Effect of Halothane Genotype, Gender on Carcass Characteristics and Meat Quality of Stress Negative Piétrain Pigs

peer reviewedThis study was carried out at the animal farm of Hanoi University of Agriculture from August 2012 to April 2013 to evaluate effects of halothane genotype (CC and CT) and gender (intact males and gilts) on carcass characteristics and meat quality of Piétrain stress negative pigs. Backfat thickness, depth of longissimus dorsi muscle and lean meat percentage at 7.5 months were collected from 83 pigs (31 females and 52 intact males). Data on carcass performance were collected from 43 pigs (28 females and 15 intact males). The organoleptic quality of longissimus dorsi muscle was determined from 35 samples (19 females and 16 intact males) of longissimus dorsi muscle. For meat chemical compositions, 24 samples (14 females and 10 intact males) were analyzed. Slaughter weight (88.75 kg), carcass weight (58.40 kg), eye muscle area (57.54 cm²), backfat thickness (9.26 mm) and depth of longissimus dorsi muscle (58.01 mm) of gilts were higher than those of intact males (81.29 kg, 52.77 kg, 51.04 cm², 8.01 mm and 52.76 mm). Killing out percentage, carcass percentage and carcass length were similar between gilts and intact males (P>0.05). The pH of longissimus dorsi muscle at 24 hours post mortem between gilts (5.34) and boars (5.50) were significantly different (P<0.001). Gilts had more lipids than intact males (P<0.01). Halothane genotype did not affect carcass characteristics, meat quality and meat chemical composition (P>0.05). The results indicate that Piétrain stress negative pigs had high carcass percentage and good meat quality. Individuals with halothane genotype CC and CT can be choose for the breeding without affecting the carcass performance and meat qualit

Semen quality of stress negative Piétrain and Duroc boars in the tropics: the case of Vietnam

This study was carried out in Dong Hiep pig farm, North of Vietnam in order to evaluate the semen quality of stress negative Piétrain and Duroc boars. A total of 722 ejaculates from 13 homozygous (CC), 7 heterozygous (CT) stress negative Piétrain and 10 Duroc CC boars was collected between 2008 and 2012. The sperm quality was assessed on each ejaculate using ejaculate volume (VOL), spermatozoa motility (MO), sperm concentration (CO) and total number of spermatozoids (NT). Genetic type of boars, season, year and (season x year) as well as (genetic type x year) interactions were included in the model as fixed factors. The results show that the semen quality was influenced by all studied effects (p<0.05) except VOL for season (p=0.45) and season x year (p=0.55), and CO for genetic type (p=0.93). VOL and NT (291.74ml and 103.37×109spz) of Piétrain CC were higher than those (241.40ml and 84.58×109spz) of Piétrain CT and (228.05ml and 77.15×109spz) of Duroc (p<0.001) although the values of the 3 genetic groups are in the range of normal semen. MO, CO and NT tend to be higher in cold than in hot season (p<0.001). These results suggest that semen from Piétrain and Duroc boars could be used in tropical climatic conditions (particularly Piétrain CC) and that the semen quality could be improved through reduction of heat stress

Effects of Crossbreeding and Feed Supplementation on Meat Productivity of Goats in Laos: 2. Body Composition and Meat Quality

A 5 month long 2x2 factorial feeding trial was carried out to determine effects of crossbreeding and feed supplementation on meat productivity of goats in Laos. The indigenous goat breed (Lat) was used as the control to compare with the F1 (BT x L) as a result of crossbreeding Lat does with bucks of Bach Thao, an improved goat breed imported from Vietnam. For each genotype, 30 growing male goats at 7 months of age were chosen and equally divided into 2 groups, each being raised under either the traditional feeding regime (free grazing only) or an improved feeding regime including dried cassava hay and mineral block provided ad libitum in addition to the free grazing regime. Observations included feed intake, live weight gain, dressing percentage, body composition, carcass parts, and meat quality. This paper presents body composition and meat quality of the goats as affected by crossbreeding and feed supplementation. Results showed that although there existed significant differences in weight percentage of some organs (legs, lungs and liver) in the body, no significant diferences were observed for meat quality (tenderness, color, pH, drip loss and cooking loss) between Lat and F1 goats under the two different feeding regimes. It was therefore concluded that crossbreeding with Bach Thao bucks imported from Vietnam and feed supplementation (cassava hay and mineral block) well improved meat yield without negative effects on meat quality of goats in Laos.Peer reviewe

Evaluation morphométrique des chevaux pur-sang Arabe en Algérie: mensurations corporelles et proposition d’équations barymétriques

Cette étude vise à la caractérisation morphobiométrique des chevaux de course pur-sang arabe et à l’estimation d’équations barymétriques adaptées à cette race. La caractérisation a concerné 98 chevaux, dont 44 femelles et 54 mâles, tous âgés de trois ans et plus, auprès de 77 propriétaires-éleveurs dans 3 hippodromes d’Algérie (Zemmouri, Tiaret et Caroubier). Dix-neuf mensurations étaient relevées ainsi que le poids vif (PV). Le poids moyen est de 456,2 +/- 43,0 kg, variant de 335 kg à 545 kg. La sélection des variables à inclure dans les équations barymétriques a été réalisée à l’aide de la procédure stepwise du SAS. Quatre mensurations parmi les 19 réalisées ont été retenues pour la proposition d’équations d’estimation du poids vif des chevaux : le périmètre thoracique (PT), la hauteur à la croupe (HC), la longueur de l’encolure (LE) et le tour de l’encolure (TE). Ainsi, les équations proposées pour les mâles et pour les femelles sont respectivement de : PV= 7,024*PT - 787,119 (R²=0,99); PV=6,207*PT + 0,633*HC + 0,668*TE - 0,878*LE - 746,370 (R²=0,96). Les résultats de cette étude devraient permettre aux propriétaires-éleveurs et entraineurs de suivre aisément le poids de leurs chevaux. Ce suivi est nécessaire pour adapter l’activité et l’alimentation des chevaux et favoriser leur performance en course

Meat Quality of Lai Sind, Brahman × Lai Sind and Charolais × Lai Sind Cattle Raised in Dak Lak Province

Peer reviewe

Growth performance and sperm quality of stress negative Piétrain boars and their hybrids with Duroc

peer reviewedThis study was conducted to evaluate the effects of genetic background and season on growth performance and semen quality of boars. Five genetic groups were evaluated, including stress-negative Piétrain boars with CC (PiCC) or CT (PiCT) halothane genotypes, and Piétrain x Duroc hybrid boars with various compositions (25% (PiDu25), 50% (PiDu50) or 75% (PiDu75) of Piétrain origin). The results showed that genetic group has a significant effect on growth performance and semen quality. The hybrid boars PiDu25, PiDu50 and PiDu75 had better growth rate, but lower lean meat in comparison with pure stress-negative Piétrain, except PiDu75 boars. PiDu25, PiDu50 and PiCC boars demonstrated high semen quality. A season effect was observed on most of semen quality traits of pure stress-negative Piétrain as well as hybrid boars with different genetic constitution. Sperm concentration was lower in Summer and Autumn, higher in Winter and Spring. The Piétrain x Duroc hybrid boars, especially PiDu75 seem to be promising as terminal boars

Primary Evaluation on Growth Performances of Stress Negative Piétrain Pigs Raised in Hai Phong Province of Vietnam

peer reviewedThe present study was carried out on 19 stress negative Piétrain pigs (Pietrain ReHal), consisting of 13 gilts and 6 young boars imported from Belgium, raised in the livestock farm of Dong Hiep (Hai Phong) in order to evaluate growth performances and their adaptability in the North of Vietnam. Results showed that the average body weight of the whole herd at 2, 4, 5.5, and 8.5 months old was 19.05, 51.05, 85.82, and 119.47 kg, respectively. During the growing periods, except the first stage, the male grew faster than the female and the pigs of the CT genotype grew faster than those of CC genotype although the difference was not significant (P>0.05). The average daily gain (ADG) was 528.56 grams for the whole herd. The ADG was higher for the male (546.48 grams) than for the female (520.29 grams), and its was higher for the CT than the CC, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was 2.69 kg. The estimated lean percentage at 8.5 months old was 64.08%. The results indicate that Piétrain stress negative pigs could develop well on the farm conditions in Hai Phong, Vietnam

A Survey on Some Parameters of Beef and Buffalo Meat Quality

A survey was carried out on 13 Vietnamese Yellow cattle, 14 LaiSind cattle and 18 buffalos in Hanoi to estimate the quality of longissimus dorsi in terms of pH, color, drip loss, cooking loss and tenderness at 6 different postmortem intervals. It was found that the pH value of longissimus dorsi was not significantly different among the 3 breeds (P>0.05), being reduced rapidly during the first 36 hours postmortem, and then stayed stable. The value was in the range that was considered to be normal. Conversely, the color values L*, a* and b* tended to increase and also stable at 36 hours postmortem, except that for LaiSind cattle at 48 hours. According to L* scale, the meat of Yellow and LaiSind cattle met the normal quality but the buffalo meat was considered to be dark cutters. The tenderness of longissimus dorsi was significantly different among the breeds (P<0.05). The value was highest at 48 hours and then decreased for LaiSind and buffalo, but for Yellow cattle the value decreased continuously after slaughtering In terms of tenderness buffalo meat and Yellow cattle meat were classified as “intermediate”, while LaiSind meat was out of this interval and classified as “tough”. Drip loss ratio was increased with the time of preservation (P<0.05). The cooking loss ratio was lowest at 12 hours and higher at the next period, but there was no significant difference among the periods after 36 hours postmotem.Peer reviewe

ffect of the Halothane Allele on Growth Performance of Pigs and its Genotype Frequencies in the Progeny

A total of 395 tail samples of stress negative Piétrain new born piglets from the pig farm of Dong Hiep Haiphong were used to determine halothane genotypes (CC, CT and TT) in order to study the effect of mating type (♂CC×♀CC, ♂CC×♀CT, ♂CT×♀CC, and ♂CT×♀CT) on halothane genotype frequencies. Effects of genotype on live weight (174 pigs of 2 month old, 96 pigs of 5.5 month old), back fat thickness, loin muscle thickness and lean percentage (117 pigs), average daily gain (89 pigs) were also studied. Results showed that the mating type affected halothane genotype frequencies in the progeny. For the mating type ♂CC×♀CT and ♂CT×♀CT, the genotype containing allele T was reduced in the next generation; in the rest two genotypes (♂CC×♀CC and ♂CT×♀CC) the halothane allele frequency in the offspring was consistent with the theoretical frequency. The halothane genotypes CC and CT did not affect live weights at 2.0 and 5.5 months of age, average daily gain, backfat thickness, loin muscle thickness and lean percentage.Peer reviewe

EGG QUALITY COMPARISON OF TWO VIETNAMESE CHICKEN BREEDS (RI AND MIA)

In the context of the valorization of poultry biodiversity, this work represents a step toward a better knowledge of the production abilities of local chicken breeds in Vietnam. Local chicken breeds are indeed particularly well suited for low-input rearing systems, as widely practiced in rural households of Vietnam. The socio-economic importance of these breeds might be underpinned by a market valorization through the mounting of differentiated quality value chains. Such a strategy needs the production potential of these local breeds to be assessed using parameters of egg quality and quantity. This study presents data about egg quality traits in two chicken breeds, the Ri and the Mia. The former is the most widespread breed in Vietnam, while the latter is known to be in danger of extinction. Nineteen parameters of quality of ninety eggs of Ri chickens and sixty eggs of Mia chickens were measured, each for both 40 and 60-weeks old hens to take hens ages into account.Mean egg weight of Mia eggs (44.70g) was significantly (p<0.001) higher than that of Ri eggs (41.68g). The yolk to albumen ratio was not significantly different (p>0.05) between the two breeds at the age of 40 weeks (Ri: 0.55; Mia: 0.58). For 60-weeks old hens, the ratio became significantly (p<0.05) higher in Mia eggs compared to Ri eggs (0.64 vs. 0.57). No significant difference (p>0.05) was recorded between the two breeds for parameters used for egg freshness assessment (Haugh’s units and pH of albumen and yolk) or eggshell resistance (maximal breakage force). Despite the small sample available for the study (due to the low availability of Mia hens and eggs), significant differences in egg quality traits were thus observed between these two breeds.Peer reviewe