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Effects of Genotype and Sex on Carcass Traits, Myosin Heavy Chain Isoforms and Meat Characteristics of Pigs
by
,
Chanporn Chaosap
1,*,
Wuttikorn Buajoom
1,
Numfon Pothising
2,
Chananya Kongtasorn
3 and
Kazeem D. Adeyemi
4 1
Department of Agricultural Education, Faculty of Industrial Education and Technology, King Monkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand
2
Department of Animal Production Technology and Fisheries, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, King Monkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand
3
Department of Research and Development, Betagro Hybrid International Co., Ltd., Bangkok 10210, Thailand
4
Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Ilorin PMB 1515, Nigeria
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2025, 15(17), 2535; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15172535
Submission received: 20 July 2025
/
Revised: 18 August 2025
/
Accepted: 26 August 2025
/
Published: 28 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Pigs)
Simple Summary
This study examined how pig genotype and sex affect carcass traits, muscle fiber composition, and meat quality in commercial Thai pig production. Five genotypes, including purebred Duroc, traditional and newly selected maternal lines, and their crossbreds, were evaluated. Results showed that genotype had a stronger impact than sex on meat characteristics. Duroc pigs had the most intramuscular fat and tender meat, while traditional maternal-line pigs had higher protein and healthy fats. The new maternal line and its crossbreed showed better water-holding capacity and favorable muscle traits. These findings suggest that selecting the right maternal lines can help improve pork quality—such as tenderness, flavor, and nutritional value—supporting breeding strategies that align with consumer preferences in tropical regions.
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of genotype and sex on carcass traits, myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoforms, and meat quality in pigs raised under Thai commercial conditions. Fifty pigs (25 barrows and 25 gilts) from five genotypes—purebred Duroc (D), LWLR1 (Large White_old × Landrace_old), LWLR2 (Large White_new × Landrace_new), DLWLR1 (Duroc × LWLR1), and DLWLR2 (Duroc × LWLR2)—were slaughtered at ~110 kg body weight. LWLR1 is traditional maternal line, whereas LWLR2 is a newly selected line for higher intramuscular fat (IMF). Significant genotype × sex interactions were observed for dressing percentage, carcass length, bone percentage, purge loss, pH24, and L* (lightness) (p < 0.05). The Longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle of Duroc pigs showed the lowest pH45 and shear force but highest IMF, whereas LWLR1 pigs exhibited higher crude protein, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and flavor-enhancing nucleotides. The LL muscle of LWLR2 and DLWLR2 pigs showed greater expression of MyHC I and IIA, as well as calpain 1 (CAPN1), calpain 2 (CAPN2), and calpastatin (CAST) genes. In contrast, Duroc pigs had the highest MyHC IIX and lowest IIB expression, opposite to patterns in LWLR1 and DLWLR1. Principal component analysis revealed distinct genotype-based clustering, emphasizing the influence of maternal lineage on pork quality and offering valuable insights for genetic selection strategies.
Keywords:
CAPN1; intramuscular fat; purge loss; shear force; inosine monophosphate
