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

Abstract

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