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The administration of sugar solutions to pigs immediately prior to slaughter 1. Effect on carcass yield and some muscle and liver characteristics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

T. H. Fernandes ,
W. C. Smith  and
D. G. Armstrong
T. H. Fernandes
Affiliation:
Faculty of Agriculture, The University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU
W. C. Smith
Affiliation:
Faculty of Agriculture, The University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU
D. G. Armstrong
Affiliation:
Faculty of Agriculture, The University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU
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Abstract

Three experiments, involving a total of 84 pigs of approximately 90 kg live weight, were undertaken to determine the effects of feeding sugar solutions immediately prior to slaughter on carcass yield, liver weights, ultimate pH of the musculature and some chemical characteristics of muscle and liver. In the first, where water-only (14 h) prior to slaughter, or access to a solution of either glucose syrup (12 h) or sucrose (12 h) followed by water-only (2 h) were the treatments, sugar feeding did not influence carcass yield. Liver weight was increased with glucose (39%) and markedly so with sucrose (77%). Livers from sugar-fed pigs had higher glycogen and lower protein concentrations. Glucose reduced muscle ultimate pH (0·2 to 0·4 units) but sucrose had little effect. In the second study various sugars were tested (pure glucose, glucose syrup, sucrose and fructose) and pigs had access to solutions of them for 4 h and water-only thereafter for 10 h prior to slaughter. All sugar treatments increased liver weight and reduced muscle ultimate pH relative to water-only before slaughter. The final experiment involved access to varying amounts of a glucose syrup solution for 4 h followed by water-only (10 h). In comparison with ‘water-only’ prior to slaughter, an intake of some 250 g hexose equivalent reduced muscle ultimate pH (0·2 to 0·3 units) and increased liver weight but a response in carcass yield required in excess of 1000 g hexose equivalent.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 29 , Issue 2 , October 1979 , pp. 213 - 221
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1979

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References

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