Physiological Parameters and Muscle Characteristics of Purebred Pietrain and Two Specific Pietrain Crosses

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Abstract
Parameters of muscle quality, carcass leanness and muscularity and relevant physiological measurements were studied on 18 Pietrain (P), 11 H×(P×M) and 12 P×(P×M) gilts (H = Hampshire and M = Minn. No. 1). Pigs were sacrificed at 100 ± 4 kg live weight after being heat-stressed (10 min, 43 C) and ear-sampled for plasma creatine kinase (CK) determination. Serum and plasma were prepared from exsanguination blood and 23 parameters of clinical significant determined. Adrenal cortex and thyroid histology were studied. Longissimus pH 45 min postmortem was lowest in P, intermediate in P× (P× M) and highest in H× (P× M). Differences were small and not significant for 24-hr pH. Transmission value was higher in P than cross-breeds. Color and marbling were higher in H× (P× M), although structure scores were not significantly different among breed groups. P exhibited thelargest longissimus muscles; however, both cross-breeds displayed meritorious carcasses, differing from P only by 3 to 4 cm2 for longissimus area. H×(P×M) displayed longer carcasses than P with P× (P× M) intermediate. H× (P× M) and P did not significantly differ in backfat thickness; P×(P×M) exceeded P. Percentage ham plus loin was significantly greater in P than cross-breeds. No death losses caused by acute stress syndrome were noted; however, P and P×(P×M) exhibited higher means for plasma CK (Rosalki) than H× (P× M). Log CK and log CK/kg ham + loin were highest for P, intermediate for P×(P×M) and lowest for Hx(PxM). In contrast, no significant breed differences were noted in serum prepared from blood collected at exsanguination, stored frozen and analyed for CK by measurement of creatine by diacetyl/orcinol. Breed differences were not significant for serum glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase. Creatinine and total protein were highest in P. Albumin was higher in P× (P× M) than in P. Cholesterol was higher in H× (P× M) than other breeds. P3− was lower in P than in cross-breeds. Hematocrit was higher in P× (P× M) than P but not H× (P× M). No significant breed-group differences were noted for serum glucose, urea nitrogen, triglycerides, Na+, K+, , CO2−3, Ca2+ and Fe2+; for adrenalweight and cortex width; for widths of zonae glomerulosa, fasciculata and reticularis; for thyroid weight, follicle thickness, ovary weights and follicle number; and for blood corticoster-one, Cortisol and progesterone. Thyroid follicle size was lowest in P. Copyright © 1978. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1978 by American Society of Animal Science.