INFLUENCE OF BREED ON THE CARCASS AND EATING QUALITY OF PORK

Twelve gilts from four breeds were reared from 30 to 65 kg liveweight and assessed for carcass, muscle and eating quality. The breeds were Large White (LW), Gloucester Old Spot (GOS) Crossbreed 1 (C1) and Crossbreed 2 (C2). The latter two were commercial products from breeding companies. There were small differences in quality between the breeds. C1 had about 2% more lean than the others. GOS had shorter carcasses, a higher proportion of total lean in the fore limb and thicker backfat but were not fatter overall. C1 and C2 had lower pH1 measurements than LW or GOS but similar colour and drip loss measurements in M. longissimus lumborum. There were positive but weak relationships between pH1 and percentage fat (r= +0.1 to +0.3). C1 had the more tender meat. When all breeds were pooled, about 9 % of the variation in toughness was accounted for by variation in percentage lean or fat. There was no suggestion that the pure breeds or fatter pigs had meat of better eating quality. Copyright © 1979 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd