Quality and Shelf Life of Fresh Meat from Iberian Pigs as Affected by a New Form of Presentation of Oleic Acid and an Organic-Acid Mix in the Diet

The objective of the study was to evaluate the inclusion of a novel form of oleic acid and an organic-acid mix in the diet of Iberian pigs, and their effect on the quality and shelf-life of the pig meat. 200 castrated male Iberian pigs were randomly assigned to four groups. Diets included different fat sources: pig fat (G1), solid oleic acid (G2), oleic-high sunflower oil with solid oleic (G3); a diet of G3 supplemented with organic-acid mix (G4). Pigs were slaughtered at 182 days. Back fat and the longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscles were removed, and nutritive and sensory quality were analyzed. The shelf-life of meat packaged (70%O(2)/30CO(2)) during retail storage up to 21 days were studied. A higher percentage of oleic acid and MUFA, and lower SFA were observed in subcutaneous fat on a G2 diet. G2 resulted in the highest muscle fat content, and G4, the highest cooking losses. In sensory analysis, marbling, tenderness and chewiness were higher in the G2 samples. No differences were found in the bacterial count and sensorial analysis depending on storage time at the end of the experiment, but a lower total viable count was showed at the start of the study in the G4 samples. These results suggest a better assimilation of solid oleic acid. However, the organic-acid mix requires further studies.