Register      Login
Animal Production Science Animal Production Science Society
Food, fibre and pharmaceuticals from animals
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Dietary conjugated linoleic acid improves carcass leanness without altering meat quality in the growing pig

E. Ostrowska A , R. F. Cross B , R. D. Warner A , M. Muralitharan C , D. E. Bauman D and F. R. Dunshea A E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Primary Industries, 600 Sneydes Road, Werribee, Vic. 3030, Australia.

B Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Vic. 3122, Australia.

C Deakin University, Geelong, Vic. 3217, Australia.

D Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.

E Corresponding author. Email: Frank.Dunshea@dpi.vic.gov.au

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45(6) 691-697 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA04144
Submitted: 28 July 2004  Accepted: 12 October 2004   Published: 29 June 2005

Abstract

One constraint facing the pig industry is that ad libitum feeding can often result in high levels of body fat and technologies which can reduce the ratio of lean to fat deposition in the pig are continually being explored. Conjugated linoleic acids have been shown to decrease body fat content in pigs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether dietary conjugated linoleic acids supplementation has any effect on meat quality and carcass characteristics in finisher pigs. Sixty female crossbred (Large White × Landrace) pigs (average initial weight 56.6 ± 1.9 kg and average initial P2 backfat 11.4 ± 1.3 mm) were used in the present study. Pigs were individually housed and randomly allocated to 1 of 6 dietary treatments: 0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 or 1.0% (w/w) of conjugated linoleic acids-55. The wheat-based diets were formulated to contain 14.3 MJ DE and 9.3 g available lysine per kg and were fed ad libitum for 8 weeks. Pigs were slaughtered and meat quality was determined on the longissimus thoracis using standard techniques. Dietary conjugated linoleic acids reduced subcutaneous back fat in a linear manner with effects being most pronounced in the middle back fat layer. There was also a linear (P<0.001) decrease in intramuscular fat with increasing dietary conjugated linoleic acids supplementation. However, there was no effect of conjugated linoleic acids on subjective measures of marbling of the loin. Also, loin muscle ultimate pH (P = 0.94), lightness values (P = 0.46) subjective colour scores (P = 0.79), cooking loss (P = 0.71), drip loss (P = 0.40), shear force (P = 0.61) and subjective measures of wetness/firmness (P = 0.19) were unaffected. Dietary conjugated linoleic acids did not alter oxidation, as measured by the level of TBARs at day 1 post-slaughter (P = 0.38) or after 9 days of simulated retail display (P = 0.35). These data confirm that dietary conjugated linoleic acids can improve carcass quality by decreasing back fat depths without having any detrimental effects on meat quality.

Additional keywords: meat quality, carcass quality, oxidation.


References


Bendall JR, Swatland HJ (1989) A review of the relationship of pH with physical aspects of pork quality. Meat Science 40, 85–126. open url image1

Buckley DJ, Morrissey PA, Gray JI (1995) Influence of dietary vitamin E on the oxidative stability and quality of pig metal. Journal of Animal Science 73, 3122–3130.
PubMed |
open url image1

Budd TJ, Atkinson JL, Buttery PJ, Salter AM, Wiseman J (1994) Effect of insulin and isoproterenol on lipid metabolism in porcine adipose tissue from different depots. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Pharmacology, Toxicology and Endocrinology 108, 137–143.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Camara M, Mourot J, Fevrier C (1996) Influence of two dairy fats on lipid synthesis in the pig: comparative study of liver, muscle and the two backfat layers. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism 40, 287–295.
PubMed |
open url image1

Campbell RG, Taverner MR, Curic DM (1985) The influence of feeding level on the protein requirement of pigs between 20 and 45 kg. Animal Production 40, 489–496. open url image1

Cross RF, Ostrowska E, Muralitharan M, Dunshea FR (2000) Mixed mode retention and the use of competing acid for the Ag-HPLC analysis of underivatized conjugated linoleic acids. Journal of High Resolution Chromatography 23, 317–323.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

D’Souza DN, Mullan BP (2002) The effect of genotype, sex and management strategy on the eating quality of pork. Meat Science 60, 95–101.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

D’Souza DN, Pethick DW, Dunshea FR, Pluske JR, Mullan BP (2002) Nutritional manipulation increases intramuscular fat levels in the Longissimus muscle of female finisher pigs. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 54, 745–749.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

DeVol DL, McKeith FK, Bechtel PJ, Novakofski J, Shanks RD, Carr TR (1988) Variation in composition and palatability traits and relationships between muscle characteristics and palatability in a random sample of pork carcasses. Journal of Animal Science 66, 385–395. open url image1

Dunshea FR, King RH, Campbell RG, Sainz RD, Kim YS (1993) Interrelationships between sex and ractopamine on protein and lipid deposition in rapidly growing pigs. Journal of Animal Science 71, 2919–2930.
PubMed |
open url image1

Dunshea FR, Ostrowska E, Luxford B, Smits RJ, Campbell RG, D’Souza DN, Mullan BP (2002) Dietary conjugated linoleic acid can decrease backfat in pigs housed under commercial conditions. Asian–Australian Journal Animal Science 15, 1011–1017. open url image1

Durgam VR, Fernandes G (1997) The growth inhibitory effect of conjugated linoleic acid on MCF-7 cells is related to estrogen response system. Cancer Letters 116, 121–130.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Eggert JM, Belury MA, Kempa-Steczko A, Mills SE, Schinckel AP (2001) Effects of conjugated linoleic acid on the belly firmness and fatty acid composition of genetically lean pigs. Journal of Animal Science 79, 2866–2872.
PubMed |
open url image1

Eggert JM, Belury MA, Kempa-Steczko A, Schinckel AP (1999) Effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on growth and composition of lean gilts. Journal of Animal Science 77, 53. open url image1

Faustman C, Cassens RG (1990) The biochemical basis for discoloration in fresh meat: a review. Journal of Muscle Foods 1, 217–243. open url image1

Folch J, Lees M, Sloane Stanley GH (1957) A simple method for the isolation and purification of total lipids from animal tissues. The Journal of Biological Chemistry 226, 497–509.
PubMed |
open url image1

Gatlin LA, See MT, Larick DK, Lin X, Odle J (2002) Conjugated linoleic acid in combination with supplemental dietary fat alters pork fat quality. The Journal of Nutrition 132, 3105–3112.
PubMed |
open url image1

Greene BE, Hsin I, Zipser MW (1971) Retardation of oxidative color changes in raw ground beef. Journal of Food Science 36, 940–945. open url image1

Ha YL, Storkson J, Pariza MW (1990) Inhibition of benzo(a)pyrene-induced mouse forestomach neoplasia by conjugated dienoic derivatives of linoleic acid. Cancer Research 50, 1097–1101.
PubMed |
open url image1

Honikel KO, Kim CJ, Hamm R, Roncales P (1986) Sarcomere shortening of pre-rigor muscles and its influence on drip loss. Meat Science 16, 267–282.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Hood RL, Allen CE (1977) Cellularity of porcine adipose tissue: effects of growth and adiposity. Journal of Lipid Research 18, 275–284.
PubMed |
open url image1

Ip C, Chin SF, Scimeca JA, Pariza MW (1991) Mammary cancer prevention by conjugated dienoic derivative of linoleic acid. Cancer Research 51, 6118–6124.
PubMed |
open url image1

Joo ST, Lee JI, Ha YL, Park GB (2002) Effects of dietary conjugated linoleic acid on fatty acid composition, lipid oxidation, color, and water-holding capacity of pork loin. Journal of Animal Science 80, 108–112.
PubMed |
open url image1

National Pork Producers Council (1991) ‘NPPC pork quality standards.’ (NPPC: Des Moines, IA)

O’Quinn PR, Nelssen JL, Goodband RD, Unruh JA, Woodworth JC, Smith JS, Tokach MD (2000a) Effects of modified tall oil versus a commercial source of conjugated linoleic acid and increasing levels of modified tall oil on growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing–finishing pigs. Journal of Animal Science 78, 2359–2368.
PubMed |
open url image1

O’Quinn PR, Nelssen JL, Goodband RD, Unruh JA, Woodworth JC, Smith JS, Tokach MD (2000b) Effects of modified tall oil versus a commercial source of conjugated linoleic acid and increasing levels of modified tall oil on growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing–finishing pigs. Journal of Animal Science 78, 2359–2368.
PubMed |
open url image1

Ostrowska E, Cross RF, Muralitharan M, Bauman DE, Dunshea FR (2003b) Dietary conjugated linoleic acid differentially alters fatty acid composition and increases conjugated linoleic acid content in porcine adipose tissue. The British Journal of Nutrition 90, 915–928.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Ostrowska E, Dunshea FR, Muralitharan M, Cross RF (2000) Comparison of silver-ion high-performance liquid chromatographic quantification of free and methylated conjugated linoleic acids. Lipids 35, 1147–1153.
PubMed |
open url image1

Ostrowska E, Muralitharan M, Cross RF, Bauman DE, Dunshea FR (1999) Dietary conjugated linoleic acids increase lean tissue and decrease fat deposition in growing pigs. The Journal of Nutrition 129, 2037–2042.
PubMed |
open url image1

Ostrowska E, Suster D, Muralitharan M, Cross RF, Leury BJ, Bauman DE, Dunshea FR (2003a) Conjugated linoleic acid decreases fat accretion in pigs: evaluation by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The British Journal of Nutrition 89, 219–229.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Payne RW, Lane PW, Genstat 5 Committee (1993) ‘Genstat 5 reference manual.’ (Oxford Science Publications: Oxford, UK)

Ramsay TG, Evock-Clover CM, Steele NC, Azain MJ (2001) Dietary conjugated linoleic acid alters fatty acid composition of pig skeletal muscle and fat. Journal of Animal Science 79, 2152–2161.
PubMed |
open url image1

Rule DC, Smith SB, Mersmann HJ (1989) Glycerolipid biosynthesis in porcine adipose tissue in vitro: effect of adiposity and depot site. Journal of Animal Science 67, 364–373.
PubMed |
open url image1

SCA (1987) ‘Feeding standards for Australian livestock pigs.’ (CSIRO Publications: Melbourne, Australia)

Wiegand BR, Parrish FC, Sparks JC (1999) Effects of CLA supplementation on pork quality characteristics in crossbred growing-finishing barrows. Journal of Animal Science 77 (Suppl. 1), 47. open url image1

Wiegand BR, Parrish FC, Swan JE, Larsen ST, Baas TJ (2001) Conjugated linoleic acid improves feed efficiency, decreases subcutaneous fat, and improves certain aspects of meat quality in stress-genotype pigs. Journal of Animal Science 79, 2187–2195.
PubMed |
open url image1

Wiegand BR, Sparks JC, Parrish FC, Zimmerman DR (2002) Duration of feeding conjugated linoleic acid influences growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of finishing barrows. Journal of Animal Science 80, 637–643.
PubMed |
open url image1

Witte VC, Krause GF, Bayley ME (1970) A new extraction method for determining 2-thiobarbituric acid values of pork and beef during storage. Journal of Food Science 35, 582–585. open url image1

Yurawecz MP, Hood JK, Mossoba MM, Roach JA, Ku Y (1995) Furan fatty acids determined as oxidation products of conjugated octadecadienoic acid. Lipids 30, 595–598.
PubMed |
open url image1