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Glucose Tolerance in Swine as Related to Post-Mortem Muscle Characteristics^{1, 2,}

University of Wisconsin^,4, Madison

Abstract

Glucose tolerance tests were conducted on 20 pigs (90–100 kg.). The relationship of glucose tolerance to certain muscle characteristics was examined. The effects of excitement and certain anesthetics on blood sugar levels were also discussed. Post-mortem chemical and physical data revealed a definite trend for the more tolerant animals to possess muscles higher in initial glycogen, expressible juice, rate of pH decrease and color intensity. These muscles also attained lower pH values. The various post-mortem pH patterns of the longissimus dorsi indicated that muscle samples showing rapid reduction and subsequent elevation in pH were ultimately pale in color and soft in structure. It appears that, although glucose tolerance is not an absolute indication of post-mortem changes in muscle characteristics, there is a definite trend in those animals with high tolerance to have higher initial muscle glycogen levels and an ultimately inferior muscle quality.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director of the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station.

² This investigation was supported in part by a research grant (RG-5725) from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health.

³ We hereby recognize the assistance and counsel of Tadeusz Kowalczyk of the Veterinary Science Department.

⁴ Departments of Meat and Animal Science and Biochemistry cooperating.