Profiles of colour, minerals, amino acids and fatty acids in Asha, the triple cross (Ghungroo x Hampshire x Duroc) fattener pig variety

Carcass composition and meat quality were evaluated for Asha, a triple cross pig (Ghungroo x Hampshire x Duroc, G25H25D50), which was developed and released by ICAR-National Research Centre on Pig as a fattener pig variety. A total of 14 gilts and 20 barrows from triple cross pigs were slaughtered at the age of 10 months for evaluating the different parameters. Instrumental colour measurement indicated that the coordinates were in the following range: lightness (L*), 38.91 – 53.75; redness (a*, red ± green), 6.83 – 11.96; and yellowness (b*, yellow ± blue), 11.38 – 18.49. The mineral contents in the M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum were in the following range: potassium, 268 - 334 mg/100g; zinc, 0.59 - 0.83 mg/100g; copper, 0.04 – 0.1 mg/100g; manganese, 0.01 - 0.06 mg/100g and magnesium, 4.53 - 7.74 mg/100g. Significant (P>0.05) differences were not observed in the concentration of any of the estimated amino acids between the sexes. Fatty acid profiling of M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum indicated that saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were in the range of 31.14% - 38.65% and 60.27% - 69.49%, respectively. Results further indicated a concentration of 0.91% – 1.70% omega-3 fatty acids; 15.87% - 22.13% omega-6 fatty acids and 15.66% - 24.17% essential fatty acids in the muscle tissues.