Ds. Sutton et al., INFLUENCE OF SLAUGHTER WEIGHT AND STRESS GENE GENOTYPE ON THE WATER-HOLDING CAPACITY AND PROTEIN GEL CHARACTERISTICS OF 3 PORCINE MUSCLES, Meat science, 46(2), 1997, pp. 173-180
The longissimus lumborum, gluteus medius, and the triceps brachii musc
les from 40 animals were used to evaluate the effect of stress gene ge
notype (non-mutant, NN and mono-mutant, Nn) and live weight at slaught
er (110 kg and 140 kg) on the processing quality of fresh pork. The 45
minute and ultimate pH measurements did not differ between genotypes.
Total percent protein was not different between samples taken from NN
or Nn pigs, nor were there any differences in salt-soluble protein. T
he M. longissimus lumborum from Nn pigs possessed lower water-holding
capacity values and lost greater amounts of water upon cooking. In add
ition, Nn pigs had lower subjective color and firmness scores which su
ggest a higher incidence of pale, soft and exudative pork. Slaughter w
eight did not affect total protein, salt-soluble protein, Minolta L,
a and b* values or subjective color, firmness and marbling scores. Ba
ckfat thickness and loineye area increased as slaughter weight increas
ed. Overall, this study suggested that Nn pigs have reduced water rete
ntion properties which may result in lower yields in processed meat it
ems. Slaughter weight had limited effects on the processing quality of
meat from NN or Nn pigs, There were no interactions of significance b
etween stress gene genotype and slaughter weight, suggesting that the
differences in muscle quality and functional properties between NN and
Nn pigs are maintained over the slaughter weights used in this study.
(C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.