Meat quality traits in longissimus lumborum and gluteus medius muscles from immunocastrated and surgically castrated Iberian pigs

Pig immunocastration has been proposed as an effective alternative for surgical castration. In this study, quality traits of longissimus lumborum and gluteus medius were studied in surgically castrated (SC) males, inmunocastrated (IC) males and IC female Iberian pigs reared in intensive conditions. Vaccination was applied at 18 and 26 weeks and slaughtering at 31 weeks of age. At such conditions, notable sex differences were found. Muscles of IC males were less red (a*) and vividness (C*), and had lower intramuscular fat and Fe content than those of SC males and IC females, which showed in some cases intermedium values. Loins from IC males also exhibited higher drip losses. Although oxidative stability was similar, the fatty acid composition of muscles differed significantly among sexes. Correlations were found between colors, intramuscular fat, Fe content and fatty acid composition. Immunocastration may alter some quality traits in Iberian males and, therefore, vaccination protocols should be designed according to pig genetic background and rearing system