D. Radojkovic

Fatty acid profile of m. longissimus dorsi of Mangalitsa and Moravka pig breeds

Abstract. The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition and fatty acid content in m. longissimus dorsi (MLD) of two indigenous pig breeds (ML – Swallow-belly Mangalitsa and M – Moravka) reared in free range farm conditions and fed complete mixtures used for commercial meat pig genotypes. The body mass of ML and M pigs at slaughter was,on average, 107.14 and 107.61 kg, respectively. In MLD of M pigs, more total fat was measured compared to ML breed (6.96 % compared to 5.10 %, P 0.05). The n-6/n-3 ratio was higher than optimal (18.7 for breed ML and 13.7 for M).

Heritability, phenotypic and genetic correlations of the growth intensity and meat yield of pigs.

The five year study included two genotypes of gilts of performance tested gilts, Swedish landrace and crosses F1 generation SLxLY. Of total number (n=3600), 1709 animals were genotype SL and 1891 animals were genotype SLxLY. Measuring of back fat thickness in the loin part (FT1), between 3rd and 4th lumbar vertebrae, 7cm laterally to the back line; back fat thickness (FT2) and depth of the musculus longissimus dorsi (MLD) between the 3rd and 4th rib from the rear, 7cm laterally to the back line. Assessment of meat yield was done using the ultrasonograph apparatus Piglog 105. In regard to meat yield indicators, medium heritability values were established for FT1 h 2 =0.461, and high values for FT2 h 2 =0.639, and for meat yield h 2 =0.633. Low heritability was established for depth of MLD (h 2 =0.105), life daily gain (h 2 =0.110) and age at the end of test (h 2 =0.103). Established phenotypic correlations between fat thickness FT1 and FT2 were strong (rp=0.638); between fat thickness and meat yield very strong (rp=-0.880 to -0.895), and between fat thickness and MLD very weak and negative (rg=-0.103 to -0.216). Genetic correlations were stronger than phenotypic, so between fat thickness FT1 and FT2 the correlation was complete/full (rg=0.930), also between fat thickness and meat yield (rg=-0.979 to -0.982), whereas the correlation between fat thickness and MLD was strong and negative (rg=-0.627 to -0.653). Heritability values for fat thickness and meat yield show that these traits have high level of heritability and are transfered to the progeny, whereas the level and strength of their dependance show that by decreasing the fat thickness positive influences is exhibited on meat yield, and that by increasing of depth of MLD also the meat yield is increased.

Genetic resources in pig breeding: Moravka

Objective of the paper was to present characteristics of native/autochthonous pig breed Moravka, reared in the previous century, as well as results relating to activities such as collection, selection, identification and production performance of investigated heads in 2004. Moravka is one of three pig breeds in Serbia included in the programme of preservation of animal genetic resources.

Variation of traits of fatteners under the impact of various factors.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the sire breed, sire within sire breed, genotype of fatteners, gender of fatteners, gender within sire breed, season of birth of fatteners and mass of warm carcass side on the following traits: back fat thickness - middle of the back (DSL), back fat thickness - lower back (DSK), meat yield of carcass sides (JUSKG) and percentage/share of meat in carcass sides (JUSPRO). The research was conducted in the experimental slaughterhouse and laboratory of the Institute for Animal Husbandry, Belgrade-Zemun, and included females and castrated male animals. Sires of fatteners were pure breeds: Swedish Landrace (SL, n = 10), Large White (LW, n = 3) and Pietrain (P, n = 3), while the offspring belonged to the following genotypes: pure breed - Swedish Landrace (SL, n=252), and crosses of Large White × Swedish Landrace (LW × SL) (n=170), Pietrain × Swedish Landrace (P × SL) (n=13), [Pietrain × (Large White × Swedish Landrace)] P × (LW × SL) (n=35), [Swedish Landrace × (Large White × Swedish Landrace)] SL × (LW × SL) (n=33) and [Large White × (Large White × Swedish Landrace)] LW × (LW × SL) (n=33). The study included total 536 offspring of which 276 are male castrated and 260 female animals. In the winter 24 piglets were born, in the spring 95, in the summer 148 and autumn 269 piglets. It was established that the sire within sire breed Pietrain (S:P) does not affect the variation of the studied traits of fattening pigs (P>0.05); sire within sire breed Swedish Landrace (S:SL) does not affect the varying of the trait JUSPRO (P>0.05); season of birth within the Model 1 does not affect the traits yield and share of meat (P>0.05); the offspring gender within genotype (Gender : Genotype) does not affect the variation of fat thickness at the centre of the back (P>0.05). All other factors (sire breed, sire within the sire breed - Large White, gender and genotype of fattening pigs, gender within sire breed, the mass of warm carcass side, and also birth season of fattening pigs in the Model 2) included in the models showed statistically significant impact on the variability of traits of fattening pigs (P<0.05; P<0.01 and P<0.001). [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR 31081]

Variability of production characteristics of swine in farms in Serbia

Work on pig enhancement will continue to deal with improving reproduction characteristics, growth characteristics, feed utilization, trunk and meat quality, and management confidence. On the one hand, adequate methods of quantitative and mollecular genetics will be used, and on the other there will be efforts to increase probability that genetic potential of the animal is exhibited in practical conditions. The objective of this work was to see how and to what extent genetic potential in swine is exhibited in practical conditions. The variability of production characteristics of swine in farms in the Republic of Serbia was examined during a period of 10 years (1991-2000). Reproductive, fattening and trunk quality characteristics varied among farms, genotypes and year of investigation. The average revealed analyzed characteristics in swine are not satisfactory. There is a wide range in the variation of all characteristics among the farms. There are differences between the characteristics of the same swine genotype with regard to the tendency they exhibit per year or farm. Some of them have not shown a clear tendency to increase or reduce, but varied from year to year. The effects of selection and cross-breeding differed considerably.