EFFECT OF ILLITE ADDITION ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS AND MEAT QUALITY TRAITS OF BARROWS

摘要

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of illite addition on growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality traits of barrows. A total of 50 pigs (LYD) were randomly allocated into 5 treatments. Dietary treatments were control(basal diet), T1 (basal diet+0.5% illite), T2(basal diet+1.0% illite), T3(basal diet+1.5% illite)and T4(basal diet+2.0% illite). During entire experimental period, growth performance was measured weekly. When the mean weight of barrows in a pen reached market weight, barrows were conventionally slaughtered and then chilled overnight. At 24h postmortem, carcass measurements and carcass grading were collected. Then, the longissimus muscle from left side between the 5th and 13th rib was removed and meat qualities were evaluated. Feeding illite had no effects(p>0.05) on growth performance and carcass characteristics among treatments while feeding illite(T2 and T3) showed slightly higher incidence of carcass A grade compared to control. In the meat quality traits, all treatments had no significant differences in pH, water holding capacity, drip loss and cooking loss. In the meat color, T3 group showed higher Hunter a and b (p<0.05) values than control. In the subjective evaluation, marbling score was improved in T2 and T4 groups. In the panel test, feeding illite showed higher(p>0.05) tenderness score compared to control. These results showed that incidence of carcass A grade and some meat quality traits were improved by feeding of 1.0% and 1.5% illite in barrows.