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Effects Of Fasting And Transportation On Pork Quality Development And Extent Of Postmortem Metabolism, J.M. Leheska, D.M. Wulf, R.J. Maddock

Animal Science Faculty Publications

One hundred seventy-seven pigs were used to determine the interaction effects of fasting and length of transport prior to harvest on pork muscle quality. The study design was a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial, which involved two genetic sources, fasting (F) or no fasting (N) of pigs 48-h prior to harvest, and three transport times (0.5, 2.5, or 8.0 h) on a semitrailer to the packing plant. Genetic source was a significant source of variation (P < 0.05) for most composition and muscle quality variables. Fasting reduced hot carcass weight 3.6% (P < 0.05), but length of transport did not affect hot carcass weight (P > 0.05). There were no differences (P > 0.05) in percent lean among fasting and transport treatments. Fasted pigs had higher longissimus dorsi (LD) ultimate …