Slaughter value, meat quality and backfat fatty acid profile in Zlotnicka White and Zlotnicka Spotted fatteners

Abstract

Selected slaughter traits, meat quality and backfat fatty acid profile were assessed in purebred Zlotnicka White (ZW group, n=30) and Zlotnicka Spotted (ZS group, n=30) fatteners (females to castrated males ratio = 1/1). Basic physico-chemical properties were determined in the longissimus dorsi muscle and fatty acid profile was estimated of the backfat. At similar live weight and meat content of carcass in both breed groups, thicker backfat was recorded on the ham of the ZW and on the shoulder of the ZS pigs. The meat of both groups was characterized by good quality. Desirable meat pH, very small juice drip from the muscle tissue, high water holding capacity as well as desirable meat colour were found in both groups, although their indicators were slightly more favourable in ZW. Backfat of the ZW fatteners was found to contain by 2.59 per cent points (pp) more linoleic acid and by 0.38 pp more α-linolenic acid than ZS backfat. However, the ratio of PUFA n-6 to PUFA n-3 in the backfat was similar in both breed groups and amounted to about 10.7.