Effects of genotype and rearing system on sensory characteristics and preference for pork (M-Longissimus dorsi)

The study concerns sensory quality, consumer preference, and thawing and cooking losses of loin muscle (M. Longissimus dorsi) from Hampshire crosses of different genotypes. Half of the pigs were organically reared, the others conventionally reared. A selected and trained panel carried out descriptive tests showing that loin from organically reared pigs scored lower for juiciness and higher for crumbliness than loin from conventionally reared pigs. Loin from RN- carriers compared with loin from non-carriers scored higher for tenderness, juiciness, acidulous taste and meat taste and lower for crumbliness. Loin from gilts scored higher for juiciness and lower for off-flavour than loin from castrated males. Two consumer tests were performed. Rearing system did not influence the consumer preference for pork loin, while RN- loins were preferred to loins from non-carriers. Neither rearing system nor genotype affected thawing or cooking losses. Loin from females, however, had higher thawing loss than loin from castrated males. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.