Effect of Duroc content, sex and ageing period on meat and eating quality attributes of pork loin

This study was conducted to determine the effect of percentage Duroc content of entire male and female pigs and ageing period on meat and eating quality attributes of pork loin (M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum). A total of 84 pigs [entire males (n=42) and female (n=42)] of 0% Duroc (100% Large White), 50% Duroc (Duroc×Large White) or 100% Duroc (n=14 pigs per sex×genotype combination) were slaughtered at a liveweight of ∼100 kg. Steaks from the M. longissimus lumborum of female pigs were aged for either 2 or 7 days post-slaughter and evaluated using a consumer taste panel. Eating quality attributes of tenderness, flavour and overall liking of pork loin steaks from female pigs were not (P>0.05) influenced by Duroc content. Pork from 100% Duroc pigs was juicier (P=0.05) and had a higher (1.84%, P=0.05) intramuscular fat content than pork from 0 and 50% Duroc pigs (1.40 and 1.25%, respectively). Pork from entire male pigs had a lower (P<0.001) intramuscular fat content, was darker (P<0.01) in colour and recorded higher (P<0.01) Warner Bratzler shear force values compared with pork from female carcasses. Ageing pork loin steaks in vacuum bags for 7 days improved tenderness (P<0.01), flavour (P<0.05) and overall liking (P<0.05) compared with steaks aged for 2 days post-slaughter. Ageing of pork steaks for 7 days post-slaughter improved eating quality attributes far more effectively than increasing percentage Duroc content of pigs, which only influenced consumer scores for juiciness.