the inoculated samples spoiled (soured) at a faster rate.

Volatile Compounds on Sterile Pork Loin Tissue Inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus fermentum

Sterile pork loin tissue was inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum 1 and Lactobacillus fermentum, placed in sterile sample bottles, purged with CO2, and stored for up to 24 days at 3°C. L. plantarum grew more rapidly than L. fermentum under these conditions. Among the 15 compounds identified in the headspace of sterile and inoculated pork loin tissue were acetone, sulfur dioxide, dichloroethane, trichloromethane, benzene and toluene. Profiles of volatile compounds were similar for inoculated and sterile pork loin tissue.