We investigated the effect of mixed rearing of barrows and gilts on the backfat thickness and the serum metabolite profiles of Kagoshima-Kurobuta (Berkshire) pigs. A total of 149 pigs with an average body weight of 35 kg were divided into the following groups: 100%, 90%, 70%, 50%, 30%, 10%, and 0% groups consisting of 10 barrows (1 pen), 9 barrows + 1 gilt (3 pens), 7 barrows + 3 gilts (2 pens), 5 barrows + 5 gilts (3 pens), 3 barrows + 7 gilts (2 pens), 1 barrow + 9 gilts (3 pens), and 9 gilts (1 pen), respectively. All pigs were raised to a shipping weight of 120 kg. Mixed rearing significantly reduced (p < 0.001) backfat thickness, and the optimum mixing ratio of barrows and gilts was 7:3 (the 70% group). Four types of circulating sex steroids were found in both the barrows and gilts in the 50% group but were not detected in barrows from the 100% group. These results indicated that mixed rearing of barrows and gilts was effective for reducing the backfat thickness of barrows, and induced sex steroid hormones may influence the backfat thickness of barrows in mixedreared groups.
Using the consumer sensory evaluation tool, we compared the loin of Kagoshima Berkshire pigs under different feeding and shipping conditions. The attributes that affect the overall liking were examined using correlation coefficients. Three types of pork samples cooked on a grill were presented simultaneously and compared. A total of 117 naïve consumers participated in the sensory evaluations of samples with different comparison conditions. The ranking method was used for these three samples. The correlation coefficient between sensory attributes was examined for each rank. In all comparison conditions, items with a correlation coefficient of 0.7 or more with an overall liking were mostly umami. The correlation coefficient between the preference for umami and its intensity was more than 0.6. It was found that umami was the most important factor in determining the taste of pork by consumers.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.