Cortisol-binding globulin and meat quality in five European lines of pigs1

N. A. Geverink, A. Foury, G. S. Plastow, M. Gil, M. Gispert, M. Hortós, M. Font i Furnols, G. Gort, M. P. Moisan, P. Mormède
Journal of Animal Science. 2006-01-01; 84(1): 204-211
DOI: 10.2527/2006.841204x

1. J Anim Sci. 2006 Jan;84(1):204-11. doi: 10.2527/2006.841204x.

Cortisol-binding globulin and meat quality in five European lines of pigs.

Geverink NA(1), Foury A, Plastow GS, Gil M, Gispert M, Hortós M, Font i Furnols
M, Gort G, Moisan MP, Mormède P.

Author information:
(1)Laboratoire de Neurogénétique et Stress, INRA Institut François Magendie,
33077 Bordeaux cedex, France.

The gene (Cbg) encoding cortisol-binding globulin (CBG) has been proposed as a
candidate gene to explain genetic variation in cortisol secretion and carcass
composition in pigs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association
between CBG and pork quality in 5 European breeding lines, Piétrain, Large White
(LW), and Landrace purebred lines, a Duroc synthetic line, and a Meishan (MS) x
LW advanced intercross. Cortisol-binding globulin maximum binding capacity
(CBG-Bmax) was twice as high (P < 0.05) in MS x LW pigs compared with the other lines. There was no (P > or = 0.364) association between CBG-Bmax and carcass
quality traits in Piétrain gilts, but CBG-Bmax was associated with increased
loin yields in LW (P = 0.010) and Landrace (P = 0.103) gilts, decreased ham
yields (P = 0.082) in Duroc gilts, and increased fat depth (P = 0.064) and leaf
fat (P = 0.001) in MS x LW gilts. There was no association between CBG-Bmax and
pork quality traits in Piétrain (P > or = 0.269) and Duroc (P > or = 0.114)
gilts. Conversely, CBG-Bmax was associated with lighter (higher L* values; P <
0.05) pork in Land-race gilts, as well as lower (P < or = 0.055) ultimate pH in
the LM and semimembranosus, and a tendency for lower (P = 0.095) L* values of
pork from LW gilts. Within MS x LW pigs, CBG-Bmax was associated with increased
drip loss (P = 0.001) and decreased i.m. fat in the semimembranosus (P = 0.005).
Because drip loss is an economically important pork quality trait, results of
this study could be used in the selection of improved water-holding capacity of
pork from synthetic lines involving the MS breed.