Physiological traits and meat quality of pigs as affected by genotype and housing system

B Lebret; A Prunier; N Bonhomme; A Foury; P Mormède; J Y Dourmad

doi:10.1016/j.meatsci.2010.11.025

Physiological traits and meat quality of pigs as affected by genotype and housing system

Meat Sci. 2011 May;88(1):14-22. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2010.11.025. Epub 2010 Dec 4.

Authors

B Lebret¹, A Prunier, N Bonhomme, A Foury, P Mormède, J Y Dourmad

Affiliation

¹ INRA, UMR 1079 Systèmes d'Elevage Nutrition Animale et Humaine, F-35590 Saint-Gilles, France. Benedicte.Lebret@rennes.inra.fr

PMID: 21185130
DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2010.11.025

Abstract

The influence of pig housing system: alternative (bedding with outdoor area, BO) vs. conventional (slatted floor, SF) on growth performance, reactivity to pre-slaughter handling and meat quality was evaluated in two genotypes differing in the sire line, Duroc (CD) or synthetic (CS) with 40 pigs/genotype. Animal response to housing did not differ between genotypes. BO pigs had higher growth rate and feed intake, but similar carcass composition to SF pigs. Levels of stress related hormones and plasma metabolites at slaughter were not different between BO and SF pigs, suggesting that housing did not influence pig reactivity to pre-slaughter handling. Similar (Longissimus lumborum and Biceps femoris) or slightly reduced (Semimembranosus) pH values, higher drip, lipid content and juiciness were observed in BO compared with SF pork. CD pigs had more tender meat than CS. In conclusion, the BO system resulted in higher feed intake, faster growth rate, increased intramuscular fat, and improved eating quality in both genotypes.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Abattoirs
Animal Husbandry / methods
Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Animals
Body Composition*
Female
Food Handling
Genotype
Housing, Animal*
Male
Meat*
Muscle, Skeletal / chemistry*
Swine