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Animals
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Toward more ethical, sustainable and healthy pork products
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Toward more ethical, sustainable and healthy pork products

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Pigs".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2021) | Viewed by 17439

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Carolina Pugliese

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Forestry Sciences and Technologies (DAGRI), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
Interests: animal production; meat science; meat science & technology; animal nutrition; food analysis; fat; food science; animal science; meat quality
Dr. Chiara Aqulilani

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agri-Food Production and Environmental Sciences, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
Interests: animal production; animal nutrition; meat quality; meat science; meat science & technology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The human population is expected to increase from 7.2 to 9.6 billion by 2050, with a dramatic increase in demand for livestock products in the future. Livestock can contribute greatly to food security because it supplies calories, proteins, and essential micronutrients; it can exploit areas where crops grow with difficulty; and it uses feeds that, in several cases, are not appropriate for human consumption. Nonetheless, animal products, meat and pork cured products in particular, are criticized because of their ethical and environmental implications, whereas their nutritional profile is affected by health concerns. The purpose of this Special Issue is therefore to give visibility to the effort of international research to improve these aspects. Articles relating to innovations adopted to enhance the ethical and nutritional properties of meat and cured products supplied by pig chains will be welcome.

Prof. Carolina Pugliese
Dr. Chiara Aqulilani
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • pig
  • meat quality
  • cured products
  • ethical property
  • dietetic property

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 333 KiB  
Article
Physical Activity Effects on Blood Parameters, Growth, Carcass, and Meat and Fat Composition of Portuguese Alentejano Pigs
by José Manuel Martins, David Silva, André Albuquerque, José Neves, Rui Charneca and Amadeu Freitas
Animals 2021, 11(1), 156; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11010156 - 12 Jan 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1695
Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of physical activity on blood, growth, carcass, and meat quality of finishing Alentejano (AL) pigs. Pigs, reared from ~87 to 160 kg in individual pens (no exercise area, NE group, n = 9) or in an outdoor park [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the effects of physical activity on blood, growth, carcass, and meat quality of finishing Alentejano (AL) pigs. Pigs, reared from ~87 to 160 kg in individual pens (no exercise area, NE group, n = 9) or in an outdoor park (with exercise area, WE group, n = 9), were fed commercial diets (85% ad libitum). WE pigs were in a park (~400 m2) with a feeding area separated from the drinking area with an automatic waterer, forcing pigs to walk at least 800 m daily. Blood samples were obtained during the trial (weeks 2, 11, and 18) and at slaughter. The left-side carcass was submitted to commercial cuts, and samples from loin, tenderloin, and dorsal subcutaneous fat (DSF) were analyzed. Plasma urea in WE pigs was higher in weeks 2 and 11, while cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol and LDL- to HDL-cholesterol ratios, and cortisol were lower in weeks 11 and 18. Final weight and average daily gain were higher and feed conversion ratio lower in WE pigs. DSF thickness and carcass weight were higher in WE pigs, leading to higher carcass yield. Finally, loin and tenderloin from WE pigs presented higher total protein content. These data show that allowing physical activity affects metabolism, growth, and carcass and meat quality of AL pigs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toward more ethical, sustainable and healthy pork products)
24 pages, 3208 KiB  
Article
A Comparison of Stocking Methods for Pasture-Based Growing-Finishing Pig Production Systems
by Silvana Pietrosemoli, James T. Green, Jr. and Maria Jesús Villamide
Animals 2020, 10(10), 1885; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10101885 - 15 Oct 2020
Viewed by 2424
Abstract
Two alternative stocking methods (rotational and strip-grazing) were compared to continuous stocking at a stocking rate of 47 pigs ha−1 in tall fescue pastures. The research was conducted during two twelve-weeks grazing periods in North Carolina (USA). In total 144 (females and [...] Read more.
Two alternative stocking methods (rotational and strip-grazing) were compared to continuous stocking at a stocking rate of 47 pigs ha−1 in tall fescue pastures. The research was conducted during two twelve-weeks grazing periods in North Carolina (USA). In total 144 (females and castrated males, 17.5 and 29.1 kg initial body weight) crossbred Yorkshire X Berkshire, Yorkshire/Landrace X Hampshire and Yorkshire/Landrace X Duroc pigs without nose rings were used. Greater soil bulk density and soil concentrations of NO3−, P, K, Mn, Zn and Cu were observed in paddocks managed continuously, while greater final ground cover (+22%) was recorded in paddocks managed with rotational and strip-grazing stocking methods. No differences were detected in botanical composition of the paddocks. Greater weight gains (+8.5%) were registered for rotationally managed pigs. Feed efficiency was better (+8%) for rotationally than for continuously stocked pigs, while strip-grazed pigs presented intermediate values. The results indicated the potential of both alternative stocking methods to be implemented in sustainable pasture-based pig production systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toward more ethical, sustainable and healthy pork products)
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24 pages, 2562 KiB  
Article
Effects of Growing-Finishing Pig Stocking Rates on Bermudagrass Ground Cover and Soil Properties
by Silvana Pietrosemoli, Charles Raczkowski, James T. Green, Jr. and Maria Jesús Villamide
Animals 2020, 10(9), 1666; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10091666 - 16 Sep 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2016
Abstract
This study compares four stocking rates (37, 74, 111 and 148 pigs ha−1) for growing to finishing pigs (18.4 ± 0.5 kg and 118.5 ± 2.0 kg and 35.7 ± 2.1 kg and 125.7 ± 2.3 kg initial and final BW [...] Read more.
This study compares four stocking rates (37, 74, 111 and 148 pigs ha−1) for growing to finishing pigs (18.4 ± 0.5 kg and 118.5 ± 2.0 kg and 35.7 ± 2.1 kg and 125.7 ± 2.3 kg initial and final BW for grazing periods 1 and 2, respectively) and their effect on ground cover and soil traits in bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers) pastures, over two 14-week grazing periods (July–September and May–August). The study was conducted at the Center for Environmental Farming systems at the Cherry Research Station, Goldsboro North Carolina. A continuous stocking method was implemented to manage the pasture. The percent ground cover was estimated with a modified step point technique. Soil samples were collected in three sampling positions (center, inner and outer areas of the paddocks) and two soil sampling depths (0–30 and 30–90 cm). The experimental design was a completely randomized block with three field replicates. Data were analyzed using the PROC GLIMMIX procedure of SAS/STAT ® Version 9.4. Greater ground cover and lesser soil nutrient concentrations were registered in bermudagrass paddocks managed with 37 pigs ha−1. The results of this study also validated the existence of a spatial pattern of soil properties, which differed among sampling positions and depths. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toward more ethical, sustainable and healthy pork products)
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21 pages, 4476 KiB  
Article
Sows-Gilts Stocking Rates and Their Environmental Impact in Rotationally Managed Bermudagrass Paddocks
by Silvana Pietrosemoli, James T. Green, Jr. and Maria Jesús Villamide
Animals 2020, 10(6), 1046; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10061046 - 17 Jun 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2147
Abstract
Ground cover maintenance and nutrients management are key elements to reduce the environmental impact of outdoor swine production. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of sows-gilts stocking rates on vegetative ground cover and soil nutrient concentrations in rotationally stocked [...] Read more.
Ground cover maintenance and nutrients management are key elements to reduce the environmental impact of outdoor swine production. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of sows-gilts stocking rates on vegetative ground cover and soil nutrient concentrations in rotationally stocked bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers) pastures. Three stocking rates (10, 15 and 25 sows-gilts ha−1) were compared during three 8-week grazing periods. Increasing the stocking rate from 10 to 25 sows-gilts ha−1 decreased the ground cover of the paddocks from 65 to 48%, and increased soil nutrient concentrations (ammonium 47%; nitrate 129%; phosphorus 53%; zinc 84%; and copper 29%). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toward more ethical, sustainable and healthy pork products)
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21 pages, 1784 KiB  
Article
On-Farm Welfare Assessment Protocol for Suckling Piglets: A Pilot Study
by Marika Vitali, Elena Santacroce, Federico Correa, Chiara Salvarani, Francesca Paola Maramotti, Barbara Padalino and Paolo Trevisi
Animals 2020, 10(6), 1016; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10061016 - 10 Jun 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3192
Abstract
Piglets experience welfare issues during the nursery phase. This pilot study aimed to test a protocol for identifying the main welfare issues in suckling piglets and to investigate relationships among animal-based indicators and management conditions. Litters (n = 134), composed of undocked and [...] Read more.
Piglets experience welfare issues during the nursery phase. This pilot study aimed to test a protocol for identifying the main welfare issues in suckling piglets and to investigate relationships among animal-based indicators and management conditions. Litters (n = 134), composed of undocked and tail-docked piglets, were assessed at two farms. After birth, observations were made at the age of 7 days and 20 days. At each observation, housing conditions (HCs) were measured, and 13 animal-based indicators, modified from Welfare Quality, Classyfarm, Assurewel and others introduced ex novo, were recorded. A generalized linear mixed model was used, considering animal-based indicators as dependent variables and farm, piglets’ age, tail docking and HCs as independent variables. The main welfare issues were lesions of the limb (32.6%) and the front area of the body (22.8%), a poor body condition score (BCS) (16.1%), ear lesions (15.5%), and tail lesions (9.7%). Negative social behaviour (e.g., fighting and biting) represented 7.0% of the active behaviour, with tail biting observed in 8.7% of the piglets. While lesions on the front areas of the body were mostly associated with the farm, tail lesions, low BCS, tear staining, and diarrhoea were associated with light and nest temperature (p < 0.05). In particular, tail biting increased with scarce light (p = 0.007). Tail docking did not influence any animal-based indicator except for tear staining which was higher in the tail-docked as compared to the undocked piglets (p = 0.05), increasing awareness on this practice as a source of negative emotion in piglets. The protocol tested may be a promising tool for assessing on-farm piglets’ welfare. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toward more ethical, sustainable and healthy pork products)
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Review

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14 pages, 297 KiB  
Review
Knowledge and Perspectives on the Welfare of Italian Heavy Pigs on Farms
by Marika Vitali, Eleonora Nannoni, Luca Sardi and Giovanna Martelli
Animals 2021, 11(6), 1690; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11061690 - 06 Jun 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4398
Abstract
This review aims to give an overview of the most significant available information on welfare issues of Italian heavy pigs on farms. These animals, whose meat is used to produce typical products, are characterized by much higher body weights and age at slaughter [...] Read more.
This review aims to give an overview of the most significant available information on welfare issues of Italian heavy pigs on farms. These animals, whose meat is used to produce typical products, are characterized by much higher body weights and age at slaughter (approximately 160–170 kg, and 9 months of age) than most pigs reared in Europe, resulting in peculiar behavioral and rearing-related needs. To highlight the main findings and the areas in which additional research is needed, the paper was organized by allocating the studies on the basis of the Welfare Quality four principles framework, i.e., good feeding, good housing, good health, and appropriate behavior. The results indicate the possibility of improvement with regard to the management of feeding, watering, and some environmental parameters (light, thermal comfort, enrichments) and a lack of knowledge on the actual space requirements (and a corresponding regulatory gap). Moreover, deficiencies concerning the prevalence of injuries and disease and the relationship between lesions observed post-mortem and rearing conditions needs to be addressed. Lastly, the absence of research concerning the evaluation of the emotional state of animals has been highlighted. It is hoped that these findings will, in the future, serve as a basis for the development of specific policies for these animals in order to increase the ethical value of the entire production chain, in accordance with consumers’ demand and expectation for high animal welfare standards. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toward more ethical, sustainable and healthy pork products)
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