Assessing the effect of season, montanera length and sampling location on Iberian pig fat by compositional data analysis and standard multivariate statistics

34 Páginas.-- 3 Figuras.-- 4 Tablas
The work studies the effect of season, montanera length, and sampling location on the Iberian pig fat, using compositional data (CoDa) analysis and standard statistics. CoDa variation array and logratios involving C18:3: (C18:3/C17:1), (C18:3/C20:0), and (C18:3/18:0) as well as the ilr balances (coordinates), based on C18:3, C17:1, and C20:0, showed the highest variances. Discriminant Analysis (DA) led to similar (conventional/coordinates) correct assignations regarding seasons (69/70%), montanera length (71/70%) and sampling location (68/67%). Re-analyzing the subcomposition of only the major fatty acids (FAs), led to slightly poorer results; therefore, the removed FAs might play a role in segregation. Results are in line with those from other authors and could indicate a partial capacity of pigs to control their FA profiles. Overall, CoDa analysis provided useful information on data variability, the effects of factors and, after conversion into coordinates, allowed applying standard statistics while being respectful with the compositional sampling space.
This work was supported by the Spanish Government (project AGL2010-15494/ALI, partially financed by European regional development funds, ERDF), and Junta de Andalucía (through financial support to group AGR-125 and AGR-283).