Suchergebnisse

Iberian pigs are usually slaughtered at an average body weight (BW) of 160 kg. The free-range, acorn-feeding montanera starts at an average weight of 100 kg, lasts for 2.5-3 months, and pigs gain around 60 kg during this period. During this extensive finishing, the weight gain is mostly based on subcutaneous and intramuscular fat accretion, but other changes in carcass and meat composition may occur as well. This study (made in TREASURE project) evaluated the changes in carcass and meat composition occurred in Iberian pigs between the end of premontanera (pre-finishing period) and the end of montanera, as assessed in animals slaughtered at 110 and 160 kg BW, respectively. Castrate male Iberian pigs (n=45) were randomly assigned to 2 treatments (2 slaughter times) and raised on concentrate up to 110 kg BW. At this point, 15 pigs were slaughtered, and the remaining 30 pigs were finished in montanera with acorns and grass and were slaughtered at an average BW of 158 kg. Carcass and several meat traits were evaluated in both cases. In general, carcass fat (subcutaneous and intramuscular) increased significantly during the finishing period, with the exception of loin weight and area and the outer backfat layer, that remained unchanged after the finishing period. Hip height and ham length did not change, but carcass length increased significantly after finishing. In relation to meat colour, only the b index (blue to yellow) was significantly greater in finished pigs. Regarding backfat fatty acid profiles, PUFA and SFA decreased and MUFA increased significantly after the montanera finishing period, but C18:3 remained unchanged. In conclusion, pre-finishing Iberian pigs (at 110 kg BW) had similar muscle accretion, hip height, outer backfat layer thickness and C18:3 proportion than the finished ones. The BW gain during montanera was essentially based on fat deposition, and finishing increased the proportion of MUFA and decreased that of PUFA and SFA. Funded by European Union's H2020 RIA program (grant agreement no. ...

Unlike in modern breeds, the knowledge on performance and management of local pig breeds is very limited. These are key aspects to be developed for their successful exploitation that requires strategies adapted to their specific productive and metabolic characteristics, quite different from those of modern pig breeds, to ensure their preservation and future expansion, particularly for those more endangered. These are some of the challenges addressed by the project TREASURE. For this purpose, a series of experiments involving 11 European local breeds -differing in the level of development- have been carried out covering various and complementary aspects like nutritional requirements in different productive phases (Cinta Senese, Iberian), feeding practices involving locally available resources (Krskopolje, Schwäbisch- Hällisches, Turopolje, Mangalitsa, Bísaro, Iberian, Gascon), and innovative management and housing practices to enhance product quality or improve animal welfare (Cinta Senese, Alentejano, Bisaro, Iberian, Mangalitsa, Moravka, Krskopolje, Schwäbisch-Hällisches, Black Slavonian). All these activities have been designed to obtain essential information to develop future productive strategies for each of the involved breeds, taking into account to obtain local high-quality products, and seeking for optimum pig performance and high animal welfare conditions in the production systems under consideration. The information provided constitutes a unique and valuable set of data for the management of these breeds and the further development of local pork chains. In some cases it is the first available data for the breeds concerned. A general overview of the developed activities will be presented highlighting some of the achievements obtained. Funded by European Union's H2020 RIA program (Grant agreement no. 634476).