Sex effects on carcass characteristics, meat quality traits and meat amino acid and fatty acid compositions in a novel Duroc line pig.

ABSTRACT

In-depth studies of carcass characters and meat quality could provide insight both for breeding improvement and food development in pigs. Breed and gender are two main factors affected the carcass and meat altitude, which plays important roles in pork industry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sex effects on carcass characteristics and meat quality traits in a novel Duroc strain pig crossbred from French line, American line and Canadian line pigs. A total of 30 pigs (15 surgical-castrated males and 15 females) with similar birthweight (1.8 ± 0.13 kg) was used in experiment. During the experiment period, all pigs were fed same commercial diets. Overall, female pigs observed higher (p < 0.05) carcass weight, slaughter backfat, loin muscle area, loin muscle depth, carcass yield, pH on 45 min, meat histidine and essential amino acid (AA) compositions, and eicosenoic, unsaturation and free fatty acids (FA) compositions compared with meat from castrated males. Whereas, castrated males' meat showed better altitude (p < 0.05) on meat lightness, meat moisture content percentage, total umami AA and stearic acid and saturated FA compositions than those from female ones. In conclusion, the results of this study provide evidence on the sex effects on meat quality and carcass parameters in Duroc strain pigs. Furthermore, this study also give a reference on the relationship between sex and carcass and meat characteristics in Durco strain pigs.