Effects of red clover silage and ageing time on sensory characteristics and cooking losses of loin (M-longissimus dorsi) from Hampshire crosses with and without the RN- allele

The study concerns the effects of red clover silage (silage) and ageing time on sensory characteristics and cooking loss of loin from Hampshire crosses with and without the RN- allele. Half of each litter received conventional feed and the other half conventional feed with admired red clover silage. Loins were aged at 4 degrees C (4 and 8 days), prepared at 150 degrees to 68 degrees C and sensory evaluated by descriptive analyses. RN- carriers had loins of higher meat taste intensity and a more acidulous taste than non-carriers. Meat taste intensity and tenderness increased as ageing time increased while acidulous taste decreased. Loins, aged 4 days, from conventionally fed pigs were juicier than those of silage-fed pigs. RN- carriers had a greater total cooking loss than non-carriers. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.