Project: On farm methods to improve pig meat quality

Area of Expertise:

Project objective: This project builds on earlier research undertaken by the Pig Research team at AFBI Hillsborough, and significantly links with additional expertise in AFBI within the areas of meat quality and PMWS control.

Project leaders: Dr Elizabeth Magowan & Dr Elizabeth Ball

Project details

The first objective of this work is to monitor and evaluate the performance of, and opportunities to maximise profitability on farm from the traditional breed (Landrace) and the new breeds (Pietrain and Tempo).

A second objective is to compare and evaluate the carcass, meat and eating quality of pork from pigs within the three breeds and ultimately investigate how farm management practices, especially in the latter stages of finishing affect the meat and eating quality of pork.

A third objective will be to monitor the prevalence and resistance of the three breeds of pigs to the disease PMWS.

Overall the results from this work will help producers maximise profitability from their pigs by taking into consideration the breed and performance of the pig, whilst processors will benefit from a more consistent product in terms of meat and eating quality being produced. These benefits together have the potential to help sustain the NI pig industry and strengthen its market share in the global market.

Knowledge Transfer

Magowan, E. , Ball, M. E. E. , Moss, B. W. , Fearon, A. M. (2011). Effect of breed, finish weight and sex on pork meat and eating quality and fatty acid profile. Report to BPEX (funder)

Magowan, E. , Moss, B. W. , Gordon, A. W. , Ball, M. E. E. (2010). Effect of average daily gain between weanign and slaughter (105kg) on the meat qulaity of fast growing Landrace/Large White pigs. Technical report to funders (BPEX)

Magowan, E. , Moss, B. W. (2009). Does average daily gain affect meat quality?. Article in the proceedings of the Northern Ireland Pig Event 2009

Magowan, E. , Ball, M. E. E. (2009). Comparison of terminal sire genetics available in Northern Ireland. Article in the proceedings of the Northern Ireland Pig Event 2009

Magowan, E. , Moss, B. W. , McCann, M.E.E. (2009). Influence of breed and slaughter weight on meat quality. Article in the Proceedings of the Northern Ireland Pig Event 2009

Magowan, E. , Fearon, A. M. , Ball, M. E. E. (2009). Breeding healthy pork. Article in the Northern Ireland Pig Event Proceedings 2009

Magowan, E. (2009). The Northern Ireland Pig Event. The Northern Ireland Pig Event - the event and the production of proceedings

Magowan, E. , McCann, M.E.E. (2009). The effect of sire line breed on the lifetime performance of slaughter generation pigs. Technical report to funders - Pig ReGen Ltd

Magowan, E. , Moss, B. W. (2008). Does variable growth rate between pigs result in variable meat quality. Article for Pig Bulletine

Moss, B. W. , Magowan, E. , McCann, M.E.E. (2007). Do on farm production factors affect meat quality. Pig Research- An integrated approach, AFBI Hillsborough

Report

Moss, B. W. , Magowan, E. , McCann, M.E.E. (2007). Do on farm production factors affect pigmeat quality?. Pig Research - An Integrated Approach. Proceedings of a seminar held at AFBI Hillsborough, 8th November 2007.