Original scientific paper
Influence of sex on tissue distribution in pig carcasses
Goran Kušec
Ivona Đurkin
Antun Petričević
Gordana Kralik
Zlata Maltar
Abstract
The aim of this investigation was to establish the differences in distribution of the most important tissues (muscle, fat, bones) between the carcasses of barrows and gilts from eastern Croatia. In the experiment, 31 randomly chosen pig carcasses (15 gilts and 16 barrows) from five Croatian slaughterhouses were included. There was no stratification according to weight of the carcass. The carcasses included in the research were dissected by the EU referent method (Walstra and Merkus, 1995). During the experiment the following data from each pig carcass were obtained: warm and cold carcass weight, weight of the four main parts (ham, loin, shoulder, ribs) and tenderloin. Shares of the most important tissues (muscle, fat, bones) in four main parts as well as in the whole carcass were calculated. Measurements of backfat thickness (S, in mm) and loin muscle thickness (M, in mm) were taken by instrumental and «two points» methods simultaneously. According to these measurements, the lean percentage of each carcass was assessed. Statistically significant differences (P<0.05) between lean percentage assessed by the «TP» method and objectively established by dissection were determined. Statistically significant (P<0.05) differences between lean percentage of gilts determined by dissection and lean percentage of barrows and gilts assessed by the «TP» method were established. Statistically significant differences (P<0.05) between sexes were determined only in the share of bones as compared with the total bones in the carcass. The classification of pig carcasses in SEUROP classes by the «TP» method and the instrumental method of assessment largely differs from the classification by dissection. This indicates the need to establish the new equations for lean percentage assessment of pig carcasses in Croatia. Generally, there is no need for establishment of different equations of lean percentage assessment for carcasses originating from barrows and gilts in eastern Croatia, but this should be confirmed on the larger number of pig samples.
Keywords
pigs; carcass composition; gender
Hrčak ID:
4501
URI
Publication date:
10.7.2006.
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