Consumer acceptance and quality of game meat "droëwors" sausages with different levels of added fat.

Droëwors (dried sausage) is a unique dried meat product from South Africa, which is not smoked, fermented, nor is nitrite used in its production. The objective of the study was to compare the quality parameters and consumer acceptance of common eland meat droëwors with different quantities of added beef fat. Three treatments containing either 10, 15, or 20% (by weight) added beef fat were compared regarding chemical composition, fatty acid profiles, and sensory properties. Increasing the amount of fat in the dried product resulted in a significant decrease in the protein and ash percentages. The sausages with 10% added fat had the most favourable fatty acid profile in terms of nutritional value. Several differences were found in the sensory profiles of the products evaluated by the trained sensory panel; in particular, the evaluation scores for texture improved with increasing fat content. No differences were found between the products by the untrained consumer panel for appearance and taste. When the dataset was analysed according to gender, it was found that women evaluated the 10% fat samples more favourably. This is in line with their stated preference for low-fat meat products. For these reasons, the production of sausages with the lowest fat content can be recommended as they best meet consumer expectations.

Carcass and Offal Yields of Farmed Common Eland (Taurotragus oryx) Males, as Affected by Age and Immunocastration.

This study investigated the effects of immunocastration and slaughter age on the carcass yield performance of intensively farmed common eland males. Eighteen male eland (five immunocastrated juveniles, three intact juveniles, five immunocastrated sub-adults, and five intact sub-adults) were finished for four months, after which their carcass, offal, primal cut, and individual muscle yields were determined. Juveniles were ~6 months of age at the start of the experiment, while sub-adults were ~1.5 years old. Primal cuts were dissected to determine the percentage yields of meat, bones (with tendons), separable fat, and trimmings. Immunocastration had no effect on offal or carcass yields. While sub-adults had increased individual muscle yields, juveniles had greater proportionate yields of primal cuts and a greater total high-value: low-value meat ratio. Whilst slaughtering younger male eland could provide additional economic advantages, this should be considered being against changing marketing trends.

Preferences and acceptance of Czech and Spanish consumers regarding beef with varying intramuscular fat content.

Understanding the factors affecting meat eating quality and consumer demand is essential for estimating future trends in meat consumption. The objective of the study was therefore to compare Czech and Spanish consumer attitudes and preferences in relation to beef intramuscular fat content. Three hundred and one consumers participated in the study; they completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and evaluated grilled beef samples of three varying intramuscular fat contents (low, medium, high). The low-fat meat had an average intramuscular fat content of 1.3%, medium had 3.1% and high-fat had 5.2%. Sensory assessment scores tended to show a positive linear relationship with beef intramuscular fat content. While Czech assessors only noted differences in tenderness and overall acceptance between the beef samples, Spanish assessors were able to detect significant differences in all the descriptors evaluated. Age and gender affected the assessment scores of beef with different intramuscular fat contents.

Histological composition, physiochemical parameters, and organoleptic properties of three muscles from Fleckvieh bulls and heifers.

The histochemical characteristics, physical attributes, chemical composition, and sensory profile of three muscles (longissimus thoracis et lumborum - LTL, rectus abdominis - RA, triceps brachii - TB) from Fleckvieh (N = 24) bulls and heifers were compared. Samples of each muscle were taken within 1 h of slaughter to assess muscle fibre traits, while physio-chemical meat quality was assessed in each muscle at 48 h post mortem, followed by the sensory assessment of the muscles after 7 days of ageing. Despite identical raising conditions, bulls showed more favourable growth and slaughter performance, but heifers produced meat with more favourable sensory characteristics, as a result of a higher proportion of IIB fibres in their muscles, as well as a higher intramuscular fat content, and lower collagen content.

Changes of Androstenone Concentrations in Saliva of Boars with Age.

With the increasing age of boars, the possibility of androstenone (5α-androst-16-en-3-one (AND), 5α-androst-16-en-3α-ol (α-AND), and 5α-androst-16-en-3ß-ol (ß-AND)) occurrence increases as well. The aim of this study was to evaluate concentrations of androstenone compounds in the saliva of boars concerning the age of animals. In total, 72 boars were evaluated (24 boars per replication). The effect of age (three different ages-152, 163, and 172 days) was observed, and (Landrace × Large White) × Pietrain genotypes were used. Chemical analysis of saliva samples was conducted by multidimensional gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (MDGC/MS). Salivary α-AND increased with age (p < 0.05), and positive correlations were found between age and submaxillary salivary gland weight (p < 0.05), age, and salivary AND concentration (p < 0.05), body weight and submaxillary salivary gland weight (p < 0.05), submaxillary salivary gland weight and salivary ß-AND concentration (p < 0.05), as well as submaxillary salivary gland weight and total salivary 5α-androstenone (AND total) concentration (p < 0.001). Nowadays, animal welfare is becoming a more and more discussed topic, and pig breeding is not an exception. Specifically, the castration ban is a current issue, so it is very important to know as much as possible about compounds responsible for boar taint. Androstenone's appearance in boars' saliva could be one of the most important precursors for future early detection of boar taint.

Effect of Duration of Dietary Rapeseed and Soybean Oil Feeding on Physical Characteristics, Fatty Acid Profile, and Oxidative Stability of Pig Backfat.

This study compared the effect of two vegetable oils and their feeding duration on pig backfat quality. The experiment was conducted with 60 DanBred pigs that were fed a diet supplemented (40 g/kg) with rapeseed or soybean oil for 2, 4 or 6 weeks before slaughter at 152 d of age. The supplementation of both vegetable oils in the diets for 6 weeks negatively changed backfat consistency. The pigs fed soybean oil for 4 (17.64%) and 6 weeks (18.52%) before slaughter showed an increase in backfat linoleic acid content (p = 0.002), whereas, in contrast to the other groups, rapeseed oil in the diet for 6 weeks (2.38%) increased α-linolenic acid content (p = 0.039). The content of PUFAs (p = 0.024) and n-6 PUFAs (p = 0.003) was increased by adding soybean oil to the diet for 4 and 6 weeks. The ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs was decreased (p = 0.040) by supplementing rapeseed oil for 4 and 6 weeks. The oil feeding duration decreased (p < 0.001) the atherogenic and thrombogenic indices. The lipid oxidative stability of backfat stored for 3 and 5 days increased (p < 0.001) in pigs fed dietary vegetable oils for 6 weeks prior to slaughter. In conclusion, the feeding of rapeseed oil for 4 weeks before slaughter is sufficient for improving the FA profile without negative effect on the consistency of the backfat.

Association analysis of SNPs in the porcine CYP2E1 gene with skatole, indole, and androstenone levels in backfat of a crossbred pig population.

The occurrence of boar taint in meat from uncastrated males may significantly affect the economics of pork production. The aim of this study was to analyse associations of four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the porcine CYP2E1 gene with skatole, indole, and androstenone levels in the Czech Large White-Czech Landrace commercial crossbreds. The SNPs were: g.2412C>T, c.1422C>T, c.1423G>A and c.*14G>T. Skatole, indole and androstenone levels were estimated by HPLC, and genotypes at the SNPs were determined by PCR-RFLP. SNPs c.1423G>A and c.*14G>T were in complete linkage disequilibrium. In boars, all SNPs were associated with the indole levels (P<0.05; P<0.01). There also were differences in the skatole levels in different genotypes, but these were not significant. No associations with androstenone levels were found. The associations of the SNPs with indole compounds should be studied in other commercial populations of boars to verify the favourable alleles and genotypes, with the prospect for their application in marker-assisted selection.