Effect of the halothane gene on the quality of pork

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do gene halotano sobre as características de qualidade da carne suína. Foram utilizadas 151 carcaças de suínos híbridos comerciais, sendo 93 carcaças com genótipo halotano normal (HalNN), 51 heterozigotas (HalNn) e 7 recessivas (Hal nn). As medidas efetuadas foram peso da carcaça, refletância através da fibra óptica GP4-Hennessy, temperatura muscular aos 45 minutos e pH aos 45 minutos e 24 horas após o abate no músculo Longissimus dorsi, cor e identificação do genótipo halotano em amostras de gordura através de PCR-RFLP. Houve diferença significativa entre suínos HalNn e HalNN e entre Hal nn e HalNN quanto ao pH inicial e a cor. Em relação à temperatura muscular e pH, final não houve diferença significativa entre os genótipos. A freqüência de carcaças PSE foi mais elevada nos suínos Hal nn e HalNn do que nos suínos HalNN (85,71; 58,82 e 36,56%, pelo pH inicial; 71,43; 47,06 e 17,20%, pela cor, respectivamente). A qualidade da carne de suínos Hal nn e HalNn foi inferior à de suínos HalNN, em termos de pH e cor.The aim of this research work was to evaluate the effect of the halothane gene on the quality characteristics of pork. Commercial hybrid pork carcasses (151) were used for the trial, 93 with normal halothane genotype (HalNN), 51 heterozygous genotype (HalNn) and 7 homozigous recessive genotype (Hal nn). The measured attributes were carcass weight, muscle temperature at 45 minutes and pH at 45 minutes and 24 hours after the slaughter at the Longissimus dorsi muscle and color. Identification of the halothane genotype was determined in fat samples through the PCR-RLPC technique. Significant differences were observed between HalNn and HalNN and between Hal nn and HalNN pigs in relation to the inicial pH and color of the meat. The PSE carcasses frequency was greater in the Hal nn and in the HalNn pigs than in the HalNN (85.71, 58.82, and 36,56%, based on the initial pH; 71.43, 47.06, and 17.20%, based on color, respectively). The halothane genotype did not affect muscle temperature and final pH. Related to pH and color, the quality of pork was inferior in the Hal nn and the HalNn pigs than in the HalNN