Meat quality, chemical and fatty acids composition and oxidative stability of pork from entire males, surgical castrates and gilts after betaine supplementation to diet

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the effect of sex and betaine supplemented diet on chemical composition, cholesterol content, meat quality, fatty acids composition and oxidative stability of pork from entire males, surgical castrates and gilts. A total of forty-two pigs - (entire males - EM, surgical castrates - SC, and gilts - G, each of 14) progeny of Landrace sows and Hampshire x Pietrain boars were involved in the trial. Pigs were allocated to the control and experimental groups (each of 21 pigs - 7 EM, 7 SC and 7 G). Control pigs received standard diet without any supplement whereas experimental ones were fed the same diet with supplement of betaine (1.25 g.kg-1 of feed) for thirty days prior to slaughter. Castrates had significantly higher intramuscular fat and cholesterol content (P<0.05) than entire males and gilts. Also, they had greater content of vaccenic, arachidonic (P<0.05), oleic, eicosanoic, and total monounsaturated fatty acids (P<0.01). Contrary, entire males had the highest level of linolenic, linoleic, total polyunsaturated and n-6 fatty acids (P<0.05). Sex of pigs did not have any effect on meat quality and oxidative stability of pork. Betaine supplementation increased cholesterol content in castrates compared to other two sexes (P<0.05). Drip loss value was reduced in group of entire males (P<0.05) and oxidative stability of muscle was improved in all three groups (P<0.05). Fatty acids profile was not influenced by betaine treatment. Interactions between sex and betaine supplementation were observed for cholesterol concentration, drip loss value, oleic, linolenic, total polyunsaturated and n-6 fatty acids as well as oxidative stability after 30 and 120 min. of incubation.

Keywords

• betaine
• entire males
• pork quality
• fatty acids
• oxidative capacity