Pork Products Research Articles

Current issues of animal welfare and health in pig breeding (review)

Objective. To summarise current issues related to welfare and health in pig production. Methods. Domestic and foreign sources of literature on the subject of research and their desk analytical analysis. Results. Today, animal welfare is determined by a combination of three interrelated components: the physical, mental and natural state of certain animals, as well as, of course, humane human attitude to meeting their needs. Until recently, the problems of humane treatment ofproductive animals were exclusively related to economically developed countries where intensive livestock production technologies were used. Pig farms need to have highly productive animals, adequate and balancedfeed, and use resource-saving technologies to produce breeding and marketable products at the optimum cost. Improving the efficiency of pig production primarily has a negative impact on the welfare of pigs. At the same time, it should be understood that, in general, pigs are raised to produce meat and lard products, which is directly related to their slaughter and, accordingly, the taking of their lives. Therefore, the needs of pigs will not be fully met. However, the basic needs - the so-calledfive freedoms of animals - must be met. A detailed grouping of approaches to determining animal welfare is formed in three main aspects: physical condition, mental condition and naturalness. It should be borne in mind that the satisfaction of specific needs in the natural environment does not always ensure their full satisfaction in the two aspects ofphysical and mental health. In the case of pig breeding, it is necessary to take into account the consequences of long term targeted selection of the main breeds and significant modification of their representatives compared to wild forms. The provision of air, water and feed for pigs is critical and should be provided in full. However, this is not always taken into account on Ukrainian pig farms. In addition, the welfare of pigs is inextricably linked and directly depends on the health of the animals. Conclusions. The review of literature sources to summarise current issues related to welfare in pig production indicates that there are a number of issues to be addressed in Ukraine. First and foremost, we are talking about EU legislation that should be implemented in domestic production, which is especially relevant on Ukraine's path to full EU membership. With regard to the existing pig welfare issues, the list of methods and approaches for determining certain indicators is gradually expanding, but it should be borne in mind that welfare in pig production is not limited to pig housing. These are issues related to the transport and slaughter of pigs, aspects that synergise with the subsequent safety of pig products. Of particular importance are the issues in which pig welfare intersects with biosecurity and ensuring appropriate animal health. Key words: pigs, welfare, animal health, housing, feeding, productivity, commercial pork production.

Pigs, planners, and potato peels: the Soviet Scheme to feed pigs with urban food waste as a waste regime under Stalin, Khrushchev, and Brezhnev

ABSTRACT In this article, I study why and how Soviet planners organized a scheme to collect food waste from Soviet residential buildings and food service establishments in Moscow and other cities and utilize it as a feedstock for pork production. By relying on sociologist Zsuzsa Gille’s “waste regime” concept and a great variety of primary sources, I analyze the Soviet “garbage feeding scheme” as a social institution that patterned the social behavior of actors who engaged with food waste in the USSR from the early 1930s until the beginning of the 1980s. I argue that Soviet planners, informed by zootechnics, perceived garbage feeding as a way to reconcile their goal to increase meat production with the reality of continuous grain shortages. As such, they imparted food waste with the economic meaning that it could be turned into other commodities – wheat and meat. I demonstrate that the Soviet garbage feeding scheme never became a success, as the collection of food waste that laid dispersed across many locations in cities posed too big of an organizational challenge for the USSR’s centralized bureaucracy, and because planners did not succeed at integrating Soviet citizens into its scheme.

Modeling the growth of Salmonella in raw ground pork under dynamic conditions of temperature abuse

Salmonella contamination of pork products is a significant public health concern. Temperature abuse scenarios, such as inadequate refrigeration or prolonged exposure to room temperature, can enhance Salmonella proliferation. This study aimed to develop and validate models for Salmonella growth considering competition with background microbiota in raw ground pork, under isothermal and dynamic conditions of temperature abuse between 10 and 40 °C. The maximum specific growth rate (μmax) and maximum population density (MPD) were estimated to quantitatively describe the growth behavior of Salmonella. To reflect more realistic microbial interactions in Salmonella-contaminated product, our model considered competition with the background microbiota, measured as mesophilic aerobic plate counts (APC). Notably, the μmax of Salmonella in low-fat samples (∼5 %) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that in high-fat samples (∼25 %) at 10, 20, and 30 °C. The average doubling time of Salmonella was 26, 4, 2, 1.5, 0.8, and 1.1 h at 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 40 °C, respectively. The initial concentration of Salmonella minimally impacted its growth in ground pork at any temperature. The MPD of APC consistently exceeded that of Salmonella, indicating the growth of APC without competition from Salmonella. The competition model exhibited excellent fit with the experimental data, as 95 % (627/660) of residual errors fell within the desired acceptable prediction zone (pAPZ >0.70). The theoretical minimum and optimum growth temperatures for Salmonella ranged from 5 to 6 °C and 35 to 36 °C, respectively. The dynamic model displayed strong predictive performance, with 90 % (57/63) of residual errors falling within the APZ. Dynamic models could be valuable tools for validating and refining simpler static or isothermal models, ultimately improving their predictive capabilities to enhance food safety.

The water footprint of pig farms in Ireland based on commercial farm data

Livestock production is getting increased attention due to its impact on natural resources, and freshwater is one such limited resource. To reduce the pressure on freshwater use and develop sustainable livestock systems from farm-to-fork we need to study the whole production cycle, and look for hotspots of major freshwater use. Considering this, we chose intensive pork production as our focal livestock system, since it is one the most eaten meats globally. We focused on pork production in Ireland and studied the freshwater use (green and blue) from cradle-to-farm gate using the water footprint (WFP) method. Detailed farm data (e.g. diet composition, production data) were combined with on-farm water meter data to explore variations in water consumption between farms, and potential explanatory variables for differences in consumption between farms. So far, there have been no WFP studies in pork production that explored this, and insight into variation could help to identify options for improvement. We analyzed the direct (on-farm) and indirect (off-farm) green and blue water footprint of 10 Irish pig farms. Our results show that the average total WFP, including the direct and indirect water footprint, was 2537 L/kg pork, which is at the low end of previously published studies. The indirect green water footprint related to the production of purchased feed was responsible for the largest share (99 %) of the total WFP. The direct blue water footprint formed only a minor component of the total WFP (14 L/kg pork), with drinking water playing the major role. We can conclude from this study that variation in WFP between the least and most efficient farms was small (Q3-Q1 = 181 L/kg pork); nevertheless, this indicates that efficiencies of around 7 % could be gained by the least efficient cohort of farms by adjusting on-farm management practices. We also found a weak negative correlation between WFP and farm size, and WFP and meat produced. Overall, this study suggests that to reduce the burden on freshwater resources and reduce the pork WFP, future research should focus on the feed related impacts.

Meat production and zoonotic disease outbreaks in Asia

AbstractIs there a link between meat production and infectious diseases? Researchers, policymakers and pundits argue that the growth of demand for meat in Asia can increase the risk of zoonotic diseases, pathogens that originate in animals and can be transmitted to humans. Using original data on zoonotic disease outbreaks in 22 Asian countries between 1996 and 2019, this study examines the impact of beef, chicken and pork production on zoonotic outbreaks—focussing on all diseases and disaggregated subcategories. Because such outbreaks lead to culling animals, data on inorganic chemical fertiliser use are used to identify the plausibly exogenous relationship flowing from meat production to outbreaks. Results indicate that in these countries, intensive meat production may have contributed to a 16%–300% rise (for a one‐million‐tonne increase in output) in zoonotic outbreak incidence. Findings also suggest this relationship is primarily driven by flu pathogens' higher sensitivity to meat production, with a one‐million‐tonne increase in output being associated with a 48%–530% rise in the number of predicted flu outbreaks. These results are consistent across numerous sensitivity analyses accounting for modelling, operationalisation, and data selection choices.

The Impact of the Fresh Pork Display Lamps on the Sensory Response of Consumers to Fresh Pork.

Two studies were conducted to investigate the impact of fresh pork display lamps on consumers' sensory responses to pork products. In the first experiment, 63 participants were asked to evaluate pork products with different degrees of freshness under four fresh pork display lights and two LED lights. In the other experiment, 30 subjects participated in the Farnsworth-Munsell 100 hue test under the same lamps, with the aim of showing whether the fresh pork display lamps impaired color discrimination. The results showed that the light source had a significant effect on the color appearance evaluation of the pork products. The ratings for perceived freshness under the fresh pork display lamps were significantly higher than those of ordinary LED lamps, while the color discrimination performance of the subjects under those lamps was poor. It was demonstrated that improper component proportions of the light spectrum could influence observers' assessment of meat quality and weaken the observers' ability to distinguish the freshness level. Through this study, the authors would like to remind lamp users and manufacturers to not only be concerned about the improvement in the color appearance of pork, but also the need for consumers to be aware of the authentic freshness of the pork products.

Hepatitis E Virus RNA Detection in Liver and Muscle Tissues Sampled from Home Slaughtered Domestic Pigs in Central Italy.

Hepatitis E virus is a worldwide emerging foodborne pathogen; raw or undercooked meats and liver pork products can cause infection through the orofecal route. In Central-Southern Italy, small traditional farming method, associated with the possibility of environmental sharing with wild species, can facilitate HEV diffusion and persistence. The aim of this study was to determine HEV genotype and subtype in Marche region from home slaughtered domestic pigs involved in small and traditional food chains. A total of 236 liver and muscle tissues and 6 pooled salami samples were screened. Laboratory workflow started with homogenization, followed by RNA extraction. Nested reverse transcription PCR and qRT-PCR were used to amplify specific parts of overlapping open reading frames belonging to the HEV genome. A total of 42/236 (17.79%) liver and 8/236 (3.39%) diaphragm specimens were positive; none of the pooled salami specimens showed positive HEV signal. The discovered HEV3c presented high nucleotide similarities with ones amplified from wild boar populations hunted in the same province. Extensive farming methods and environmental sharing with wild animal species support cross-infection infections, as observed in the present study. Although salami resulted negative for HEV RNA detection, the effects of food technologies on viral loads remain unclear. Therefore, further scientific investigations coupled with efficacious standardized laboratory procedures will be the next challenge.

Use of plant extracts in the technology of minced semi-finished pork products

Use of plant extracts in the technology of minced semi-finished pork products

Monophasic variant of Salmonella Typhimurium 4,[5],12:i:- outbreak: an investigation by the Competent Authority.

Foodborne diseases represent a significant public health issue, regarding both collective health and the economy, with implications for healthcare costs and agribusiness. This paper shows the description and results of the investigation of a Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica foodborne outbreak that occurred in the Marche Region (Italy) in 2022, which was linked to the consumption of a roasted pork product (porchetta). As part of the outbreak investigations discussed in this article, molecular analysis to evaluate the genomic correlation between clinical, food, and environmental origin strains was carried out. All Salmonella strains of different origins were serotyped as monophasic variant of Salmonella Typhimurium with an antibiotic-resistance pattern and an allelic profile such as to define the "cluster strain" allowing the correlation between clinical and food/environmental strains, definitively confirmed by whole genome sequencing analysis. Following the laboratory evidence, corrective measures at the porchetta processing plant and at the retail stores involved were carried out by the Local Animal Based Food Hygiene Service. The results of this study show that effective intervention is only possible if efficient data exchange, standardized procedures, and staff training are guaranteed. The latter aspect also concerns the food business operator, who must take appropriate measures to minimize the risk.

In Silico Detection of Integrons and Their Relationship with Resistance Phenotype of Salmonella Isolates from a Brazilian Pork Production Chain.

The pork production chain is an important reservoir of antimicrobial resistant bacteria. This study identified and characterized integrons in Salmonella isolates from a Brazilian pork production chain and associate them with their antibiotic resistance pattern. A total of 41 whole-genome sequencing data of nontyphoidal Salmonella were analyzed using PlasmidSPAdes and IntegronFinder software. Nine isolates (21.9%) had some integrons identified (complete and/or incomplete). Six complete class 1 integrons were found, with streptomycin resistance genes (aadA1, aadA2) alone or downstream of a trimethoprim resistance gene (dfrA1, dfrA12), and some also containing resistance genes for sulfonamides (sul1, sul3) and chloramphenicol (cmlA1). Class 2 integron was detected in only one isolate, containing dfrA1-sat2-aadA1 gene cassettes. Five isolates harbored CALINs-clusters attC but lacking integrases-with antimicrobial resistance genes typically found in integron structures. In all, integrons were observed among four serotypes: Derby, Bredeney, Panama, and monophasic var. Typhimurium I 4,[5],12:i:-. The association of integrons with antibiotic resistance phenotype showed that these elements were predominantly identified in multidrug resistance isolates, and six of the seven gentamicin-resistant isolates had integrons. So, surveillance of integrons in Salmonella should be performed to identify the potential for the spread of antimicrobial resistance genes among bacteria.

The impact of barbecue pickling materials on flavor changes and storage quality of pork at different processing stages

Abstract In order to enhance the aroma and flavor of pork and improve the water retention and binding power of pork, the effects of sensory score, TBARS, TVB-N, total number of colonies, water distribution, color and storage time on pork were studied. SPME-GC-MS was used to detect the flavor changes at different processing stages. The results showed that the storage time of pork products could be extended for 6d after 12 days. Meanwhile, the volatile flavor components of pork before, after and after curing were 71, 54 and 59. After curing, the types of aldehydes and alkenes increased significantly. It can be concluded that the addition of pickling materials can effectively slow down the oxidation of pork lipids and proteins, inhibit the growth of microorganisms, and extend the shelf life. It can significantly improve pork flavor and reduce the production of harmful substances such as acrylamide and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Theoretical aspects of innovative technologies in pig production

In the context of the globalization of the economy, the development of pig breeding enterprises is possible based on the highly efcient production of livestock products. A constraining factor for development is the lack of innovative technologies in most enterprises and the insignifcant impact of the introduction of innovative activities on improving production efciency. There is an important need to implement innovative transformations that would improve the economic performance of pig breeding enterprises, saturate the market with domestically produced products, and satisfy the social demand for cheap pork. The innovative model of pig production development ensures the competitiveness of enterprises in the industry, increases the level of food security of the state, and helps to solve problems related to environmental pollution and uncontrolled use of various additives in pork production. These issues necessitate substantiation of approaches to innovative development of enterprises in the pig industry and improvement of their efciency. The experience of domestic enterprises and foreign pork producers shows that in times of economic instability, it is important to be prepared for changes in the meat market. Such readiness is ensured by the planning and implementation of innovative approaches to the pig industry at enterprises. The innovative activity of enterprises in modern conditions should be aimed at social and economic satisfaction of the population's needs and environmental safety. The article focuses on theoretical and methodological aspects of the innovative development of the pig industry. The issues of modern technologies, innovations, and innovative activity are highlighted, and the defnition of "innovative development of enterprise" is analyzed. The article analyses the direction of development of competitive pig farms, taking into account the level of technological development of production and changes in the market share of enterprises. A special approach to the formation of the development of pig enterprises based on the transition to an innovative model of ensuring their competitiveness and modernisation of production according to the criteria that meet the capital replenishment, satisfaction of market demand for pork, and a slight negative environmental impact on the environment is noted. Key words: innovations, innovative activity, innovative development of pig breeding enterprises, economic indicators, innovative approaches, pork market, food security, environmental pollution, environmental safety.

Exploring the multifaceted factors affecting pork meat quality.

The significance of pork meat quality extends far beyond mere consumer satisfaction, encompassing crucial aspects such as health and nutrition, economic impact, reputation and branding, food safety, and sustainability within the global food system. Influenced by a multitude of factors, each playing a pivotal role in shaping its sensory attributes and consumer appeal, pork meat quality stands as a cornerstone of the meat industry. Thus, understanding these factors are imperative for ensuring consistent high-quality pork production, aligning with consumer preferences, and elevating overall satisfaction levels. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the diverse factors affecting pork meat quality, including genetic characteristics, rearing systems, feed composition, gender differences, pre-slaughter handling, and meat aging processes.

FIBRE EFFECTS ON NUTRITION AND REPRODUCTION IN PIGS

Dietary fibre (DF) is an indigestible carbohydrate in the form of a non-starch polysaccharide that is a major problem in the use of inexpensive agro-wastes by pigs such as brewer's dry grains, cassava peel, palm kernel cake, rice bran, sorghum spent grain and wheat offal. The DF in a pig's diet can be classified by its solubility as soluble dietary fibre and insoluble dietary fibre, and chemically − as neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre. High DF levels reduced nutrient utilization, growth rate, in terms of pork production and reproductive performance. Pigs' reproductive cycles at different stages and lactation were both greatly impacted by increased DF intake. High DF decreased the number of stillborn piglets at birth and the farrowing duration by sow, while improving colostrum intake in piglets and colostrum yield in sows. On the other hand, reducing the quantity of DF's hemicellulose in a sow's lactation diet can improve the low-birth-weight piglets' health, post-weaning performance and milk composition. While exogenous enzymes and the extrusion of fibrous feedstuffs enhanced nutrient digestibility and utilisation, other processing methods, including fermentation and extrusion, decreased the DF components and had a beneficial impact on the performance of the pigs. Agro-industrial residues have enormous potential to improve reproductive efficiency and serving as an economically viable DF feeding strategy in the pig industry.

An outbreak of Salmonella Infantis linked to shredded pork products from an unlicensed source in multiple health districts, Ontario, Canada, 2021

An outbreak of Salmonella Infantis linked to shredded pork products from an unlicensed source in multiple health districts, Ontario, Canada, 2021

Collusion and Price Behavior in the U.S. Pork Industry

Abstract This research analyzes the U.S. pork industry dynamics in light of the alleged output price-fixing cartel of the largest pork processors revealed in the antitrust lawsuits filed by pork buyers beginning in 2018. The empirical evidence may suggest that pork production, the farm, wholesale, and retail values of pork, and marketing margins increased, but the farm sector share decreased in the cartel period (2009–2019), as compared with the pre-cartel period (1998–2008). The wholesale pork pricing by pork processors is consistent with oligopoly pricing in both the pre-cartel and cartel periods. While the estimated decrease in cost pass-through between these two periods may reflect an increase in the seller (oligopoly) market power of pork processors in the cartel period, this cost pass-through decrease is not statistically significant from zero. The retail pork pricing by food retailers is consistent with perfectly competitive pricing in both the pre-cartel and cartel periods.

Genomic insights of Salmonella isolated from dry fermented sausage production chains in Spain and France.

The presence of Salmonella in dry fermented sausages is source of recalls and outbreaks. The genomic diversity of 173 Salmonella isolates from the dry fermented sausage production chains (pig carcasses, pork, and sausages) from France and Spain were investigated through their core phylogenomic relationships and accessory genome profiles. Ten different serovars and thirteen sequence type profiles were identified. The most frequent serovar from sausages was the monophasic variant of S.Typhimurium (1,4,[5],12:i:-, 72%) while S. Derby was in pig carcasses (51%). Phylogenomic clusters found in S.1,4,[5],12:i:-, S. Derby, S. Rissen and S.Typhimurium serovars identified closely related isolates, with less than 10 alleles and 20 SNPs of difference, displaying Salmonella persistence along the pork production chain. Most of the S. 1,4,[5],12:i:- contained the Salmonella genomic island-4 (SGI-4), Tn21 and IncFIB plasmid. More than half of S. Derby strains contained the SGI-1 and Tn7. S.1,4,[5],12:i:- genomes carried the most multidrug resistance genes (91% of the strains), whereas extended-spectrum β-lactamase genes were found in Typhimurium and Derby serovars. Salmonella monitoring and characterization in the pork production chains, specially S. 1,4,[5],12:i:- serovar, is of special importance due to its multidrug resistance capacity and persistence in dry fermented sausages.

THE EFFECTS OF THE CURRENT CRISES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GRANIVORE SECTOR IN ROMANIA

At the level of the European Union, in 2022, Romania ranked 9th in pig population, with a number of 3,328 thousand pigs and 13th in pork production, down by 7.8% compared to 2021. In terms of poultry meat production, Romania ranked 6th in the EU in 2022, up by 5.6% compared to the previous year. The paper aims to analyse the evolution of the granivore farming sector in Romania in the period 2015-2022, in the context of current crises. The study highlighted the effects produced by the energy crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine on the evolution of the production of granivores and the volatility of their purchase prices. The results of the study indicate that Romania's pork industry has been severely affected by the African swine fever. The situation at the level of international markets determined an increase in production costs, which was also reflected in the increase in purchase prices for pork and poultry meat. Thus, an increase of 22.24% was noticed in October 2022 compared to March 2022 in the purchase price for liveweight pig meat and an increase of 29.65% in October 2022 compared to March 2022 in liveweight poultry meat.

Antilisterial activity of olive-derived polyphenols: an experimental study on meat preparations

Pork meat and processed pork products have been linked to multiple listeriosis outbreaks worldwide during the past years. Specifically, it has been highlighted that minced pork meat is easily perishable and may increase the growth of Listeria monocytogenes, which could be harmful to the general public's health. This study aimed to investigate the potential application of olive oil mill wastewater polyphenolic and red beet extracts as natural antimicrobial agents for L. monocytogenes growth control in burgers. The minced pork meat was mixed with the extracts and experimentally inoculated with L. monocytogenes, then molded into vacuum-packaged and cold-stored (4±1°C) burgers kept under alternating exposure to fluorescent light. The L. monocytogenes enumeration was performed on burgers at 0, 2, 5, and 10 days of shelf life. In uninoculated burgers, physicochemical (pH, water activity, color) and sensory determination (descriptive sensory analysis) were also conducted. At the end of storage, the samples treated with olive-derived extract showed the lowest value of L. monocytogenes (approximately 1.3 Log CFU/g). The physicochemical and sensory traits of burgers have benefited from the addition of both olive-derived and red beet extracts. Results suggest that olive mill wastewater polyphenolic extracts could be added to minced pork meat products to act as a natural antimicrobial agent.

Serology survey of Ascaris suum and Trichinella spiralis in rural pigs in Southwestern Mexico.

Parasitic diseases of pigs are a public and veterinary health problem. Helminths influence pork production, whereas backyard pigs can transmit these parasites. This work aimed to investigate the prevalence of antibodies against Ascaris suum and Trichinella spiralis in backyard pigs from Jamiltepec, Region de la Costa, Oaxaca, in Southwestern Mexico. Six hundred sixty-four serum samples were obtained from backyard pigs from 23 rural villages distributed in 5 municipalities; samples were taken in a non-probabilistic manner with the owner's consent. The presence of serum antibodies against a total extract of A. suum adult worm was determined by ELISA. In contrast, antibodies to the excretion-secretion products of the T. spiralis muscle larva were determined by Western blot. The global seroprevalence for A. suum was 5.12% and 2.41% for T. spiralis; however, antibodies were only found in 8 villages and distributed in 3 municipalities. The highest frequency of positivity for Ascaris was found in the municipality of Santa Catarina Mechoacán (13.01%), whereas, in Santa María Huazalotitlán, the highest frequency of positivity for Trichinella was found (5.75%). In San Andrés, frequencies were 7.23% and 4.82%, respectively. No statistical differences were observed between populations. Our data suggest that helminth transmission is restricted by locality. However, further studies must be conducted to understand the factors limiting this transmission to promote pork meat production in parasite-free zones.