Effect of Age on the Growth of Porcine Muscle

Abstract

The effects of age on the muscle development of 32 pigs were examined. Significant age effects were found for muscle fiber area, intramuscular fat deposition, iodine number of intramuscular fat, muscle water content and protein content. Litter effects were significant for iodine number and fat, water and protein content. Growth curves of the exponential form were estimated. The percent composition on the basis of the mature estimates of the longissimus dorsi muscle was calculated. From this, three periods of growth are discernible: Copyright © 1963. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1963 by American Society of Animal Science