[Studies on carcass and meat quality performance of crossbred pigs with graded proportions of Laiwu Black genes].

ABSTRACT

Sixty pigs, including pure Laiwu Black (LL), pure Large Yorkshire (YY), 1/2 Laiwu (Ymale x Lfemale), 3/4 Laiwu (Lmale x YLfemale) and 1/4 Laiwu (Ymale x YLfemale), were housed in groups with the same diet until 90 kg for slaughter. The objectives were to investigate the effects of graded proportions of Laiwu Black genes on carcass and meat quality performance. Results indicated that different consanguinity had significant effect on carcass weight, carcass length (CL), ham percentage (HP) and backfat thickness (BT) (P<0.05), and had highly significant effect on eye muscle area (EMA) and lean percentage (LP) (P<0.01). Furthermore, CL, HP, EMA and LP tended to increased gradually, but BT tended to decreased gradually as Laiwu Black genes decreased. For meat quality properties, different consanguinity had significant effect on meat color, marbling score, dry matter and crude protein content of muscles (P<0.05), and had highly significant effect on water loss, drip loss and intramuscular fat content of muscles (P<0.01). Compared with the muscle of Large Yorkshire, that of Laiwu Black and its crossbred pigs were bright red in meat color, high in water holding capacity and abundant in intramuscular fat. Results implied that to give attention to both quantity and quality, Laiwu Black surely has usable precious value in superior pig production. Commercial crossbred pigs should have about 1/4 of Laiwu Black genes.