Cortisol-binding globulin and meat quality in five European lines of pigs

• Author(s) / Creator(s)

  • Geverink, N. A.
  • Plastow, G. S.
  • Foury, A.
  • Gil, M.
  • Gispert, M.
  • Moisan, M. P.
  • Hortós, M.
  • Gort, G.
  • Font i Furnols, M.
  • Mormède, P.

• 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) × LW advanced intercross. Cortisol-binding globulin maximum binding capacity (CBG-Bmax) was twice as high (P < 0.05) in MS × LW pigs compared with the other lines. There was no (P ≥ 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 × LW gilts. There was no association between CBG-Bmax and pork quality traits in Piétrain (P ≥ 0.269) and Duroc (P ≥ 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 ≤ 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 × 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.

• Date created

  2006

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Drip loss
  • Cortisol-binding globulin
  • Pork
  • Gilt
  • Meat quality

• Type of Item

  Article (Published)

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R34X54J5J

• License

  @2006 Geverink, N. A., Foury, A., Plastow, G. S., Gil, M., Gispert, M., Hortós, M., Font i Furnols, M., Gort, G., Moisan, M. P., Mormède, P. This version of this article is open access and can be downloaded and shared. The original author(s) and source must be cited.