EFFECT OF PORCINE SOMATOTROPIN (PST) ON BODY-COMPOSITION, MEAT QUALITY AND CHARACTERISTICS OF BACKFAT IN GENETICALLY DIFFERENT PIGS

The influence of genotype, pST and stress reactivity on carcass compos ition, meat and fat quality was investigated in 57 growing-finishing p igs. Pietrain pigs contained more meat and less fat in carcass in comp arison to Schwerfurter breed. Exogenous pST improved the carcass compo sition with regard to leaness. The inhibitory effect of PST on Eat syn thesis caused a reduced chemical fat in adipose tissue, reduced size a nd number of fat cells and an increase of relative content of polyunsa turated fatty acids. Halothane reactivity mainly influenced the compos ition of carcass. Stress-positive pigs were leaner than H(-)pigs. The factors pST, breed and halothane reactivity slightly affected the meat quality.