Influence of Duroc breed inclusion into Polish Landrace maternal line on pork meat quality traits

Abstracts

Crossbreeding with Duroc breed allows to improve meat quality, but no data is available regarding specific influence of Duroc breed on characteristics of meat in the case of crossbreeding with various breeds. The aim of the present research was to evaluate the effect of crossbreeding Polish Landrace dames with Duroc sires on quality features of meat in reference to Polish Landrace breed. The objects of the study were Longissimus dorsi lumborum pork muscles obtained from Polish Landrace breed and Polish Landrace x Duroc crossbreed animals. Sarcomere length measurements were conducted using microscopic method and basic chemical composition measurement was analyzed using spectrophotometric scanning. Texture analysis of meat samples, performed after thermal treatment was expressed by Warner-Bratzler shear force and color analysis was obtained using CIE L*a*b* color system. No differences in sarcomere length, shear force as well as components of color values between pork meat originated from Polish Landrace breed and Polish Landrace x Duroc crossbreed were observed. Analysis of basic chemical composition revealed higher fat and lower ash contents in the case of meat of Polish Landrace breed animals. It was concluded that the actual impact of breed on meat characteristics is possibly altered by other factors. It may be suggested that influence of basic chemical composition on color of meat is breed-related.

pork; sarcomere length; protein and fat content; shear force; color

Cruzamentos com a raça Duroc permite a melhoria da qualidade da carne suína. No entanto, não há dados disponíveis na literatura sobre a influência específica da raça Duroc sobre características da carne após cru zamento com outras raças. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do cruzamento de matrizes Polish Lan drace com reprodutores Duroc sobre as características de carne de qualidade, em referência à própria raça Polish Landrace. O objeto do estudo foi o músculo dorsal lombar (Longissimus dorsi lumborum) obtidos de suínos das raça Polish Landrace breed e da raça mestiça entre Polish Landrace e Duroc. Medidas do comprimento do sarcômero foram realizadas por microscopia e a de terminação da composição química básica foi analisada por espectrofotometria. A análise de textura de amostras de carne, realizada após tratamento térmico, foi ex pressa pela força de cisalhamento Warner-Bratzler enquanto a análise de cor foi realizada pelo sistema de cores CIE L*a*b*. Não foram observadas diferenças no comprimento do sarcômero, força de cisalhamento e coloração entre as carnes provenientes das raças Polish Landrace e mestiça Polish Landrace x Duroc. A análise da composição química revelou maior teor de gordura e menor teor de cinzas na carne proveniente de animais da raça Polish Landrace. O trabalho permitiu concluir que o impacto da raça nas características da carne é possivelmente influenciado por outros fatores. No entanto, pode-se sugerir que a composição química básica no padrão de cor da carne está relacionada com a raça.

suínos; comprimento do sarcômero; conteúdo proteico e de gorduras; força de cisalhamento; cor

INTRODUCTION

In the past, crossbreeding was primarily used mainly to increase total efficiency of pork production, however, such procedures could be associated with negative impact on meat palatability, particularly tenderness (Lonergan et al. 2001). Nowadays, pork crossbreeding is perceived as method helping to improve meat quality (Jiang et al. 2012). In Poland, production of pork crossbreed was based on crossing Polish Large White or Polish Landrace dams with Pietrain, Duroc or Hampshire sires (Blicharski and Hammermeister 2013). It was observed that the most significant improvement of meat quality was associated with crossbreeding with Duroc breed (Ramírez and Cava 2007).

On the basis of various researches it was con cluded that, among all meat quality traits, tender ness (Dilger et al. 2010) and color (Lindahl et al. 2006) are the most important sensory attributes of pork meat. Factors involved in determination of such sensory features may vary, but researches fo cused on analysis of tenderness variation in the case of major pork muscles and indicated the dis tinctive role of sarcomere length in creating texture of unaged pork muscles (Wheeler et al. 2000). Si multaneously, it was suggested that meat color may be influenced by the deposition of dietary components in the muscles and fat tissue, being mainly an effect of specified feeding regime (Tikk 2007).

There is no data regarding specific influence of the Duroc breed on meat characteristics (especially on the most important features, such as texture and color) in the case of crossbreeding with various breeds. The aim of the present research was to evaluate the effect of crossbreeding Polish Landrace dames with Duroc sires on the quality features of meat (including sarcomere length, shear force, basic composition and color) in reference to Polish Landrace breed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Experiment

The present experiment was carried out in the laboratory of Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland. The objects of the study were pork loins (Longissimus dorsi lumborum muscle) obtained from 6 animals of Polish Landrace breed and from 5 animals of Polish Landrace x Duroc crossbreed, derived from task 3 of the project "Biofood - innovative, functional products of animal origin" co-financed by the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund within the Innovative Economy Operational Programme 2007-2013. The selected animals were characterized by the similar mass (100 ± 15 kg), same age (5-6 months, according to the Pork Quality System) and were raised together with an experimental farm. In the case of each animal standard animal management (animals under veterinary care, management typical for animal husbandry in food production according to Polish law regulation) and slaughter procedure (commercial facility) was applied. Obtained meat was characterized by the appropriate pH value.

The analyzed animals were fed fodder contain ing 2% of canola oil. Basic fodder contained barley grits (360 g/ kg of the fodder), wheat middlings (360 g/ kg of the fodder), corn grits (100 g/ kg of the fodder), extracted soybean meal (80 g/ kg of the fodder), extracted rapeseed meal (40 g/ kg of the fodder) and vitamin-mineral premix (25 g/ kg of the fodder). The dry matter for applied diet was 903 g/ kg, while metabolizable energy was 13,5 MJ/ kg of dry matter. The detailed chemical composition of the applied control diet was described in the previous paper (Guzek et al. 2012b).

The tested samples were routinely obtained from federally inspected slaughter facilities and special approval from Animal Care and Use Committee is not required.

Sarcomere Length Measurement

Sarcomere length was measured according to the method of Cross et al. (1981) with minor modifications (Guzek et al. 2012a, 2015). In the case of each cut, representative 5 g meat samples were collected and homogenized in 30 ml of cold 0.25 M sucrose solution at low speed (mechanical homogenizer PRO 200, PRO Scientific Inc., Connecticut, USA - 5000 rpm, 60 seconds). The appropriate volume of the homogenized sample (5-10µl) was placed on the microscopic slide, covered with the cover slip and subjected to microscopic observations. The evaluation of the sarcomere length was conducted using Carl Zeiss Axio Imager.M2 microscope (Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany) with EC Plan-Neofluar 100x/1.30 Oil Ph 3 M27 objective and AxioCamMR5 camera. Microscopic preparations were observed in the differential interference contrast (DIC). Sarcomere length values were measured using AxioVision Rel.4.8.2 software (Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany). The 3 myofibrils were selected for each sample and lengths of 10 sarcomeres for each myofibril were measured.

Basic Chemical Composition Measurement

In the case of each cut, representative 150 g meat samples were collected and homogenized with a blender for 30-60s to obtain a homogeneous mixture. Samples were placed on a Petri dish (diameter - 90 mm) in NIR device (NIR Flex Solids N-500, Büchi, Flawil, Switzerland - spectral range - 800 to 2,500 nm). Spectrophotometer scanning was performed three times for each sample, according to the widely applied methodology (Prevolnik et al. 2004). Spectral analysis software NIR Ware 1.1 and NIR Cal 5.1 (Büchi, Flawil, Switzerland) was used to collect and calculate results. Water, protein, fat, ash and collagen contents (%) were measured for each sample.

Texture Analysis

In order to carry out texture analysis, meat samples were studied according to the widely applied methodology (AMSA 1995). Pork cuts were subjected to thermal treatment with a steam-convection oven (Küppersbusch CPE 110, Küppersbusch Grobküchentechnik GmbH, Gelsenkirchen, Germany) until an internal tem perature of 71°C was reached. After thermal treat ment each cut was divided into steaks and samples were chilled at 2 ± 1°C. Subsequently, coring procedure aimed at obtaining cores with uniform diameter was conducted. Six cores of 1.27 cm diameter were sheared perpendicular to the longitudinal orientation of the muscle fibers with Instron 5965 Universal Testing Machine (Instron, Canton, Massachusetts, USA) equipped with 500 N load cell. The Warner-Bratzler shear force [N] was recorded as the first highest peak on the force-deformation curve for samples.

Components of Color Analysis

Meat samples were subjected to color components analysis. For each sample 8 mm diameter measure ment area was applied. Color components were measured using Hunter Lab chromometer Minolta CR-400 (Minolta Camera Co., Osaka, Japan) with D65 standard illuminant. The chromometer was previously calibrated against standard white refer ence tile (CR-A43). Ten measurements for each sample from various steak locations excluding marbling areas were conducted, according to the recommended methodology (Hunt et al. 1991). The L* (lightness), a* (bluish-green/ red-purple hue component), b* (yellow/ blue hue component) and hue angle values were collected for all the samples. Hue angle values were calculated, as [arctangent (b*/a*)*180/3.142], expressed in degrees (King et al. 2011).

Statistical Analysis

W Shapiro-Wilk test was used to verify the normal ity of distribution. T-Student and U-Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare resultant values between breeds. To define the significance, the level α=0.05 was accepted. Statistic analysis was conducted using the Statistica software version 8.0 by StatSoft (Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA).

RESULTS

Sarcomere length values, measured for meat samples representative for Polish Landrace breed and Polish Landrace x Duroc crossbreed animals, are presented in Figure 1 (a) and Figure 1 (b), respectively. It was concluded that no statistically significant differences were observed between sarcomere length values for pork meat samples originated from both groups (p>0.05).

Figure 1
- (a). Sarcomere length values [µm] for the analyzed 6 cuts of Polish Landrace breed animals, (b). Sarcomere length values [µm] for the analyzed 5 cuts of Polish Landrace x Duroc crossbreed animals.

Water contents, measured for meat samples derived from Polish Landrace breed and Polish Landrace x Duroc crossbreed animals, are presented in Figure 2 (a). Lack of statistically significant differences between both breeds was observed, however, it may be indicated that identified dif ferences were close to significance (p<0.1).

Figure 2
- (a). Water content values [%] for the analyzed 6 cuts of Polish Landrace breed and 5 cuts of Polish Landrace x Duroc crossbreed animals (p<0.1); (b). Protein content values [%] for the analyzed 6 cuts of Polish Landrace breed and 5 cuts of Polish Landrace x Duroc crossbreed animals (p>0.1); (c). Fat content values [%] for the analyzed 6 cuts of Polish Landrace breed and 5 cuts of Polish Landrace x Duroc crossbreed animals (p<0.01); (d). Ash content values [%] for the analyzed 6 cuts of Polish Landrace breed and 5 cuts of Polish Landrace x Duroc crossbreed animals (p<0.05); (e). Collagen content values [%] for the analyzed 6 cuts of Polish Landrace breed and 5 cuts of Polish Landrace x Duroc crossbreed animals (p>0.05).

Protein contents, measured for meat samples from animals representing Polish Landrace breed and Polish Landrace x Duroc crossbreed, are presented in Figure 2 (b). Lack of statistically significant differences between animals from both groups was observed (p>0.05).

Fat contents, measured for meat samples derived from Polish Landrace breed and Polish Landrace x Duroc crossbreed animals, are presented in Figure 2 (c). Statistically significant differences between meat samples from breed and crossbreed animals were observed (p<0.01). Meat obtained from Polish Landrace breed animals was characterized by higher fat content than in the case of Polish Landrace x Duroc crossbreed samples.

Ash contents, measured for meat samples from Polish Landrace breed and Polish Landrace x Duroc crossbreed animals, are presented in Figure 2 (d). Statistically significant differences between meat samples representing both groups were observed (p<0.005). Meat samples obtained from Polish Landrace x Duroc crossbreed animals were characterized by higher ash content than those measured in the case of Polish Landrace breed animals.

Collagen contents, measured for samples originated from Polish Landrace breed and Polish Landrace x Duroc crossbreed animals, are indicat ed in Figure 2 (e). Lack of statistically significant differences between breed and crossbreed animals was observed (p>0.05).

Shear force values, measured for meat samples derived from Polish Landrace breed and Polish Landrace x Duroc crossbreed animals, are presented in Figure 3 (a) and Figure 3 (b), respectively. No statistically significant differences between values obtained from both breeds animals were observed (p>0.05).

Figure 3
- (a). Shear force values [N] for the analyzed 6 cuts of Polish Landrace breed animals; (b). Shear force values [N] for the analyzed 5 cuts of Polish Landrace x Duroc crossbreed animals

Values of L*, a* and b* components of color, as well as hue angle, measured for meat obtained from Polish Landrace breed and Polish Landrace x Duroc crossbreed animals, are presented in Table I. No statistically significant differences were observed between components of color for meat originated from both breeds (p>0.05), while for hue angle significant differences were observed (p=0.0000).

TABLE I
- The median (min - max) values of meat color of Polish Landrace breed animals and Polish Landrace x Duroc crossbreed animals.

		L*(D65)	a*(D65)	b*(D65)	H*
Polish Landrace breed animals	Cut 1	55.9 (53.7-58.5)	6.8 (4.9-7.8)	3.9 (2.6-5.4)	30.3 (26.1-35.4)
	Cut 2	55.3 (52.9-59.2)	7.4 (5.9-8.9)	4.4 (2.9-6.1)	30.1 (26.1-35.4)
	Cut 3	50.2 (45.8-55.2)	7.6 (6.8-10.5)	3.2 (1.0-5.7)	23.2 (8.4-28.7)
	Cut 4	52.9 (48.3-55.3)	6.1 (5.5-7.1)	3.0 (1.2-4.5)	26.1 (12.9-32.5)
	Cut 5	56.9 (51.4-58.5)	6.9 (5.7-8.0)	3.9 (2.5-5.1)	30.2 (23.8-33.8)
	Cut 6	53.3 (49.9-57.0)	9.0 (7.5-10.7)	5.0 (3.2-7.0)	29.6 (21.9-34.7)
Polish Landrace x Duroc crossbreed animals	Cut 1	55.13 (53.6-58.2)	8.3 (6.8-10.2)	5.1 (4.1-8.8)	32.9 (30.6-40.7)
	Cut 2	58.1 (56.2-62.7)	5.9 (5.2-7.2)	5.1 (4.2-6.6)	41.1 (38.8-42.4)
	Cut 3	54.1 (51.7-57.8)	6.0 (4.7-7.1)	3.1 (1.6-5.5)	29.0 (18.9-38.3)
	Cut 4	61.1 (59.0-62.5)	8.0 (5.5-9.9)	8.4 (5.1-9.4)	44.3 (38.3-47.8)
	Cut 5	60.3 (59.3-63.2)	5.5 (4.0-6.7)	6.0 (3.6-7.8)	47.4 (41.9-52.1)
p-Value1		p>0.05	p>0.05	p>0.05	p=0.000

• ¹for nonparametric distribution U Mann-Whitney test was conducted.

DISCUSSION

Sarcomere length values may be partly determined by genetic factors including breed. On a level of cytoskeleton and contractile fiber structure, ge netically determined interactions between actin filaments promote elongation of thin filaments, possibly contributing to higher sarcomere length (Tsukada et al. 2010). Simultaneously, sarcomere length values observed for meat samples may result to some extent from post-slaughter handling, including electrical stimulation and hanging. In addition, it was previously described that sarcomere length values are used to determine incidence of the cold-shortening in beef meat (Muchenje et al. 2009) as one of the factors related to general meat quality.

Sarcomere length is generally positively corre lated with meat tenderness (Smulders et al. 1990). In the case of detailed comparison between pork meat samples it was observed that Semitendino sus and Triceps branchii muscles, characterized by the highest sarcomere lengths, are simultaneously described by the highest tenderness (higher rating in sensory evaluation and lower values of Warner-Bratzler shear force) (Wheeler et al. 2000).

In the present research, similarly to other studies, lack of significant differences in sarcomere length as well as shear force values between Polish Landrace breed and Polish Landrace x Duroc crossbreed animals was observed. Wood et al. (1996) identified no significant differences in meat tenderness between Duroc and Large White breed animals. On the other hand, previous studies indicated significant influence of breed on tenderness. In the research of Jeleníková et al. (2008), significant differences in tenderness between Large White, Czech Landrace and Duroc breeds were obtained, namely the highest tenderness was observed in the case of cooked Duroc breed meat simultaneously higher rated in sensory analysis and lower rated in instrumental measurements (indicating more tenderness). Simultaneously, in the research of Thornton et al. (1968), Longissimus dorsi muscle derived from meat form Duroc breed was characterized by the higher tenderness than meat from Yorkshire breed animals. In the research of Crawford et al. (2010), measured values of Warner-Bratzler shear force were significantly higher for Landrace breed than for Berkshire breed meat.

The differences between results obtained in different groups may be associated with the differ ent sets of breeds analyzed in the case of each of the mentioned researches. However, it was described in the research of Josell (2002) that genotype (presence of RN allele) may potentially play more important role than breed. In the mentioned study it was revealed that the Warner-Bratzler shear force values were found to be lower for Longissimus dorsi muscle from RN allele-positive animals (being more tender), while the same samples sensory panel evaluation indicated higher values (also meaning more tender meat) for the same muscle from RN allele-negative animals, regardless of breed (Josell 2002). Indeed, it might be concluded that not only breed, but also other genetic factors may influence pork meat tenderness and as a result modify the identified influence of breed. On the other hand, in the present research, in contrast to the studies of Jeleníková et al. (2008) and Thornton et al. (1968), the highest tenderness values in the case of Duroc breed meat were not confirmed.

Simultaneously, there are several studies but not for pork, trying to evaluate influence of breed on sarcomere length. In the work of Lewis et al. (1977), analyses carried out for an uncooked or cooked Longissimus dorsi beef muscle revealed no influence of dam breed (Angus or Hereford breeds) on sarcomere length, as well as no change in sarcomere length due to cooking process. On the other hand, in this research, analysis for Longissimus dorsi muscle revealed also influence of sire breed (Angus, Hereford, Santa Gertrudis or Charolais breeds) on change in sarcomere length resulting from cooking and sarcomere length after cooking (Lewis et al. 1977).

However, similarly as in the case of tenderness, breed influence on sarcomere length might be modulated by genotype. In the research of Monin et al. (1999), analyses of the influence of three HAL genotypes (NN, Nn, and nn alleles) on sarcomeres in meat samples obtained from Pietrain x Large White crossbreed animals, revealed that sarcomere length in the case of nn allele was higher than for NN and Nn alleles.

It should be noted that the mentioned research did not include analyses for Duroc breed and crossbreeds, so it seemed hard to determine if the obtained results are typical. However, taking into account the identified correlation between sarcomere length and pork tenderness (Wheeler et al. 2000), it was highly expected to obtain no differences between Polish Landrace breed and Polish Landrace x Duroc crossbreed animals, both in the case of sarcomere length and shear force values.

Basic chemical composition of meat may be influenced by a wide range of factors, among them genetics (including breed and gender), feeding regime including supplementation, slaughter age and season. Chemical composition of meat, especially proportion of lean meat to fat, is a basic quality feature and one of the elements creating meat quality according to the definition of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO 1990).

Data regarding meat composition might be obtained by the spectrophotometric method, especially during quick, on-line analyses. Spectrophotometric method allows to predict only limited number of factors, but is perceived as a faithful method giving an opportunity to specify the differences between meat samples, particularly to categorize meat into quality classes or to discriminate between production factors (Prevolnik et al. 2004).

Chemical composition of meat may affect to some extent oxidation processes. As a consequence, both fat (Ismail et al. 2009) and protein oxidation processes (Rowe et al. 2004) might contribute to resultant color of meat.

In the present research, Duroc breed inclusion into Polish Landrace maternal line influenced distinct elements of basic chemical composition, especially fat and ash contents. Similar observations were made by Wood et al. (2004), who identified in the case of Duroc and Berkshire breeds higher total fatty acids content than for Large White and Tamworth breeds, with simultaneous differences in proportions of fatty acids. In the case of other breeds influence of breed on basic chemical composition was also generally observed.

In the research of Teixeira and Rodrigues (2013), in the case of comparison between Preto Alentejano (Portuguese black pork) breed and Large White x Landrace crossbreed, influence of breed on protein, total fat, pigments and dry matter contents but not ash content was observed. In the mentioned study, Preto Alentejano breed was characterized by especially high fat content (Teixeira and Rodrigues 2013). In the study conducted by Kim et al. (2008), differences in water, crude protein and total amino acid contents were observed; water content was the highest for Kagoshima Berkshire breed, crude protein content for <Yorkshire × Berkshire> × Berkshire crossbreed and Kagoshima Berkshire breed, whereas total amino acid content for <Landrace × Yorkshire> × Duroc crossbreed and British Berkshire breed. In the results presented by Florowski et al. (2006a), breed-related differences in basic chemical composition of pork meat, but not in ash content, were also observed. In the discussed work, it was concluded that water content in the case of Polish Landrace breed was higher than for Zlotnicka Spotted and Pulawska breeds. Simultaneously, protein content was the lowest for Polish Landrace breed as well as fat content was the highest in the case of Zlotnicka Spotted breed, and the lowest in the case of Polish Landrace breed (Florowski et al. 2006a). Generally, it might be concluded that changes in fat content are often associated with breed but ash content seems to be resistant to breed alterations. However, it should be noted that in the present research such influence of Duroc breed inclusion into Polish Landrace maternal line was observed.

In the case of color analysis, differences be tween breeds were observed in several studies, e.g. in the research of Gjerlaug-Enger et al. (2010) pre senting comparison of L*, a* and b* components of color between Duroc and Landrace breeds. On the other hand, in previously mentioned Polish research of Florowski et al. (2006a), in the case of comparison between Polish Landrace, Zlotnicka Spotted and Pulawska breeds, no differences in L* component of color were observed, despite significant differences in basic chemical composition. Similarly, in other research of the same team (Florowski et al. 2006b), although Pietrain breed was characterized by significantly the highest components of color, no differences in L*, a* and b* components were identified between Duroc, Polish Landrace, Polish White and Line 990 breeds. Moreover, in the mentioned research of Florowski et al. (2006b), comparison of water and fat contents revealed similar difference as in another article (Florowski et al. 2006a). On the basis of present study, when Polish Landrace x Duroc crossbreed animals were compared with Polish Landrace breed animals, it may be suggested that the observation regarding lack of influence of lower fat and higher ash contents, on color of meat is typical. It is probably the consequence of the predominant influence of other factors on color of meat, among them muscle, diet and aging (Tikk 2007). The significant differences of hue angle are difficult to discuss, as in none of the mentioned research studies it was assessed. Simultaneously, as Pietrain breed was characterized by the different basic chemical composition and color of meat than other breeds (Florowski et al. 2006b), it may be concluded that chemical composition affects color of pork meat in a breed-related manner.

On the basis of the conducted research it may be concluded that Duroc breed inclusion into Polish Landrace maternal line contributes to changes in basic chemical composition of obtained meat, although it alters change neither in sarcomere length nor the quality features recognized by consumers (texture, color).

CONCLUSIONS

1. Duroc breed inclusion into Polish Landrace maternal line does not contribute to differences in sarcomere length and shear force values in comparison with Polish Landrace breed; 2. Duroc breed inclusion into Polish Landrace maternal line contributes to differences in basic chemical composition, however, no differences in color were observed in comparison with Polish Landrace breed; 3. Influence of basic chemical composition on color of meat may be breed-related, so it seems essential to conduct further studies; 4. Duroc breed inclusion into Polish Landrace maternal line may be effective in crossbreeding, as it does not change the quality parameters.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Research was realized with the project BIOFOOD - innovative, functional products of animal origin, no. POIG.01.01.02-014-090/09 co-financed by the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund within the Innovative Economy Operational Programme 2007-2013.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  31 May 2016
• Date of issue
  Apr-Jun 2016

History

• Received
  15 Dec 2014
• Accepted
  10 Aug 2015