Genetic Correlations of Intramuscular Fat and Oleic Acid Content among Muscles and with Subcutaneous Fat in Duroc Pigs

Abstract Text: There is an increasing interest in including intramuscular fat (IMF) and oleic acid (C18:1) content in the selection objectives of pig lines for quality pork markets. Knowing the correlation structure of IMF and C18:1 across muscles and with subcutaneous fat (SF) is necessary for developing adequate recording schemes. We present here the genetic correlations of IMF and C18:1 among three muscles (GM: gluteus medius; LD: longissimus dorsi; SM: semimembranosus) and with C18:1 in SF. All genetic correlations were positive but variable, ranging from 0.13 for IMF (0.30 for C18:1), between LD and SM, to 0.68 (0.62), between GM and LD. In general, genetic correlations between C18:1 in muscle and SF were lower, ranging from 0.02, for SM, to 0.52, for LD. Results indicate that GM and LD may be mutually interchanged as selection criteria but not SM or SF.

Keywords:

fatty acid composition

genetic correlation

intramuscular fat