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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #32056

Title: PARTITIONING OF CARCASS COMPONENTS OF TRANSGENIC PIGS

Author
item Solomon, Morse

Submitted to: International Congress of Meat Science and Technology Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/2/1994
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: During the past decade scientists have learned how to transfer cloned genes into animals of different species (transgenic animals). The practical application of new genetic manipulation techniques to animal agriculture offers tremendous potential for future applications. Progress in the mapping of the genome will evolve a multitude of opportunities to develop biological strategies to improve the health and products of animals. This study evaluated carcass and primal cut composition of light and heavy weight transgenic pigs expressing a bovine growth hormone gene. Although carcasses from transgenic pigs possessed less fat and more lean than controls, the magnitude of these differences were much greater at heavier weights. Differences in carcass components more than doubled with an increase in live weight. Carcass tissue from T-pigs reflects more favorable levels of fat compared to C-pigs when considering dietary health recommendations.

Technical Abstract: This study evaluated carcass and primal cut composition of fourteen transgenic (T) pigs expressing a bovine growth hormone gene and sibling control (C) pigs. All pigs were fed a common diet and were slaughtered at either 54 (L) or 93 (H) kg live weight. Significant treatment by live weight interactions were observed for several carcass traits evaluated. Carcasses from light T- pigs contained 3 percent more separable lean and 3 percent less separable fat than light C-pigs. However, these differences were of a greater magnitude at the heavier weights. Heavy T-pigs contained 80 percent less separable fat and 17 percent more separable lean than heavy C-pigs. Furthermore, heavy T-pigs contained 85 percent less total crcass fat (chemically analyzed) than heavy C-pigs compared to light T-pigs containing 34 percent less total carcass fat than light C-pigs. Heavy T- pigs contained 71 percent less carcass fat than lighter T-pigs, whereas heavy C-pigs contained 26 percent more carcass fat than lighter C-pigs. The same response was true for intramuscular fat deposition.