Pork Prose
(Continued from Pago 04)
genetics play an important role in
the incidence of PSS. Selecting
lean, heavily muscled breeding
replacements can lead to a pre
dominance of the alpha-white
muscle fiber.
If that happens. PSS and PSE
may follow. There is also evidence
that environment is a.factor
especially in the incidence of PSE.
The time of feeding relative to the
time of slaughter is important,
since feeding time willdetermine
the amount of glycogen in the
muscles.
Loading, unloading, and hand
ling of pigs just prior to slaughter
also affect PSE. Temperature and
humidity during the transit and
holding process is critical with
most PSE problems occurring dur
ing the summer.'
Detection Of PSS
In The Live Pig
Halothane Test
Halothane is a gas used to anes
thetize pigs during surgery.
Besides putting the pig to sleep, it
also has the property of making the
PSS pig show signs of muscle
rigidity within 3 to 5 minutes of
receiving the gas.
Disadvantages of the test
Mid-Atlantic
Conservation Tillage Conference
Exhibits
Lectures
Lunch
Hear Presentations
on Pertinent Topics:
• Environmental Concerns
• Nutrient Management
• Water Quality
• Weed Control
• Small Grains
Conservation Tillage:
Ag-Chem, Inc.
Agri-Business Insurance
Agency, Inc.
The J.E. Baker Company
Cargill Hybrid Seeds
Clba Plant Protection
Cummins & Bricker, Inc.
D.M.1., Inc.
John Deere Co.
include the need for special equip
ment and expertise, danger of kill
ing the stress susceptible pig, the
narrow window of time in which
the test can be used (between 7 and
11 weeks of age), and the fact that
carriers of the halothane response
gene will test negative. Blood Test
A new test is now available, often
referred to as the DNA blood test
(DNA is the molecule in the chro
mosome which carries the genetic
code that makes each animal
unique). Two years ago research
ers discovered a mutation in the
DNA of PSS pigs which leads to
the calcium abnormalities dis
cussed above. This led to the deve
lopment of the molecular genetic
test, which detects both positive
pigs and carriers.
Detecting PSE
In The Carcass
After a hog carcass has had a
chance to cool in a typical packing
plant, it is moved to a cutting room.
At that point, it’s easy to identify
the PSE condition you can see
the pale color, and the juices exud
ing from the muscle. The chal
lenge is to identify the problem 45
minutes after slaughter, or just
before the carcass enters the cool
er. This would allow the packer to
sort the carcasses, and perhaps cor
rect problems in preslaughter
December 16, 1993
Facing Change
Commercial Exhibitors
Doebler’s Hybrids
H.B. Duvall, Inc.
Farmshine
FMC-AG CHEM Group
Lancaster Farming
Maryland Farmer
Maryland Soybean
Board
Northrup King
handling.
The information would also be
useful to the producer in hid breed
ing programs. One concept that
shows promise in detecting PSE at
slaughter is pH. All muscle drops
in pH after slaughter. However,
muscle from a PSE hog drops
much faster than normal, accord
ing to research at lowa State Uni
versity and the University of
Guelph. At 45 minutes post
slaughter the pH will be lower in a
PSE hog compared to a normal one
(about 5.7 vs 6.4, respectively).
Unfortunately, we don’t yet have
all the bugs worked out to measure
pH at normal line speeds in large
packing plants.
For pigs with PSS, there is no
practical treatment, other than eli
minating the stress. Unfortunately,
minor things like mating or mov
ing a pig down an alley are enough
to trigger a PSS “attack.”
For carcasses with PSE, there
are few processes than can effec
tively utilize the watery poik.
As the industry intensifies its
selection for meat type hogs to take
advantage of new grading systems.
Ramada Inn and Convention Center
Hagerstown, Maryland
Programs of the cooperative Extension
Services in Delaware, Maryland, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West
Virginia and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture are open to citizens without
regard to race, color, sex, handicap,
religion, age or national origin. Related
agribusiness firms cooperating.
For lunch tickets and more information see
or call your county Extension Agent
by December 6.
Reducing The
Problem
Blood Test
Breeding Stock
PACMA Inc.
Pa. Assn, of Cons.
Districts
Pa. Water Environment
Assn.
Pioneer*Hi-Bred Inti.,
Inc.
Spllenberger Silos Corp.
Triple H Equipment, Inc
Uncwtw Finning, Saturday, November IS, IM3-CI
we are fortunate to have a test
which can help us avoid the PSS
problems encountered in the
19705.
Serious feedstock producers,
especially those that have exper
ienced PSS or PSE problems in
their breeding stock, are well
advised to test at least the boars in
the herd. This will provide impor
tant information in the overall
breeding program and limit the
possibility of marketing carrier
animals to commercial herds.
The commercial test is currently
available at the University of Min
nesota through the laboratory of
Dr. Charles Louis (612) 6244202.
Cost per sample is about $5O.
Take Pigs Off
The Feeder
Fasting hogs eight to 12 hours
prior to slaughter will reduce the
amount of glycogen in the muscles
and help to eliminate the rapid
drop in pH.
Keep Pigs Cool
During Hot Weather
Bedding the truck with wet sand
or shavings when temperatures
exceed 60 degrees will help, said
Temple Grandin. If the tempera
ture is more than 80 degrees, spray
hogs with a light mist prior to
loading.
Practices At
The Packing Plant
A 3 to 6 hour rest period
between unloading and stunning
reduced PSE by 20 to4o percent in
studies at the University of
Guelph. Cooling the hogs rapidly
after slaughter will help to reduce
the problems associated with a
rapid drop in muscle pH. *
Economic Penalty
I have historically not recom
mended a penalty, because the
problem is both environmental and
genetic. But we now have impor
tant new technology for accurately
identifying both positive and carri
er pigs. Theoretically that could be
the tool for eliminating the gene.
Since many individuals and breed
ing companies are choosing to
keep the gene, the PSE problems
are probably here to stay.
PSE is bad news for both the
packer and consumer, so perhaps
the time is ripe for an economic
penalty. All that is needed is an
objective means for identifying
PSE carcasses 45 minutes after
slaughter.
Producers that choose to sell
carriers of the stress gene, or
purchase breeding stock from
companies using the stress gene,
will pay the consequences. And
rightfully so.
Summary
1. Despite marked reductions.
•on Ra
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