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Effect of Age on the Growth of Porcine Muscle¹

Iowa Agricultural and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames

Abstract

The effects of age on the muscle development of 32 pigs were examined. Significant age effects were found for muscle fiber area, intramuscular fat deposition, iodine number of intramuscular fat, muscle water content and protein content. Litter effects were significant for iodine number and fat, water and protein content.

Growth curves of the exponential form were estimated. The percent composition on the basis of the mature estimates of the longissimus dorsi muscle was calculated. From this, three periods of growth are discernible:

1. The period of rapid growth extending from birth to about 80 days.
   
2. The period of transition, 80 to 120 days.
   
3. The fattening period, 120 days to maturity.
   

¹ Journal Paper No. J-4565, of the Iowa Agricultural and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa. Project No. 1239

² Present Address: Food Science Department, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.