Changes in the histochemical properties and meat quality traits of porcine muscles during the growing-finishing period as affected by feed restriction, slaughter age, or slaughter weight

• Published in: Journal of animal science 2007-04, Vol.85 (4), p.1030-1045
• Main Authors: Bee, G, Calderini, M, Biolley, C, Guex, G, Herzog, W, Lindemann, M.D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abattoirs; age at slaughter; Aging - physiology; animal development; Animal Feed; animal growth; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animal productions; Animals; barrows; Biological and medical sciences; Body Composition; Body Weight - physiology; Diet - veterinary; finishing; Food Deprivation; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; glycolysis; histochemistry; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; hypertrophy; Large White; Male; Meat - standards; Meat and meat product industries; meat composition; meat quality; muscle contraction; muscle tissues; Muscle, Skeletal - chemistry; Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; muscles; myofibrils; oxidation; pork; restricted feeding; slaughter weight; Swine - growth & development; Swine - physiology; swine feeding; Terrestrial animal productions; Vertebrates
• ISSN: 0021-8812; 1525-3163
• DOI: 10.2527/jas.2006-496

In this study, the degree of contractile and metabolic development of myofibers in porcine LM, rectus femoris (RF), and dark and light portions of the semitendinosus (STD and STL, respectively) was determined, and their impact on meat quality was compared at the same age but different BW (trial 1) or at a given BW but different age (trial 2) in 48 Swiss Large White barrows from 12 litters after the growing and finishing period. The barrows had ad libitum (A) or restricted (R, 80% of A) feed access. In trial 1, at 113 and 154 d of age, 6 barrows in treatment A (62.1 and 99.5 kg of BW, respectively) and 6 siblings in treatment R (51.0 and 86.6 kg of BW, respectively) were slaughtered. In trial 2, a similar protocol was used except that the barrows were slaughtered at 61.3 (104 or 119 d of age, respectively) or 101.3 kg of BW (145 or 167 d of age, respectively). Muscle fibers were stained and classified as slow oxidative (SO), fast oxidative-glycolytic (FOG), or fast glycolytic (FG), and fiber area and distribution were determined. At 113 and 154 d of age, R barrows had smaller (P = 0.11). However, the LM tended to have fewer (P = 0.06) SO and more (P < 0.01) FG fibers, and the STD had more (P < 0.01) FOG fibers in R barrows. Regardless of whether R barrows were slaughtered at the same age or the same BW as the A barrows, shear force values and cooking losses were greater (P