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and meat quality of local pig breeds involved in H2020 project TREASURE were collected from the available literature, unpublished data available to partners or results recorded in the experiments within the project.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

Performance of Krškopolje pigs in extensive and intensive production systems

An observational study of growth performance was performed with Krškopolje pigs reared in extensive (EXT) and intensive (INT) production system. Pigs in INT system (n=6) were housed indoors and received a complete feed mixture, while EXT pigs (n=6) were kept in combined indoor/outdoor system and were fed a traditional meal (cooked root crops) and a mixture of ground grains. Growth performance and meat quality traits of longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle of pigs were assessed. Pigs were monitored from 86 to 224 days of age and were weighed 4-times (at 86, 129, 195, 224 days) with 4 growth stages (25-45, 45-75, 75-90 and 90-120 kg) considered. Overall INT pigs achieved 49 % higher daily gain and were heavier at slaughter than EXT pigs (88 vs. 120 kg, P<0.001). Growth rate of INT and EXT pigs was similar (443 vs. 464 g/day) from 25-45 kg, whereas EXT pigs grew slower than INT pigs in the periods 45-75 and 75-90 kg (445 vs. 853 and 505 vs 893 g/day, respectively). In the last period (90-120 kg) only INT pigs were monitored and they exhibited a decline in growth rate (580 g/day) compared to the previous two periods. Due to higher body weight (BW) at slaughter, INT had thicker backfat than EXT pigs (40 vs. 22 mm, P<0.000), however at equal BW (88 kg), no differences were noted. EXT pigs exhibited lower CIE L* (P=0.044) and higher CIE a* (P=0.003) colour parameters of LD (i.e. darker, redder LD colour), indicative of more oxidative muscle metabolism of EXT pigs

Measuring Consumers’ Preferences for Traditional and Innovative Pork Products

In this research we proposed an integrated methodological approach to measure the “real” consumers’ preference towards new Traditional (TPP) and Innovative Pork Products (ITPP) from three untapped pig breeds in Spain (Porc Negre), Italy (Cinta Senese) and Slovenia (Krškopolje). We first analyse consumers’ perception towards the traditional concept in pork products. Results showed high preference heterogeneity amongst countries. After the eating experience, the expected preferences were affected significantly in particular in Italy and Slovenia. The likelihood to purchase the innovative pork products increased as well

Performance of Krškopolje Pigs in Extensive and Intensive Production Systems

An observational study of growth performance was performed with Krškopolje pigs reared in extensive (EXT) and intensive (INT) production system. Pigs in INT system (n=6) were housed indoors and received a complete feed mixture, while EXT pigs (n=6) were kept in combined indoor/outdoor system and were fed a traditional meal (cooked root crops) and a mixture of ground grains. Growth performance and meat quality traits of longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle of pigs were assessed. Pigs were monitored from 86 to 224 days of age and were weighed 4-times (at 86, 129, 195, 224 days) with 4 growth stages (25-45, 45-75, 75-90 and 90-120 kg) considered. Overall INT pigs achieved 49 % higher daily gain and were heavier at slaughter than EXT pigs (88 vs. 120 kg, P<0.001). Growth rate of INT and EXT pigs was similar (443 vs. 464 g/day) from 25-45 kg, whereas EXT pigs grew slower than INT pigs in the periods 45-75 and 75-90 kg (445 vs. 853 and 505 vs 893 g/day, respectively). In the last period (90-120 kg) only INT pigs were monitored and they exhibited a decline in growth rate (580 g/day) compared to the previous two periods. Due to higher body weight (BW) at slaughter, INT had thicker backfat than EXT pigs (40 vs. 22 mm, P<0.000), however at equal BW (88 kg), no differences were noted. EXT pigs exhibited lower CIE L* (P=0.044) and higher CIE a* (P=0.003) colour parameters of LD (i.e. darker, redder LD colour), indicative of more oxidative muscle metabolism of EXT pigs

Krškopoljski prašič (Krškopolje Pig)

This chapter presents the history and the current state-of-the-art in the only Slovenian autochthonous pig breed - Krškopolje pig. A review of literature regarding productive traits was carried out. The reproductive performance includes sow age at first parturition and at culling, litters per sow per year, number of live born and percentage of stillborn piglets per litter, piglet birth and weaning weight, mortality at weaning, duration of lactation and length of farrowing interval. Growth performance was evaluated as average daily gain in lactation, post-weaning, and early, mid, or late fattening. Daily feed intake in different stages was also assessed. Review also addresses age and weight at slaughter, and carcass traits: hot carcass weight, carcass yield, lean meat content, backfat and muscle thickness, and loin eye area. Meat quality traits considered were Longissimus muscle pH, objective colour parameters and intra muscular fat content. Additionally, fatty acid composition of intramuscular fat and backfat tissue was considered. Although studies on Krškopolje pig are scarce and the results on productive traits should be interpreted with precaution, due to different production systems and feeding strategies used in considered studies, the current review gives the first overview on this local pig breed in its current phenotype

Measuring Consumers’ Preferences for Traditional and Innovative Pork Products

In this research we proposed an integrated methodological approach to measure the “real” consumers’ preference towards new Traditional (TPP) and Innovative Pork Products (ITPP) from three untapped pig breeds in Spain (Porc Negre), Italy (Cinta Senese) and Slovenia (Krškopolje). We first analyse consumers’ perception towards the traditional concept in pork products. Results showed high preference heterogeneity amongst countries. After the eating experience, the expected preferences were affected significantly in particular in Italy and Slovenia. The likelihood to purchase the innovative pork products increased as well

Accuracy of Near Infrared Spectroscopy to Predict Quality of Pork and Pork Products Including Samples of Krškopolje and Turopolje Pigs

Study demonstrates the preliminary results of the evaluation of pork and pork products of local Slovenian (Krškopolje) and Croatian (Turopolje) pig breeds using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) conducted in the frame of European Union H2020 project TREASURE. For that purpose, samples from meat and products of two local pig breeds were collected, scanned with near infrared spectroscopy apparatus and chemically analysed (for proximate composition, fatty acids composition, proteolysis index, salt content and water activity). Data obtained were added to the database of previously collected samples and prediction models were recalibrated and reassessed. In general, NIRS calibration models are considered to be fit for purpose when the requirements (chemometric parameters) for screening purposes are met. In the present study, the quality of recalibrations using the samples from local pig breeds confirmed practical applicability for majority of studied quality traits. Further efforts are needed to enlarge the database with additional samples from local pig breeds to improve the robustness of the models and to test the calibrations on the independent sets of samples (i.e. with external validation)

Molecular Biomarkers, Near Infra-Red Spectroscopy and Computed Tomography as New Methodologies Applied in TREASURE Project to Predict the Quality of Pork and Pork Products from Local Pig Breeds

Emerging non-destructive technologies are of interest in meat sector science and industry since they allow the characterization of products and quality control throughout processing. Three different new technologies described in this paper will be considered in the TREASURE project for the evaluation and prediction of quality of pork and processed products: molecular biomarkers, near-infra red spectroscopy (NIRS), and computed tomography (CT). Molecular biomarkers are single genes, or a set of few genes, whose expression level determined in muscle few minutes after slaughter are associated to technological or sensory pork traits. External validation of biomarkers of pork quality, available from previous studies, will be undertaken. NIRS shows a great potential to predict composition of muscle and fat tissues, in particular their lipid content and fatty acid profiles. These novel techniques will be assessed in the project using a wide variety of loin and subcutaneous fat samples from various European breeds. NIRS will also be used to determine chemical composition (water, salt, etc) and physical traits (rheology) of fresh meat and processed products. CT, which corresponds to 3D images constructed using X-ray technology, allows determining the quantity and repartition of lean, fat and bone tissues in living animals and in carcass or cuts. CT will be used to study the distribution of fat and muscle in carcasses and in loin from breeds exhibiting various adiposity levels

Molecular Biomarkers, Near Infra-Red Spectroscopy and Computed Tomography as New Methodologies Applied in TREASURE Project to Predict the Quality of Pork and Pork Products from Local Pig Breeds

Emerging non-destructive technologies are of interest in meat sector science and industry since they allow the characterization of products and quality control throughout processing. Three different new technologies described in this paper will be considered in the TREASURE project for the evaluation and prediction of quality of pork and processed products: molecular biomarkers, near-infra red spectroscopy (NIRS), and computed tomography (CT). Molecular biomarkers are single genes, or a set of few genes, whose expression level determined in muscle few minutes after slaughter are associated to technological or sensory pork traits. External validation of biomarkers of pork quality, available from previous studies, will be undertaken. NIRS shows a great potential to predict composition of muscle and fat tissues, in particular their lipid content and fatty acid profiles. These novel techniques will be assessed in the project using a wide variety of loin and subcutaneous fat samples from various European breeds. NIRS will also be used to determine chemical composition (water, salt, etc) and physical traits (rheology) of fresh meat and processed products. CT, which corresponds to 3D images constructed using X-ray technology, allows determining the quantity and repartition of lean, fat and bone tissues in living animals and in carcass or cuts. CT will be used to study the distribution of fat and muscle in carcasses and in loin from breeds exhibiting various adiposity levels

THE EFFECT OF DIETARY FIBRE CONTENT ON SKATOLE AND INDOLE PRODUCTION IN FAECES OF IMMUNOCASTRATED MALE PIGS

The effect of dietary fibre content on intestinal production of indolic compounds was studied in immunocastrated pigs (IC). In addition, entire males (EM) and IC were compared on control diet (with low fibre content). For the study 32 crossbred pigs were assigned, within a litter to 4 treatment groups; 24 pigs were immunocastrated (at the age of 77 and 112 days) and 8 pigs were kept as entire males (EM). IC were split into three groups (IC_H, IC_M and IC_L) fed three diets differing in crude fibre (34, 60 and 80 g/kg dry matter, respectively) and net energy (NE) (10.0, 9.3, 8.5 MJ NE/kg/DM, respectively). EM were fed high NE i.e. low fibre diet. The experiment started when pigs were 84 days old and finished at the age of 172 days, when pigs were sent to slaughter. Skatole and indole concentrations were determined in the samples of intestinal content taken from caecum (CE), ascending (AC) and descending colon (DC). The concentration of indole was the highest in CE and proximal part of the colon, while skatole concentration increased in the distal parts of the large intestine. Concentrations of indolic compounds did not differ between EM and IC that were fed the same diet. Lowering dietary NE by inclusion of high fibre ingredients reduced the production of indole in the intestinal content of IC pigs, whereas the production of skatole was not affected