Calibration of visible and near-infrared spectral imaging technology to predict the quality evolution of retail fresh pork bellies with different fat content.

This study investigates quality changes occurred in sliced pork belly with different fat content during refrigerated storage, and the potential of spectral imaging technology in predicting quality properties. Pork bellies with different fat levels (low 'LF', medium 'MF' and high 'HF') were selected from slaughtering houses and directly transferred to the laboratory. The sliced bellies were packed in modified atmosphere packages with high oxygen levels (80 %) and the essential visual and olfactory characteristics, microbiological load, pH, lipid oxidation and colour values were assessed throughout 20 days of refrigerated storage.

Breast myopathy co-occurrence and its impact on carcass and meat quality attributes in broiler chickens.

Wooden breast (WB), spaghetti meat (SM) and white striping (WS) are significant research focuses due to their impact on meat quality. This study examines the relationship between different myopathies in chickens from a commercial slaughterhouse and compares physicochemical traits between breasts with single and multiple myopathies and control (CO-no apparent myopathy). A total of 240 breasts were evaluated for myopathy presence, severity and location, and physicochemical parameters (i.

Consumer animal welfare and healthy perception of fresh sausages' fiber fat replaced and elaborated with meat from non-castrated male pigs.

Although replacement of fat with fiber is a good strategy to avoid boar taint on high-fat content products, as sausages, the final purchase intention is related to other external factors such as welfare and healthiness. So, the aim of this study was to evaluate the consumers' perception of sausages with fat replaced by fiber, elaborated with meat from non-castrated male pigs, and to determine the influence of the consumers' habits and demographic parameters on their beliefs related to pig castration. An online survey was carried out.

Pork quality and histological properties of longissimus muscle from boars and early and late immunocastrated pigs.

Immunocastration has been introduced in pig production to reduce boar taint. However, there is not much information on how different schedule of immunocastration affects meat quality, especially muscle histological properties. In this study, carcass and meat quality characteristics, histological properties of the longissimus dorsi muscle, sensory characteristics and fatty acid composition of meat and fat from entire males (EM), late immunocastrated (LIC, first dose 8 weeks before slaughter, second dose 4 weeks before slaughter) and early immunocastrated pigs (EIC, first dose 13 weeks before slaughter, second dose 8 weeks before slaughter) were compared.

Visible and near-infrared spectral imaging combined with robust regression for predicting firmness, fatness, and compositional properties of fresh pork bellies.

Belly is a widely consumed pork product with very variable properties. Meat industry needs real-time quality assessment for maintaining superior pork quality throughout the production. This study explores the potential of using visible and near-infrared (VNIR,386-1015 nm) spectral imaging for predicting firmness, fatness and chemical compositional properties in pork belly samples, offering robust spectral calibrations.

An overview of drivers and emotions of meat consumption.

Emotions are present in almost everything we do, including meat procurement, preparation and consumption. This paper examines the main drivers of this consumption, including sensory and hedonic properties, physiological needs, historical reasons and habits, social influence, ethical motives, practical aspects and other determinants, exploring the meat-related emotions as both an outcome of consumption and as consumption drivers. Emotions are affected by multiple factors relating to the context, the information provided, and the type of product.

The role of carcass processing (hot vs. cold boning) on pork belly morphological and mechanical characteristics.

This study assessed the effect of boning processing method (hot vs. cold) on pork belly morphological and mechanical traits and the evolution of these traits during refrigerated storage postmortem (PM). A total of 14 crossbred pigs were slaughtered and their carcasses and bellies processed under two conditions: hot boning (n = 14, right sides of carcasses cut immediately after slaughter) and cold boning (n = 14, left sides of carcasses cut 24 h PM).

Tailor-made packaging strategies of fresh pork belly with different fat content: Enhancing shelf life while minimizing environmental impact.

Pork belly is a meat cut valued for its rich flavour and texture, attributed to its high fat content, which also makes it susceptible to oxidation. Therefore, meat producers and processors must carefully select packaging options to maximise shelf life while meeting consumer preferences. This study aimed to develop customised packaging strategies for sliced pork belly with varying fat content to extend shelf life while minimizing environmental impact.

Pork belly quality variation and its association with fatness level.

Belly is a very popular pork cut composed of different layers of fat and muscle tissue. This work aims to investigate the effect of belly fatness on the morphological, mechanical (firmness) and compositional characteristics of fresh pork bellies and the distribution of the fat within the belly slice. A total of 182 bellies, selected to ensure variability of fatness, sexes and genotypes, were scanned by computed tomography (CT) to determine the fat content which, together with the genotype, led to the formation of 5 classes: F1 class below 26%, F2 class from 26% to 33.

Challenges and future perspectives for the European grading of pig carcasses - A quality view.

This study sought to evaluate pig carcass grading, describing the existing approaches and definitions, and highlighting the vision for overall quality grading. In particular, the current state of pig carcass grading in the European Union (SEUROP system), its weaknesses, and the challenges to achieve more uniformity and harmonization across member states were described, and a broader understanding of pig carcass value, which includes a vision for the inclusion of meat quality aspects in the grading, was discussed. Finally, the noninvasive methods for the on-line evaluation of pig carcass and meat quality (hereafter referred to as pork quality), and the conditions for their application were discussed.

Near infrared sensors for the precise characterization of salt content in canned tuna fish.

Non-invasive technologies could help to guarantee quality standards of canned tuna fish. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of bench-top (FT-NIR) and low-cost (LC-NIR) near infrared spectrometers to determine salt content and texture in canned tuna. Salt content distribution was also investigated using hyperspectral imaging (HSI) and computed tomography.

The effect of immunocastration of male and female Duroc pigs on the morphological, mechanical and compositional characteristics of pork belly.

Pork belly is an important and heterogeneous cut, characterized by its fat content. Immunocastration is an alternative to surgical castration that can modify the composition of carcasses and cuts and it can affect at its processing. This work compares the morphological, mechanical and compositional characteristics of pork belly of (1) pure Duroc pigs from surgically castrated males (CM), entire females (EF) and immunocastrated females (IF), and (2) Duroc crossbreed pigs from immunocastrated males (IM) and entire males (EM).

Meat Consumption, Sustainability and Alternatives: An Overview of Motives and Barriers.

Meat and meat products are important sources of protein in the human diet. However, their consumption or excessive consumption has been questioned as this has been related to sustainability and health issues. Due to this, alternatives to conventional meat consumption, such as meat produced more sustainably or meat alternatives, have been considered.

Consumer perception of entire male pork coated with spiced edible films as a new product to mask boar taint.

Pork production has undergone a shift towards the rearing of entire male pigs, however, its meat might carry with the presence of boar taint and it would be considered "unfit for human consumption". To offer a new alternative to the pork sector tailored to the needs of consumers, a viable option would be the use of edible spiced gelatin films to help minimize boar taint and improve its marketability. The responses of 120 regular meat consumers to entire pork with high levels of boar taint and castrated pork free of boar taint, both coated with spiced gelatin films were evaluated.

A matter of body weight and sex type: Pig carcass chemical composition and pork quality.

This study compares minced carcass chemical composition and meat quality of castrated (CM), immunocastrated (IM) and entire male (EM), and female (FE) pigs at 70, 100 and 120 kg target body weights (TBW) (n = 80; 20 per sex). Sex affected fat, protein, and moisture content of the minced carcasses. Carcass fatty acid (FA) composition was affected by sex, with higher saturated and monounsaturated FA content in CM than in FE, IM and EM, and higher polyunsaturated FA in CM than in EM, with FE and IM in between.

Effects of nomadic grazing system and indoor concentrate feeding systems on performance, behavior, blood parameters, and meat quality of finishing lambs.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of three production systems on growth performance, behavior, blood parameters, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. A total of 30 lambs (n = 10 lambs/treatment) were randomly assigned to three production systems that included rotational grazing (NG) and two different levels of concentrate (CON), one with medium (roughage/concentrate ratio 50:50% based on DM, MC) and one with high concentrate (roughage/concentrate ratio 30:70% based on DM, HC) during the 90-day fattening period. At the start of the experiment, all lambs averaged 90 ± 4 days of age (mean ± SD) and were slaughtered at an average of 180 ± 3 days (mean ± SD).

Can sensory boar taint levels be explained by fatty acid composition and emitted volatile organic compounds in addition to androstenone and skatole content?

This study aimed at understanding which molecules were responsible for the differences existing in boar taint sensory evaluation. The latter was therefore linked to the results of skatole and androstenone chemical analyses, fatty acid composition and VOC profiles of heated backfat. This study confirmed that some discrepancy exists between chemical analysis and sensory evaluation of tainted backfats.

Understanding the future meat consumers.

Revered, desired, hated and even persecuted, meat leaves almost no one indifferent. It is a fundamental element of our culture and traditions, and gives rise to numerous controversies, trends and social movements. Currently, there are many dilemmas raised by its production and consumption, from ethical and moral to environmental, economic and health.

Characterization of Three Different Mediterranean Beef Fattening Systems: Performance, Behavior, and Carcass and Meat Quality.

The aim of this study was to characterize three different commercial dairy beef fattening systems for intensive Mediterranean fattening programs differing in gender, breed, nutrition, and days of feed in order to describe their performance, behavior, and carcass and meat quality when they were raised simultaneously under the same housing and care conditions. Treatments were three different production systems: (1) crossbred Holstein x beef breeds such as Charolais or Limousine heifers, slaughtered at 10 months of age (CBH10, = 41); (2) Holstein bulls, slaughtered at 11 months of age (HB11, = 42); and (3) crossbred Holstein x Angus bulls, slaughtered at 12 months of age (CAB12, = 37). According to our results, moving from a production system based on Holstein bulls to the crossbred Angus production system has no technical support as no large production and meat quality improvements were observed, and only marketing strategies for meat differentiation and consumer trends could favor this decision.

Productive performance and in vivo body composition across the growing and finishing period and carcass traits in pigs of four sex types.

This study compares performance, body and carcass composition among castrated (CM), immunocastrated (IM) and entire males (EM), and females (FE) at 30, 70, 100 and 120 kg of body weight (total of n = 92; 20-24/sex type). Overall, IM had similar growth and feed intake to CM and greater than EM and FE. At each slaughter stage, IM had a lower killing-out percentage than CM and FE, in line with their heavier liver and kidneys.

Spanish perspective on meat consumption and consumer attitudes.

This paper analyses meat consumption and consumer attitudes towards meat and meat analogues in Spain, as well as the barriers and motives that could modify meat consumption in the future. Probably, the trend observed in the decline in meat consumption before the pandemic, which stabilized during the pandemic, will be observed again, with health, animal welfare and environmental issues being the main concerns and reasons for the reduction of consumption. The main drivers of meat consumption are the hedonic component, its nutritional characteristics, and its perception as a healthy and indispensable in a balanced diet.

Consumers' Expectations about Meat from Surgical Castrated or Immunocastrated Male and Female Iberian Pigs.

A common practice in Iberian pigs is the castration of both males and females, and it can be carried out surgically or by immunization against gonadotropin-releasing factor (GnRF). The aim of this work was to determine consumers' overall liking and expectations towards Iberian pork from five different sex types (castrated females, entire females, GnRF-vaccinated females, castrated males and GnRF-vaccinated males), as well as to know the attitudes and beliefs of consumers towards castration and immunocastration. Loins from 83 Iberian pigs were collected and evaluated by 252 consumers in Barcelona and Madrid.

Consumer evaluation of meat quality from barrows, immunocastrates and boars in six countries.

The practice of surgical castration of piglets and its alternatives is still under debate. Production of boars may impair meat quality due to boar taint and reduced tenderness compared to meat from surgically castrated male pigs, while immunocastration reduces boar taint and may improve meat quality but seems to be less accepted by the pig chain. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the consumer's sensory appreciation of meat from barrows (BAs), immunocastrates (ICs) and boars (BOs) in six European countries, taking into account the selection of tainted carcass and consumers' appreciation of boar taint.

Crude and acid oils from olive pomace as alternative fat sources in growing-finishing pigs.

The inclusion of crude and acid oils from olive pomace can lead to more unsaturated meat products and, especially in the case of olive pomace acid oil, achieve a more economically and environmentally sustainable swine production. The objective of this trial was to study the effect of dietary supplementation with crude and acid oils from olive pomace, which are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (FAs) and have differing free FA content, on growth performance, digestibility, carcass parameters and FA profile of Longissimus muscle (LM) and backfat in growing-finishing pigs compared to the conventional crude palm oil. A total of 224 male and female pigs [(Landrace × Large White) × Duroc] were randomly distributed into 48 pens according to initial BW (58.