Cortisol-binding globulin and meat quality in five European lines of pigs.
The gene (Cbg) encoding cortisol-binding globulin (CBG) has been proposed as a candidate gene to explain genetic variation in cortisol secretion and carcass composition in pigs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between CBG and pork quality in 5 European breeding lines, Piétrain, Large White (LW), and Landrace purebred lines, a Duroc synthetic line, and a Meishan (MS) x LW advanced intercross. Cortisol-binding globulin maximum binding capacity (CBG-Bmax) was twice as high (P < 0.05) in MS x LW pigs compared with the other lines. There was no (P > or = 0.364) association between CBG-Bmax and carcass quality traits in Piétrain gilts, but CBG-Bmax was associated with increased loin yields in LW (P = 0.010) and Landrace (P = 0.103) gilts, decreased ham yields (P = 0.082) in Duroc gilts, and increased fat depth (P = 0.064) and leaf fat (P = 0.001) in MS x LW gilts. There was no association between CBG-Bmax and pork quality traits in Piétrain (P > or = 0.269) and Duroc (P > or = 0.114) gilts. Conversely, CBG-Bmax was associated with lighter (higher L* values; P < 0.05) pork in Land-race gilts, as well as lower (P < or = 0.055) ultimate pH in the LM and semimembranosus, and a tendency for lower (P = 0.095) L* values of pork from LW gilts. Within MS x LW pigs, CBG-Bmax was associated with increased drip loss (P = 0.001) and decreased i.m. fat in the semimembranosus (P = 0.005). Because drip loss is an economically important pork quality trait, results of this study could be used in the selection of improved water-holding capacity of pork from synthetic lines involving the MS breed.
Geverink
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NA
Laboratoire de Neurogénétique et Stress, INRA Institut François Magendie, 33077 Bordeaux cedex, France.
Foury
A
A
Plastow
G S
GS
Gil
M
M
Gispert
M
M
Hortós
M
M
Font i Furnols
M
M
Gort
G
G
Moisan
M P
MP
Mormède
P
P
D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D001947:Breeding; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D014867:Water
D002352:Carrier Proteins; C027091:cortisol binding globulin; D014867:Water