A feasibility study on the use of near-infrared spectroscopy for prediction of the fatty acid profile in live Iberian pigs and carcasses

This work reports on the development and optimisation of NIRS technology for fat characterization both in live pigs and in carcasses in the slaughterhouse; use of this technology would enable implementation of a real-time traceability and control system based on non-destructive sensors. A total of 52 Iberian pig fat samples were analysed using a LabSpec^®Pro A108310 spectrophotometer (Analytical Spectral Device Inc.), with a high-intensity fiber-optic contact probe. Spectra were collected in five analysis modes: from the live animal, from the carcass in the slaughterhouse, from a subcutaneous fat sample with skin, from a skin-free subcutaneous fat sample and from a transverse section. Calibrations were developed for the prediction of the four main fatty acids in Iberian pig fat, obtaining for palmitic acid SECV values of 1.24% for in vivo analysis and 0.82% for carcass analysis, for stearic acid 0.67% and 0.94%, for oleic acid 1.42% and 1.48% and for linoleic 0.36% and 0.55%, respectively. The calibrations accounted for between 60% and 74% of the variation recorded in live animals, and between 31% and 87% of variation in carcasses. These results confirm the feasibility of NIRS technology for the on-site inspection and control of Iberian pig, both in the field and in the slaughterhouse.