SLOVENIAN EXPERIENCE IN PIG CARCASS CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO SEUROP DURING THE YEARS 1996 TO 2004

Slovenian results on pig carcass classifi cation according to SEUROP (average lean meat percentage, carcass weight, measurements of fat and muscle and their variability) are presented for years from 1996 to 2004. In these years, an important increase of average lean meat percentage was noted (51.9 % in year 1996 vs. 55.9 % in year 2004). As a consequence the percentage of pig carcasses being graded into S and E classes was almost tripled from 1996 to 2004 (21.3 to 58.2%, respectively). This improvement was initiated by the payment according to the lean meat percentage, to which pig breeders responded by better management of herds and partly by increased use of pietrain breed. Potential for further improvement remains in attaining genetically more uniform herds and reduction of carcass weight variability. A new method, introducing an optic probe Hennessy, adapted to changes of the EU legislation, is expected to shift up the average meat percentage close to 57%, which places Slovenian pigs into the EU average

SLOVENSKE IZKUŠNJE PRI OCENJEVANJU MESNATOSTI PRAŠIČEV PO SEUROP V LETIH 1996 DO 2004

Slovenian results on pig carcass classifi cation according to SEUROP (average lean meat percentage, carcass weight, measurements of fat and muscle and their variability) are presented for years from 1996 to 2004. In these years, an important increase of average lean meat percentage was noted (51.9 % in year 1996 vs. 55.9 % in year 2004). As a consequence the percentage of pig carcasses being graded into S and E classes was almost tripled from 1996 to 2004 (21.3 to 58.2%, respectively). This improvement was initiated by the payment according to the lean meat percentage, to which pig breeders responded by better management of herds and partly by increased use of pietrain breed. Potential for further improvement remains in attaining genetically more uniform herds and reduction of carcass weight variability. A new method, introducing an optic probe Hennessy, adapted to changes of the EU legislation, is expected to shift up the average meat percentage close to 57%, which places Slovenian pigs into the EU average.S prispevkom želimo predstaviti slovenske izkušnje pri ocenjevanju mesnatosti prašičjih klavnih trupov po SEUROP sistemu v letih 1996 do 2004. Metoda, ki je bila vpeljana leta 1996 upoštevajoč EU zakonodajo in imenovana DM5, temelji na izračunu odstotka mesa v prašičjem klavnem trupu na podlagi enačbe, ki vključuje dve meritvi na liniji razseka trupa; meritev F, ki je debelina slanine na mestu, kjer je ta najtanjša oziroma kjer se m. gluteus medius najbolj vrašča v slanino ter meritev M, ki je razdalja med kranialnim robom m. gluteus medius in dorzalnim robom hrbteničnega kanala, kot kazalcem debeline hrbtne mišice (slika 1). Zbrali smo mesečne statistične podatke (poprečja in standardne odklone) za obdobje od julija 1996 do decembra 2004 za lastnosti, ki se merijo ali izračunajo; za meritvi M in F, za odstotek mesa v trupih in klavno težo trupov. Zbrane podatke smo prikazali na letni osnovi (preglednica 1). Z regresijsko analizo, oziroma uporabo procedure REG statističnega paketa SAS, smo ocenili mesečne trende ter jih grafi čno prikazali. Rezultati ocenjevanja mesnatosti prašičev na klavni liniji kažejo na velik napredek v mesnatosti prašičev. Poprečni odstotek mesa v trupih se je dvignil iz 51,9 % v letu 1996 na 55,9 % v letu 2004 (preglednica 1), kar v obliki trendov predstavlja statistično značilen (p<0,001) pozitiven trend na ravni 0,045 % mesečno oziroma 0,54 % letno (slika 7). Ta napredek v mesnatosti pripisujemo predvsem uvedbi plačevanja na osnovi odstotka mesa v trupih ter posledično izboljšanju rejskega dela ter deloma tudi večji uporabi pasme pietrain pri križanju; ne moremo pa jih pripisati spremembam v teži klavnih trupov, saj se ta ni bistveno spremenila (preglednica 1). Rezerve za izboljšanje klavne kakovosti prašičev ostajajo v zagotavljanju večje izenačenosti populacije glede na klavno težo in mesnatost. Ugotavljamo namreč veliko variabilnost v klavni teži (preglednica 1), ki bi jo bilo mogoče izboljšati z ustrezno plačilno shemo (pribitki oziroma odbitki glede na klavno težo) ter veliko variabilnost v mesnatosti, ki je delno posledica variabilnosti v teži, delno pa velikega števila različnih genotipov v relativno majhni populaciji prašičev. V letu 2004 naj bi se uveljavila nova metoda, ki temelji na uporabi optične sonde Hennessy Grading Probe in je prilagojena spremembam EU zakonodaje. Pričakujemo, da bo nova metoda dvignila poprečno mesnatost blizu 57 %, ta rezultat pa uvršča mesnatost slovenskih prašičev v EU poprečje

Immunocastration as Alternative to Surgical Castration in Pigs

Surgical castration of piglets is a routine practice in pig production used to prevent the incidence of boar taint of pig meat, which may develop in entire male pigs as they reach puberty. This practice is being presently questioned in the European Union, and there is a strong initiative to end it. The initiative is presently voluntary; however, key stakeholders of European pig production sector have signed a declaration, and the actions undertaken by them already affect the business. Before such new concepts in pig production can be implemented, alternative solutions are needed, one of them being immunocastration. The present chapter will thus focus on the presentation of immunocastration as one of the promising alternatives to surgical castration. Theoretical and practical aspects of immunocastration in pig production will be described, and the advantages and disadvantages of this alternative will be summarised. Physiological principles of immunocastration and impacts on metabolism, growth performance, body composition and meat quality will be described and aspects of public acceptability reviewed

EVROPSKA ZAŠČITA POIMENOVANJ ZA POSEBNE KMETIJSKE PROIZVODE IN ŽIVILA V NOVIH ČLANICAH EU. PRIMER SODELOVANJA MED FRANCIJO IN SLOVENIJO

The objective of this article is to present the main results of an advising and assisting program, which took place in years 2001 until 2003, and which involved the Slovenian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food and two French institutions, French Agency for Standardization and National Institute for Designations of Origin. Authors report their experience in implementation of a system for the registration and certifi cation of special agricultural products and foodstuffs in the Republic of Slovenia, in accordance with the quality policy and legislation of the European union (Council Regulations 2081/92 and 2082/92). They highlight the key success factors for an effi cient implementation of the registration system for the special agricultural products and foodstuffs in the new EU members.V članku so predstavljeni glavni rezultati programa Phare, ki je potekal v letih 2001 do 2003 med slovenskim Ministrstvom za kmetijstvo, gozdarstvo in prehrano ter dvema francoskima institucijama, in sicer Agencijo za standardizacijo in inštitutom INAO (nacionalni inštitut za poimenovanja porekla). Avtorji poročajo o izkušnjah pri implementaciji sistema registracije in certifi kacije posebnih kmetijskih proizvodov in živil v Republiki Sloveniji skladno s politiko kakovosti in zakonodajo Evropske unije (Uredba Sveta 2081/92 in 2082/92). Posebej so poudarjeni ključni dejavniki za učinkovito implementacijo sistema zaščite posebnih kmetijskih proizvodov in živil ter uspešnost tovrstne zaščite v novih članicah Evropske unije

THE EFFECT OF HOUSING ON THE OCCURANCE OF HIND LEG WEAKNESSES IN MARKET PIGS OF THREE GENOTYPES

Ugotavljali smo osteoartrotične spremembe v tarzalnem sklepu, tarzalni burzitis, peritarzitis in asimetrijo parkljev pri 175 prašičih pitancih, ki so imeli podaljšano pitanje (starost okoli 250 dni), treh genotipov (čistopasemski landrace- 11, križanci med landrace svinjo in large white merjascem-12 in križanci med svinjo 12 in duroc merjascem-123) vhlevljenih individualno na mrežastem podu ali skupinsko na betonskih rešetkah. Individualno vhlevljeni prašiči na mrežastem podu so imeli značilno (P<0.001) povečano stopnjo osteoartrotičnih sprememb na sklepnih površinah koščic os tarsale tertium (T3) os tarsale quartum (T4), os metatarsale tertium (MT3) in os metatarsale quartum (MT4) ter značilno (P<0.001) povečano stopnjo peritarzitisa, kot skupinsko vhlevljeni prašiči na betonskih rešetkah. Individualno vhlevljeni prašiči so hitreje priraščali in so bili pri podobni starosti ob zakolu težji (P<0.001). Vpliv genotipa se kaže le pri značilno manjši (P<0.001) asimetriji parkljev križancev 12 v primerjavi s prašiči linij 11 in 123, ter pri značilno manjšem obsegu degenerativnih sprememb na T3 in Mt3 pri individualno vhlevljenih križancih 123.Degenerative changes of joints due to osteoarthrosis in tarsal joint, peritarsitis, tarsal bursitis and asymmetry of claws was studied on legs of 175 commercial pigs, with prolonged fattening (250 days of age) of three genotypes (landrace pigs-11, crosses between landrace females and large white males-12, crosses between female 12 and duroc male- 123) housed either individually on the zincifi ed metal slatted fl oor or in groups of 8-9 pigs on the concrete slatted fl oor. Degenerative changes due to osteoarthrosis (OATD) in small joints of the hock - os tarsale tertium (T3), os tarsale quartum (T4), os metatarsale tertium (Mt3) and os metatarsale quatrum (Mt4) and due to the peritarsitis were signifi cantly more important in pigs housed individually (P<0.001). Individually housed pigs grew faster and were signifi cantly heavier for the similar slaughter age (P<0.001). The effect of genotype was only minor; the crosses 12 had lesser asymmetry of claws (P<0.001) than pigs 11 or 123, whereas crosses 123 had signifi cantly (P<0.005) less pronounced degenerative changes due to osteoarthrosis on Mt3 and T3

SLOVENSKE IZKUŠNJE PRI OCENJEVANJU MESNATOSTI PRAŠIČEV PO SEUROP V LETIH 1996 DO 2004

Slovenian results on pig carcass classifi cation according to SEUROP (average lean meat percentage, carcass weight, measurements of fat and muscle and their variability) are presented for years from 1996 to 2004. In these years, an important increase of average lean meat percentage was noted (51.9 % in year 1996 vs. 55.9 % in year 2004). As a consequence the percentage of pig carcasses being graded into S and E classes was almost tripled from 1996 to 2004 (21.3 to 58.2%, respectively). This improvement was initiated by the payment according to the lean meat percentage, to which pig breeders responded by better management of herds and partly by increased use of pietrain breed. Potential for further improvement remains in attaining genetically more uniform herds and reduction of carcass weight variability. A new method, introducing an optic probe Hennessy, adapted to changes of the EU legislation, is expected to shift up the average meat percentage close to 57%, which places Slovenian pigs into the EU average.S prispevkom želimo predstaviti slovenske izkušnje pri ocenjevanju mesnatosti prašičjih klavnih trupov po SEUROP sistemu v letih 1996 do 2004. Metoda, ki je bila vpeljana leta 1996 upoštevajoč EU zakonodajo in imenovana DM5, temelji na izračunu odstotka mesa v prašičjem klavnem trupu na podlagi enačbe, ki vključuje dve meritvi na liniji razseka trupa; meritev F, ki je debelina slanine na mestu, kjer je ta najtanjša oziroma kjer se m. gluteus medius najbolj vrašča v slanino ter meritev M, ki je razdalja med kranialnim robom m. gluteus medius in dorzalnim robom hrbteničnega kanala, kot kazalcem debeline hrbtne mišice (slika 1). Zbrali smo mesečne statistične podatke (poprečja in standardne odklone) za obdobje od julija 1996 do decembra 2004 za lastnosti, ki se merijo ali izračunajo; za meritvi M in F, za odstotek mesa v trupih in klavno težo trupov. Zbrane podatke smo prikazali na letni osnovi (preglednica 1). Z regresijsko analizo, oziroma uporabo procedure REG statističnega paketa SAS, smo ocenili mesečne trende ter jih grafi čno prikazali. Rezultati ocenjevanja mesnatosti prašičev na klavni liniji kažejo na velik napredek v mesnatosti prašičev. Poprečni odstotek mesa v trupih se je dvignil iz 51,9 % v letu 1996 na 55,9 % v letu 2004 (preglednica 1), kar v obliki trendov predstavlja statistično značilen (p<0,001) pozitiven trend na ravni 0,045 % mesečno oziroma 0,54 % letno (slika 7). Ta napredek v mesnatosti pripisujemo predvsem uvedbi plačevanja na osnovi odstotka mesa v trupih ter posledično izboljšanju rejskega dela ter deloma tudi večji uporabi pasme pietrain pri križanju; ne moremo pa jih pripisati spremembam v teži klavnih trupov, saj se ta ni bistveno spremenila (preglednica 1). Rezerve za izboljšanje klavne kakovosti prašičev ostajajo v zagotavljanju večje izenačenosti populacije glede na klavno težo in mesnatost. Ugotavljamo namreč veliko variabilnost v klavni teži (preglednica 1), ki bi jo bilo mogoče izboljšati z ustrezno plačilno shemo (pribitki oziroma odbitki glede na klavno težo) ter veliko variabilnost v mesnatosti, ki je delno posledica variabilnosti v teži, delno pa velikega števila različnih genotipov v relativno majhni populaciji prašičev. V letu 2004 naj bi se uveljavila nova metoda, ki temelji na uporabi optične sonde Hennessy Grading Probe in je prilagojena spremembam EU zakonodaje. Pričakujemo, da bo nova metoda dvignila poprečno mesnatost blizu 57 %, ta rezultat pa uvršča mesnatost slovenskih prašičev v EU poprečje

Carcass Classification Measurements in Pigs as Affected by the Operator and Abattoir

The aim of the present study was to test a possible way of statistical checking of the measurement uncertainty in pig carcass classification; i.e. to monitor deviations between operators when measuring fat and muscle thickness used for meat percentage calculation. For that purpose, data were obtained from the official classification body Bureau Veritas for the year 2009, which comprised eight operators working in five abattoirs. An analysis of covariance was performed using a model with the effects of the operator, carcass weight as a covariate and their interaction. The equality of the regression lines (regression coefficients and intercepts) was tested for various operators. Regression lines differed significantly between the operators, however all pairwise comparisons were not conclusive since the operators work only in one or two abattoirs, the abattoirs have different suppliers i.e. different origin of pigs. In order to differentiate between the operator and the abattoir effect we further compared i) different operators working in the same abattoir and ii) same operator working in different abattoirs. The deviations in measurements of muscle and fat (often reflected also in meat percentage) were more important in the case of the same operator working in different abattoirs, than in the case of different operators working in the same abattoir

TEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF IMMUNOCASTRATION

Due to animal welfare problems and strong public opposition a ban on surgical castration of male piglets is foreseen in EU until the end of 2018. To cope with this major change in pig production, intensive research of possible alternatives is carried out, in particular fattening of entire (EM) and immunocastrated (IC) males. Present publication is focused on the immunocastration; its physiological principles and impact on metabolism, growth performance, carcass and meat quality, animal welfare, economics and public acceptability. Although current trends indicate that rearing of EM is more likely to become a regular practice for the provision of fresh meat market, immunocastration offers a good alternative, especially interesting for fattening pigs to higher age and weight (e.g. more extensive systems) due to the efficient elimination of boar taint and advantages in animal welfare and meat quality

Analytical Review of Productive Performance of Local Pig Breeds

Traits of interest concerning reproductive performance, growth performance, carcass and meat quality of local pig breeds involved in H2020 project TREASURE were collected from the available literature, unpublished data available to partners or results recorded in the experiments within the project. The survey revealed great variability in the availability and quality of information. Reproductive performance of local pig breeds is lower than in conventional modern pig breeds, not only due to their genetic background but also due to the management. Data on growth rates reflect the heterogeneity of different production systems and feeding regimes used. The growth potential of the majority of local pig breeds is not well exploited, and their nutritional requirements are not known. Generally, local pig breeds show low muscular development and high potential for fat tissue deposition and are slaughtered at older age and weight, which results in higher intramuscular fat and more intense colour of meat. However, considerable differences exist between them and their potentials, not only in their production systems. For many local pig breeds studied in the project, the collected information provides the first in-depth overview of their productive performance in their preserved, present-day phenotype