Ultrasonic and sensory characterization of dry-cured ham fat from Iberian pigs with different genetics and feeding backgrounds

The textural and ultrasonic properties of the subcutaneous fat from five batches of dry-cured hams from animals with different genetics (Iberian, Iberian×Duroc) and type of feeding ("montanera", concentrate feeds with different oleic acid content) were studied and related to the sensory traits (oiliness and brightness) of their biceps femoris muscle. The different genetics and feeding backgrounds found in the batches brought about differences in their ultrasonic velocities (average velocity from 4 to 20°C ranged from 1608 to 1650m/s) and textural parameters (maximum force at 8°C ranged from 11 to 21N). On average, batches with lower textural parameters had lower velocities and higher sensory scores. Ultrasonic measurements were used to carry out a discriminant analysis which allowed 78.3% of the samples to be correctly classified in the batches considered. Therefore, ultrasonic and sensory techniques could be useful in the characterization and differentiation of dry-cured hams from Iberian pigs.     

Quality assessment of Iberian pigs through backfat ultrasound characterization and fatty acid composition

Five batches of Iberian pig backfat of different breeds and with differing feeding regimes were analysed as to their fatty acid composition and textural, thermal and ultrasonic properties. The feeding regime affected the backfat composition more than the breed of the animals. The higher the oleic acid content in the feeding regime, the higher the monounsaturated fatty acid content in the samples. Ultrasonic velocities ranged from 1609 to 1631m/s. A change in the slope of the velocity versus temperature curve was found at 6°C, coincident with a change in the melting rate found in the differential scanning calorimetry. Discriminant analysis using ultrasonic measurements allowed 94.7% of the samples to be correctly classified in the batches considered, while the use of the fatty acids composition correctly classified 86.2% of the samples. Therefore, ultrasonic techniques could be useful in the characterization and classification of backfat samples from Iberian pigs.     

Ultrasonic assessment of the melting behaviour in fat from Iberian dry-cured hams

The feasibility of using ultrasounds to characterize the melting properties of fat from Iberian dry-cured hams was evaluated. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and ultrasonic measurements were used to characterize the fat melting. The ultrasonic velocity in fat decreased with the increase in temperature, showing four different sections (0–4 °C, 4–10 °C, 10–20 °C and 20–24 °C). Ultrasonic velocity was related (R² = 0.99) to the percentage of melted fat (%MEF) showing an increase of 5.4 ms⁻¹ for 1% increase of melted fat (%MEF above 60%). The thermal history did not affect the ultrasonic measurements from 10 to 25 °C and, consequently, this range was the most suitable for classifying Iberian dry-cured products with different genetics and feeding backgrounds. Ultrasonic measurements could be a reliable technique to estimate the %MEF and subsequently the related sensory attributes in Iberian dry-cured ham at 10–25 °C, which is the common temperature range for the consumption of Iberian dry-cured products.     

Subcutaneous and intramuscular lipid traits as tools for classifying Iberian pigs as a function of their feeding background

The present work was aimed to study the feasibility of classifying Iberian pigs fattened with two different diets, acorns and grass (AG) and oleic acid enriched concentrate (HO), by means of comparing the fatty acid profile and the content of different compounds of the unsaponifiable lipid fraction (neophytadiene and α- and γ-tocopherol) of subcutaneous (SCF) and intramuscular (IMF) fat of Biceps femoris and Semimembranosus muscles. The proportions of palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0) and linoleic (C18:2 n-6) acids of the three studied tissues did not show a consistent behaviour as influenced by the feeding. The proportion of oleic acid (C18:1 n-9) was significantly affected by the diet in SCF and IMF of Semimembranosus muscle but not in IMF of B. femoris. Some minor fatty acids, such as arachidonic (C20:4 n-6) and linolenic (C18:3 n-3) acids, showed the best ability for the classification of the animals according to their feeding background and the obtained values showed significant differences caused by the diet in the three studied tissues. Neophytadiene and γ-tocopherol contents were statistically higher in AG than in HO pigs, while there were not differences in the α-tocopherol levels between experimental groups. Thus, it seems that procedures based on the quantification of arachidonic (C20:4 n-6) and linoleic (C18:3 n-3) acids as well as neophytadiene and γ-tocopherol levels would be useful to differentiate Iberian pigs fattened outdoors on acorns and grass from those fed MUFA enriched diets.     

Preference and juiciness of Iberian dry-cured loin as affected by intramuscular fat content, crossbreeding and rearing system

Preference ranking tests for juiciness and overall liking of dry cured loins from Iberian pigs with different genetic backgrounds (pure Iberian or crossbred Iberian×Duroc pigs), reared under different productive systems (outdoors on acorns and grass or indoors with mixed diets) and with different intramuscular fat (IMF) content, were conducted. IMF showed a positive influence on preference for juiciness and liking in subjects over 25 years of age, while younger consumers showed a similar trend for juiciness but not for preference. Loins from pure Iberian pigs showed significantly better ranking for juiciness and overall liking than those from crossbred pigs, even when the IMF content was similar. Dry cured loins from pigs reared outdoors and fed on acorns and pasture were ranked significantly better than those from animals fed indoors on concentrates, even though the mixed diets used were enriched in monounsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E in order to obtain meat with similar features to that of pigs reared outdoors, and despite very similar IMF contents. In conclusion, dry cured loins with high IMF content, from pure Iberian pigs and reared outdoors on acorns and grass attain the highest consumer preference.     

Carcass composition and meat quality of three different Iberian×Duroc genotype pigs

Carcass composition and meat quality of Longissimus dorsi (LD) and Biceps femoris (BF) muscles from three different Iberian×Duroc genotype pigs were studied: GEN1: ♂ Iberian×♀ Duroc1; GEN2: ♂ Duroc1×♀ Iberian; GEN3: ♂ Duroc2×♀ Iberian. Duroc1 (DU1) were selected for the manufacture of dry-cured meat products while Duroc2 (DU2) were pigs selected for meat production, with high percentages of meat cuts and low carcass fat. Genotype had a significant effect on the differences found while sex had not. GEN2 showed the highest weights at days 180 and 238 of weaning and the highest slaughter weights (day 316) followed by GEN3, while the lowest weights were found in GEN1. GEN3 had well conformed carcasses in comparison with GEN1 and GEN2, since GEN3 showed the highest percentages of ham and loin and the highest weight of loin as well as the lowest back and ham fat thickness. However, the use of DU2 pigs in the cross with Iberian had negative effects on meat quality, as GEN3 gave the worst meat quality in both muscles, postmortem pH, cook and drip loss, and colour and the lowest percentages of intramuscular fat (IMF). In subcutaneous fat (SCF), GEN3 had higher percentages of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) than GEN2, while GEN2 had higher saturated fatty acids (SFA) levels. In LD, IMF from GEN3 showed the highest percentage of MUFA and PUFA; while the fatty acid profile of GEN2 was more saturated. BF muscle showed similar trends, but not significantly so. On the other hand, few differences were found between reciprocal crosses (GEN1 vs. GEN2). GEN2 showed higher IMF in LD than GEN1, agreeing with their carcass weight. As a result, GEN1 had a fatty acid profile of IMF in the LD that was more unsaturated.     

Volatile compounds in Iberian dry-cured loin

The volatile profile of Iberian dry-cured loin from four different Iberian pig lines (Entrepelado, Lampi?o, Retinto and Torbiscal) and two feeding systems (OUT - fed on acorn and grass-vs.-IND - fed on high oleic acid concentrate) was studied using solid phase microextraction (SPME). 133 volatile compounds were identified and assigned to 16 chemical families. Alcohols were the major group, ethanol being the main compound. The high number of esters detected and the levels of ethanol and acetic acid found, points to an important role of microorganism activity in the formation of volatile compounds in Iberian dry-cured loin. Sulphur compounds, coming mostly from garlic, constituted an important group, with 14 compounds. Significant differences were found among loins from pigs reared in different feeding systems but not among Iberian pig lines. Dry-cured loins from OUT pigs showed higher levels of many compounds derived from lipid oxidation, such as octanoic acid (P=0.000), decanoic acid (P=0.018) or hexanal (P=0.014).     

Effect of production system on physical–chemical,antioxidant and fatty acids composition of Longissimus dorsi and Serratus ventralis muscles from Iberian pig

The effect of three production systems of Iberian pigs namely Montanera (free-range system and feeding based on acorns and grass), Recebo (free-range system and nutrition based in combination of acorns, grass and mixed feeds) and Intensive (confinement with mixed feeds) on some quality traits of Longissimus dorsi (LD) and Serratus ventralis (SV) muscles were studied. Muscles from pigs raised in the Montanera system showed significantly higher CIE L^∗, a^∗ and b^∗ values and higher haem pigment content than those from Intensive system. Similarly, muscles from pigs raised in the Montanera system had significantly higher contents of α and γ-tocopherol and phenolic compounds contents and higher lipophilic and hydrophilic activity antioxidant than those from pigs raised in the Intensive system. Fatty acids profiles from Montanera pigs had significantly higher monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids and lower saturated fatty acids (SFA) than those from pigs raised in the Intensive system. In relation to muscle effect, LD showed lower intramuscular fat (IMF), α-tocopherol, phenolic compounds, lipid oxidation and PUFA, but higher MUFA than SV.     

Extensive feeding versus oleic acid and tocopherol enriched mixed diets for the production of Iberian dry-cured hams: Effect on chemical composition, oxidative status and sensory traits

The present study aimed to analyse the chemical composition and oxidative status of Iberian dry-cured hams from pigs fed different finishing diets: extensive feeding on acorns and pasture in a "Montanera" traditional system (MON), fed in confinement with a mixed diet containing high-oleic sunflower oil (115g/kg of diet) and supplemented with 250mg/kg α-tocopherol (HOVE), and fed in confinement control mixed diet (CON) without added tocopherol and oleic acid fat. Muscles from MON dry-cured hams contained significantly (p<0.05) higher amounts of intramuscular fat (IMF) than those from HOVE and CON hams. The feeding background affected the tocopherol levels in dry-cured hams as those from MON and HOVE pigs had significantly higher levels of α-tocopherol than those from CON pigs whereas the extensive feeding provided muscles from MON pigs with significantly higher levels of γ-tocopherol than the experimental diets did to CON and HOVE pigs. The HOVE diet significantly increased the levels of oleic acid in Iberian dry-cured hams with these levels being similar to the oleic acid levels found in MON hams and significantly higher than those in CON hams. Compared to dry-cured hams from CON pigs, those from MON and HOVE pigs exhibited a higher oxidative stability as a likely result of a most favourable fatty acid composition and the presence of higher tocopherol levels. The principal component analysis (PCA) successfully discriminated between dry-cured hams from pigs fed different finishing diets.     

Sensory characteristics of Iberian dry-cured loins: Influence of crossbreeding and rearing system

The sensory characteristics of Iberian dry-cured loins and the influence of crossbreeding (pure Iberian - IB, Iberian female×Duroc male - IB×D and Duroc female×Iberian male - D×IB) and rearing system (outdoors fed on acorns and pasture - MON, indoors fed on concentrates high in oleic acid sunflower oil and supplemented with 250mg/kg of α-tocopherol acetate -HOVE- and indoors fed on control concentrates - CON) on sensory attributes were studied. Dry-cured loins from IB-MON and IB-HOVE pigs, which showed the highest intramuscular fat (IMF) content (p<0.01), reached higher scores for brightness, marbling traits (intensity, size and shape) and juiciness, and lower for hardness, dryness and fibrousness than loins from crossbred pigs (IB×D-HOVE, IB×D-CON and D×IB-HOVE). In fact, IMF content was positively linked to juiciness and marbling attributes and negatively to dryness, hardness and fibrousness, which was also observed in the principal component analysis (PCA). Neither the crossbreeding nor the rearing system seemed to influence odour, flavour and taste features. The PCA evidenced that dry-cured loins from IB-MON and IB-HOVE batches gathered together and were placed near to marbling attributes, juiciness and IMF content.     

Volatile compounds of dry hams from Iberian pigs

A study on volatile compounds from three batches of dry hams from Iberian pigs ('montanera', fed on acorns and pasture; 'recebo', fed on acorns, pasture and a commercial diet; and 'pienso', fed on a commercial diet) has been made. Over 64 compounds were identified in the headspace volatiles from all three batches, including aldehydes, alcohols, short-chain fatty acids, furan derivatives, lactones and other miscellaneous compounds. Significant differences were found between batches at several levels (P<0·0005, P<0·005, P<0·05) for many volatile compounds, mainly between 'montanera' and 'pienso' batches. Overall quantitative differences, but not qualitative ones, were observed between batches.     

Intramuscular fat and muscle fibre lipid contents in halothane-gene-free pigs fed high or low protein diets and its relation to meat quality

Immediately after exsanguination, samples were taken from M. longissimus dorsi (LD) and M. biceps fermorsi (BF) of halothane-gene-free Swedish Yorkshire pigs (entire males and gilts) fed a high-protein (18·5% crude protein, 0·96% lysine; n = 20) or a low-protein diet (13·1% crude protein, 0·64% lysine; n = 20). The lipid content, measured as triglyceride (TG), was analysed after the samples had been freeze-dried and dissected free from blood, fat and connective tissue. Fibre type composition (type I, IIA, IIB, IIC) was analysed by histochemical staining on all samples. In 14 samples of LD, representing the entire variation of the intramuscular fat content (IMF) among the 40 animals, fibre areas, lipid content and oxidative capacity within the fibre types were evaluated. IMF, meat colour and drip loss were measured in both muscles. Shear force was measured on cooked meat samples from LD. IMF was higher in both LD (2·5%) and BF (2·0%) from pigs on the low-protein diet compared with LD (1·5%) and BF (1·3%) from pigs on the high-protein diet. TG content did not differ between diets in BF but was higher in LD from pigs on low- vis-à-vis high protein diet. A significant correlation was seen in LD between IMF and TG content (r = 0·57; P < 0·001). Fibre type composition did not differ between pigs on the two diets. BF had a higher proportion of type I and IIA fibres and a lower proportion of IIB fibres, compared with LD. TG content in muscle was not correlated with fibre type composition or staining intensity for lipids and oxidative capacity. High staining intensity for lipid in LD was seen in all type I fibres and in some type IIA fibres. Meat quality parameters did not differ between groups except shear force, which was higher in pigs fed the high- vis-à-vis low-protein diet (4·7 and 4·0 kg/cm(2), respectively). Shear force was correlated significantly with TG content (r = -0·42; P < 0·01) and IMF (r = -0·43; P < 0·01) in LD. The results of this study show that lipids are stored mainly in type I fibres and in some type IIA fibres. Intracellular triglycerides account for only a small fraction of IMF. The results indicate that IMF and TG content in muscle fibres may be related to shear force.     

MRI-based analysis of feeding background effect on fresh Iberian ham

This paper describes the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) contrastive analysis of Iberian hams from pigs that have been fattened only with acorns and grass (AG) and those that have been fattened with high oleic acid concentrates (HO). Based on computer vision techniques, the implemented methods of image processing allowed for the automatic recognition of the Biceps femoris muscle as well as for computational texture feature detection in the muscle. The data collected was then checked against physical–chemical composition. The MRI sequence obtained displayed markedly visual differences in terms of the grey hue for both muscle (darker in AG-fed hams) and inter-muscular and intra-muscular fat (darker in HO hams). Most computational texture characteristics proved to be statistically different between the AG and HO image sets. Two groups (G1 and G2) of texture features were derived. G1 was closely related to linolenic acid (C18:3 n-3) and γ-tocopherol, defining Iberian ham of AG pigs, while G2 was associated with HO pigs. Thus MRI-based analyses enable visual distinction of Iberian hams according to the feeding background. This distinction is also achieved computationally via the examination of the texture features in the muscles.     

Effects of thawing temperature on the physicochemical properties of pre-rigor frozen chicken breast and leg muscles

The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of thawing temperature on the biochemical and physicochemical properties of pre-rigor frozen chicken breast and leg muscles. Breast and leg muscles from 24 broiler chickens were excised within 10min postmortem. Pre-rigor muscles were frozen at -20°C and thawed at 0 and 18°C, and pH, R-value, sarcomere length, muscle shortening, thaw and cook loss, shear force and myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI) compared with those in pre-rigor or 2°C chilled muscles. The ultimate pH of 18°C thawed muscle was lower than that of 0°C thawed and 2°C chilled muscles. As expected, the shortening of sarcomere length and muscle length of thaw rigor muscles were more than those of chilled muscle, but there were no significant differences between chilled muscle and 0°C thawed muscle. Also, there were no significant differences in R-value (Abs 250/Abs 260) and cook loss due to thawing temperature. Samples thawed at 0°C had higher MFI and lower shear value than samples thawed at 18°C. Shear force value and MFI were not significantly different between chilled muscle and 0°C thawed muscle. By thawing at 0°C, thaw shortening was prevented, and tender meat comparable to the chilled meat was obtained.     

Characterization of green hams from Iberian pigs by fast analysis of subcutaneous fat

Melting point, slip point, iodine value (fast analyses) and percentage contents of fatty acids were determined in subcutaneous fat of hams from Iberian pigs in order to study the possibilities of characterizing the type of pig feeding and the relationships between the results of fast analysis and fatty acid contents. Both types of analyses showed important differences between samples from pigs fed on acorn and samples from pigs fed on mixed feeds. When a combination of feeding materials (acorn and mixed feeds) was used, the analyses gave intermediate results, closer to those obtained with mixed feeds only. On the other hand, generally high simple and multiple correlation coefficients (greater than 0·85) were obtained between fast analyses and fatty acid contents, which allows accurate predictions using regression and canonical correlation analyses.     

Quality traits in muscle biceps femoris and back-fat from purebred Iberian and reciprocal Iberian×Duroc crossbred pigs

The present study evaluated the physico-chemical characteristics of muscle biceps femoris and back-fat from purebred Iberian (PBI) pigs and reciprocal crossbred Iberian × Duroc pigs (IB × D pigs: Iberian dams × Duroc sires; D × IB pigs: Duroc dams × Iberian sires). Muscles from PBI pigs contained significantly higher amounts of IMF, heme pigments and iron than those from crossbred pigs. In addition, muscles from PBI pigs were darker (lower L^*-values) and redder (higher a^*-values) and exhibited a more intense colour (higher chroma value) which was closer to the true red axis (lower hue value) than muscles from crossbred pigs. Back-fat from PBI pigs had significantly higher percentages of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and significantly smaller percentages of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) than those from crossbred pigs. Regarding the fatty acid profiles of the muscle lipid fractions, the genetic background particularly affected the composition of the polar lipid (PL) fraction. PL in muscles from PBI pigs contained significantly higher proportions of oleic acid and total MUFA and significantly lower amounts of arachidonic acid, certain long-chain PUFA (ω-6 and ω-3 fatty acids) and total amount of PUFA than PL in muscles from crossbred pigs. The results obtained indicate that tissues from PBI pigs would be more suitable for the production of dry-cured meats than those from cross-bred pigs. The position of the dam or the sire in reciprocal Iberian × Duroc crosses had no clear effects on meat quality.     

Influence of a severe reduction of the feeding level during the period immediately prior to free‐range fattening on performance and fat quality in Iberian pigs

BACKGROUND: Restricted feeding before fattening is a common procedure in the production of Iberian pigs, but little scientific information about its consequences on productive traits and characteristics of fat is available. This work studied the effect of a severe feeding restriction previous to the free‐range fattening on carcass and fat quality traits in Iberian pigs, considering two different feeding levels (high restriction: HR; versus maintenance level: M) before free‐range fattening. RESULTS: Animals from the M group showed longer and higher‐perimeter hams and tended (P < 0.10) to show higher slaughter and carcass weights, carcass inner length and loin and sirloin weights than HR ones. Animals from the HR group showed lower proportions of total saturated fatty acids (SFA) and higher total monounsaturated fatty acids in the backfat inner layer than those from the M group. Total polyunsaturated fatty acids in intramuscular neutral lipids were higher in HR pigs than in M ones, while stearic acid (C18:0) was lower. The average daily gain, fatty acid profile of the outer backfat layer and that of the hepatic polar and neutral lipids and the rheological features of backfat inner layer remained unaffected. CONCLUSION: A severe reduction of the feeding level previous to free‐range fattening does not produce compensatory growth, tends to diminish carcass quality and to slightly increase IMF content and improves the fatty acid profile of the inner backfat layer. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Fatty acid composition and adipogenic enzyme activity of muscle and adipose tissue,as affected by Iberian × Duroc pig genotype

The adipogenic potential of subcutaneous fat (SCF) and muscles Longissimus dorsi (LD) and Biceps femoris (BF) were evaluated in three different Iberian × Duroc pig genotypes: GEN1: ♂ Iberian × ♀ Duroc1; GEN2: ♂ Duroc1 × ♀ Iberian; GEN3: ♂ Duroc2 × ♀ Iberian. Reciprocal crosses (GEN1 vs. GEN2) showed similar traits, while the genotype of the Duroc sire line (GEN2 vs. GEN3) significantly influenced the adipogenic character. GEN3 had lower fat depths and a more unsaturated SCF than GEN2. The intramuscular fat (IMF) content of the LD was higher in GEN2 than in GEN3, while BF showed a similar trend. The fatty acid compositions of IMF and neutral lipid fraction (NL) in LD and BF were more unsaturated in GEN3 than in GEN2. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and malic enzyme (ME) activities in SCF and in both muscles analysed were higher in GEN2 than in GEN3. The higher fat depths and IMF of GEN1 and GEN2 correspond to higher G6PDH and ME activities, which indicated that the lipid synthesis and deposition in muscles and in SCF were higher in GEN1 and GEN2 than in GEN3; these differences were associated with the Duroc sire line. Therefore, the use of Duroc selected genotypes reduced the adipogenic character of Iberian × Duroc crosses, which could have important repercussions on the quality of meat and dry-cured products.     

Electrical stimulation and ultra-rapid chilling of pork

Six pigs were stimulated at 5 min post mortem and six remained unstimulated. All the pigs were split hot and one side from each pig was rapidly chilled in two stages (air at -40°C and 1 m/s for 80 min followed by 0°C and 0·5 m/s for 130 min) and the other side was conventionally chilled (air at 0°C and 1 m/s for 24 h). The weight loss from rapidly chilled sides was approximately 1% less than that from conventionally chilled controls. Cooked samples of Longissimus dorsi were tougher from unstimulated rapidly chilled sides (0·23 J) than from unstimulated conventionally chilled sides (0·18 J), whilst samples from both stimulated treatments were significantly more tender (0·15 J). These differences in toughness are thought to be due to a combination of cold shortening and lack of conditioning. The average pH in the longissimus dorsi of both rapidly and conventionally chilled stimulated sides at 50 min post mortem was 5·57 and samples from these muscles were slightly paler and more watery than the unstimulated controls.