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Argemí-Armengol I, Álvarez-Rodríguez J, Tor M, Salada L, Leite A, Vasconcelos L, Teixeira A, Rodrigues SSQ. A Preliminary Evaluation of Sex and Dietary Field Pea Effects on Sensory Characteristics of Dry-Cured Loins. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:739. [PMID: 38473124 DOI: 10.3390/ani14050739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Two of the main issues related to cured meat products are castration to avoid boar taint and the hefty reliance on soybean meal to feed pigs. However, data on the effects of immunocastration in pigs and alternative crop protein feeds on the sensory traits and consumers' acceptance of dry-cured loin are still limited. A preliminary study was conducted on the effect of sex type (surgical castrated male pigs and immunocastrated male and female pigs, at approximately 140 kg in weight and 7 months of age) and animal diet (pea vs. soya) on dry-cured loins. The study involved a sensory evaluation of six treatments, with a 3 × 2 factorial design, conducted by trained panellists and untrained consumers in Spain (n = 126) and Portugal (n = 80). The consumers were also checked for their skatole sensitivity using a pure substance. The results showed that the pea-based diet was significantly different (p < 0.001) from the soy-based diet, as determined by a trained panel of surgically castrated male pigs, although the immunocastration treatments were not split. Dry-cured loin from immunocastrated male pigs fed with peas was considered tenderer and juicier (p < 0.05) than those fed soya-based diets. The untrained consumer panel scored higher on the sensory traits (flavour, juiciness, and overall liking) from the loin samples of surgically castrated male pigs fed a pea diet. All consumers scored similarly in boar taint detection. This study demonstrates the applicability of the pea-based diet for the feeding of pigs destined for cured meat and highlights immunocastration as a tool that does not compromise the skatole detection score.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marc Tor
- Department of Animal Science, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Laura Salada
- Department of Animal Science, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Ana Leite
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
- Laboratório para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
| | - Lia Vasconcelos
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
- Laboratório para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
| | - Alfredo Teixeira
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
- Laboratório para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
| | - Sandra Sofia Quinteiro Rodrigues
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
- Laboratório para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
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Font-I-Furnols M, Albano-Gaglio M, Brun A, Tejeda JF, Gispert M, Marcos B, Zomeño C. The effect of immunocastration of male and female Duroc pigs on the morphological, mechanical and compositional characteristics of pork belly. Meat Sci 2023; 204:109263. [PMID: 37384954 DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2023.109263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Pork belly is an important and heterogeneous cut, characterized by its fat content. Immunocastration is an alternative to surgical castration that can modify the composition of carcasses and cuts and it can affect at its processing. This work compares the morphological, mechanical and compositional characteristics of pork belly of (1) pure Duroc pigs from surgically castrated males (CM), entire females (EF) and immunocastrated females (IF), and (2) Duroc crossbreed pigs from immunocastrated males (IM) and entire males (EM). Two trials were carried out: Trial 1, in which 36 bellies were evaluated, 12 from each sexual type, CM, EF and IF; and Trial 2, where 30 bellies were used, 15 from each sexual type, IM and EM. Results show few differences in bellies from EF and IF, while those from CM were fatter and firmer and with lower polyunsaturated fat. Bellies from IM were longer and firmer than those from EM, and their skin was thinner. IM bellies had higher saturated and lower polyunsaturated fat than those from EM. To conclude, the sex of the pigs affects belly characteristics and this could be a criterion for determining the destination of the bellies in the cutting plant. Immunocastration of pure Duroc females had a lower effect on the belly characteristics when compared to those from entire females, but some differences could be found in the fat distribution. Immunocastration of Duroc crossbred males produces firmer and thicker bellies, with a thinner skin, that could be advantageous for slicing and further processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Font-I-Furnols
- IRTA-Food Quality and Technology Program, Finca Camps i Armet, 17121 Monells, Spain.
| | | | - Albert Brun
- IRTA-Food Quality and Technology Program, Finca Camps i Armet, 17121 Monells, Spain
| | | | - Marina Gispert
- IRTA-Food Quality and Technology Program, Finca Camps i Armet, 17121 Monells, Spain
| | - Begonya Marcos
- IRTA-Food Quality and Technology Program, Finca Camps i Armet, 17121 Monells, Spain
| | - Cristina Zomeño
- IRTA-Food Quality and Technology Program, Finca Camps i Armet, 17121 Monells, Spain
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Fernández-Fígares I, Haro A, Lachica M, Lara L, Seiquer I, Nieto R. Metabolic Profile of Growing Immune- and Surgically Castrated Iberian Pigs Fed Diets of Different Amino Acid Concentration. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2650. [PMID: 37627441 PMCID: PMC10451894 DOI: 10.3390/ani13162650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of the current study was to further characterize the performance and nitrogen retention differences previously observed between immunocastrated (IC) and surgically castrated (SC) pure Iberian pigs. Fifty-four pigs were used (three sexes: IC males, IC females and SC males), fed three isoenergetic diets (160, 140 and 120 g CP/kg DM; six pigs/treatment combination) from 40 kg BW until slaughter (105 kg BW). Plasmatic post-absorptive metabolites and hormones, and backfat tissue composition were determined. The IC males showed a trend towards higher plasmatic creatinine (p = 0.06) and IGF-1 concentrations than SC males and IC females (p < 0.001). SC males showed a higher predisposition to carcass fatness and insulin resistance compared to IC males. Plasmatic isoleucine concentration was higher in IC and SC males compared to IC females (p < 0.01), and valine was greater in IC males compared to the rest of the pigs (p < 0.001). Total branched-chain amino acids (AA) were greater in IC males than in IC females (p < 0.01). Total plasmatic essential AA concentrations tended to be greater in IC males (p = 0.09). The present results support the increased performance and nitrogen retention capacity previously observed in IC male Iberian pigs compared to SC males and IC females, which can be attributed to increased anabolic capacity related with lean growth in Iberian IC males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Fernández-Fígares
- Department of Nutrition and Sustainable Animal Production, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Spanish National Research Council, CSIC, Profesor Albareda, s/n, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Ana Haro
- Department of Nutrition and Sustainable Animal Production, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Spanish National Research Council, CSIC, Profesor Albareda, s/n, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Manuel Lachica
- Department of Nutrition and Sustainable Animal Production, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Spanish National Research Council, CSIC, Profesor Albareda, s/n, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Luis Lara
- Department of Nutrition and Sustainable Animal Production, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Spanish National Research Council, CSIC, Profesor Albareda, s/n, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Isabel Seiquer
- Department of Nutrition and Sustainable Animal Production, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Spanish National Research Council, CSIC, Profesor Albareda, s/n, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Rosa Nieto
- Department of Nutrition and Sustainable Animal Production, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Spanish National Research Council, CSIC, Profesor Albareda, s/n, 18008 Granada, Spain
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Van den Broeke A, De Cuyper C, Kress K, Stefanski V, Škrlep M, Čandek-Potokar M, Maribo H, Millet S. The importance of pigs' castration strategy on carbon footprint of feed intake, nitrogen and phosphorus efficiency under different management conditions. Animal 2022; 16:100669. [PMID: 36403337 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2022.100669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The environmental impact of livestock production is under scrutiny nowadays and is being situated both on a global level and local level. On a global level, the global warming potential (GWP) of meat production is criticised. On a local level, the excretion of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) is of concern as excess nutrients may lead to water eutrophication and soil acidification. The ERA-NET project SuSI evaluated if immunocastration may act as an ecologically, socially and economic more sustainable alternative compared to pork production with surgical castrates (SCs) and boars (BOs). Here, we report the environmental impact of immunocastrates (ICs) vs SC and BO, based on four trials carried out by European SuSi partners. More specifically, we aimed to compare IC with SC and BO in terms of GWP, N and P excretion per kg of pork production and test if this differed between experiments. There was an interaction between trial and sex category (PTrial × Sex category < 0.005) for all environmental sustainability parameters. Surgical castrates performed worse (higher carbon footprint of the feed intake, N and P excretion, lower N and P efficiency) compared to IC and BO, but the size of the effect was trial dependent. Immunocastrates scored intermediate, with mostly no significant differences from BO in most trials, but with significantly better values compared to SC. Over trials, the carbon footprint of the feed intake (land use change inclusive) per kg lean meat gain in the growing-finishing phase was 9-16% lower for IC vs SC and 9-22% lower for BO vs SC. Nitrogen efficiency of IC and BO was 7-10% and 9-14%, respectively, higher compared to SC. Phosphorus efficiency of IC and BO was higher than that of SC by 6-14% and 9-17%, respectively. Per kg of lean meat gain in the growing-finishing phase, IC excreted between 14 and 19% less N and between 14 and 24% less P than SC. For BO, it was between 14 and 27% less N and between 14 and 31% less P than SC. Differences between trials were larger than differences between castration strategies and trial design may have amplified the observed effects. Improving feed efficiency, adapting the feed to the needs of the animal (avoiding excess nutrients) and choosing low-impact ingredients are key for improving the environmental sustainability of pig production. Ending physical castration is another step to attain this goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Van den Broeke
- Animal Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Melle, Belgium.
| | - C De Cuyper
- Animal Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Melle, Belgium
| | - K Kress
- University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | | | - M Škrlep
- Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - H Maribo
- SEGES PIG RESEARCH CENTRE, Danish Agriculture & Food Council, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - S Millet
- Animal Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Melle, Belgium
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