Effect of Bioplex® copper and zinc on pig carcass and meat quality

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

2005

Conference Title

Tenth Biennial Conference of the Australasian Pig Science Association

Place of Publication

Christchurch

ISBN

978-0-9806880-4-7

ISSN

1324-9177

Keywords

pigs, swine, pork, meat quality

Disciplines

Meat Science

Abstract

The effect of copper (Cu) supplementation on back fat deposition in pigs is not conclusive. High dietary levels of copper sulphate decreased back fat thickness (Dove, 1992; Kawas et al., 1996), while including organic forms of Cu tended to increase back fat (Fremaut, 2003) or had no effect (Henman, 2001). In addition, the effect of Cu on meat quality has not been well studied. The aim of this experiment was to compare carcass and meat quality from pigs fed Cu and Zn in the form of three levels of Bioplex® to a standard diet supplemented with sulphates. The experiment was designed as a completely randomised arrangement of treatments, with four experimental diets. The study used 160 female pigs (Large White x Landrace) through the growing and finishing phases (25–107 kg live weight). The diets fed were: ‘low’ Bioplex (LB) aimed at providing 25 ppm of Cu and 40 ppm of Zn per kg diet, ‘medium’ Bioplex (MB) aimed at providing 80 ppm of Cu and Zn per kg diet and ‘high’ Bioplex (HB) and ‘high’ Sulphate or standard (HS) aimed at providing 160 ppm of Cu and Zn per kg diet. Copper and Zn levels refer to total levels in the diets. The mineral supplement incorporated into the diets contained Cu and Zn sulphate or Bioplex® Cu and Bioplex® Zn (Alltech Biotechnology P/L, Victoria, Australia) according to their required levels in each diet. Pigs were fed ad libitum. A random sub-sample of four pigs per pen (five pens/treatment) was chosen for carcass and meat quality analyses. Subcutaneous fat deposition was assessed on the hot carcasses at the P2 site and belly. The pork quality indices measured were drip loss, colour (L*, a*, b*) and pH, on the M. longissimus thoracis between the 12th and 13th rib, with samples removed at 24 h post slaughter and standardised to 20 mm thickness. Data were analysed by one-way analysis of variance.

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