Effects of red clover silage and ageing time on sensory characteristics and cooking losses of loin (M. longissimus dorsi) from Hampshire crosses with and without the RN- allele

The study concerns the effects of red clover silage (silage) and ageing time on sensory characteristics and cooking loss of loin from Hampshire crosses with and without the RNallele. Half of each litter received conventional feed and the other half conventional feed with admixed red clover silage. Loins were aged at 4°C (4 and 8 days), prepared at 150° to 68°C and sensory evaluated by descriptive analyses. RN- carriers had loins of higher meat taste intensity and a more acidulous taste than non-carriers. Meat taste intensity and tenderness increased as ageing time increased while acidulous taste decreased. Loins, aged 4 days, from conventionally fed pigs were juicier than those of silage-fed pigs. RN- carriers had a greater total cooking loss than non-carriers.