title: The effects of a step-up ractopamine feeding program on growth performance and low-sodium ham characteristics of purebred Berkshire pigs.
abstract: Objectives were to test the effect of a low-sodium curing solution on processing characteristics of hams from purebred Berkshire pigs that were fed a step-up ractopamine HCl (RAC) feeding program or a negative control diet. Sixty pairs (n=120) of hams were selected from two blocks of purebred Berkshire pigs (n=200) that were fed either a control diet or 7.4 mg of ractopamine/kg of diet for 14 d followed by 10.0 mg of ractopamine/kg of diet for the last 14 d before slaughter. Three-piece, section-formed hams were cured with a standard (1.98% NaCl; REG) curing solution or a low-sodium with KCl replacement (0.67% NaCl and 1.29% KCl; LOW) curing solution. Pigs fed RAC had 3.18% greater BW, 11.90% greater ADG, and 10.34% greater G:F compared with control pigs. No differences (P≥0.07) were detected for the effect of diet, curing solution, or the interaction between diet and curing solution for ham weights, pump uptake, or cook yield [(cooked weight/green weight) 100]. Break strength (an indication of protein interaction and bind strength; 5.97 vs. 6.99 kg) and protein fat-free values (24.58 vs. 25.98%) were less (P≤0.05) in hams cured with LOW curing solution compared with hams cured with REG curing solution. Lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) values were greater (P≤0.03), while redness (a*) values were less (P<0.01) in hams cured with LOW curing solution compared with hams cured with REG curing solution. A trained sensory panel detected less (P=0.03) flavor intensity in hams cured with LOW curing solution compared with hams cured with REG curing solution. Yet, no differences (P≥0.55) were detected between hams cured with LOW or REG curing solution for saltiness. Overall acceptability of hams cured with LOW curing solution tended to be less (P=0.09) compared with hams cured with REG curing solution; however, the magnitude of this difference was 0.34 on a 1 to 9 scale. Hams cured with LOW curing solution made hams paler and contain less intense flavor compared with hams cured with REG curing solution, but this was a justifiable way to lower sodium content by 64% units (1.44 vs. 4.04% Na) without detrimental processing or sensory effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Bohrer
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kyle
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Little
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Zerby
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Boler
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005504:Food Analysis; D005511:Food Handling; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards*; D010627:Phenethylamines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012964:Sodium / Q000737:chemistry*; D013552:Swine / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D010627:Phenethylamines; C060897:ractopamine; D012964:Sodium