VARIATIONS IN MEAT QUALITY IN LIVE HALOTHANE HETEROZYGOTES IDENTIFIEDBY BIOPSY SAMPLES OF M-LONGISSIMUS-DORSI

The meat quality of halothane heterozygotes (Nn) was investigated usin g British Landrace (n = 18) and Landrace X Large White pigs (n = 67). Normal and PSE meat were identified in both breeds using M. longissimu s dorsi (LD). In Landrace X Large White Nn pigs, the potential meat qu ality identified using small biopsy LD samples (500 mg) showed a wide spectrum in water-holding capacity (WHC), ranging from normal (43%) to PSE (57%). Predictions of meat quality in live pigs were confirmed fr om post-mortem assessments of LD samples based on pH1 and fibre optic probe measurements. Our results show that Nn pigs have the propensity to produce a higher proportion of PSE than normal carcasses. The predi ctive meat quality test performed on small biopsy LD samples offers an opportunity not currently available to the pig industry, to select Nn pigs with the potential to produce pork of superior WHC.