Physicochemical changes of semimembranosus muscle during the processing of dry-cured ham from Celta pig. Effect of crossbreeding with Duroc and Landrace genotypes

Physicochemical characteristics of dry-cured hams from three genetic types, Celta breed (C line), Celta x Duroc (C x D) and Celta x Landrace (C x L) were determined on the semimembranosus muscle during 551 days of aging. Hams were obtained from 60 pigs reared in extensive systems and finished with a commercial feeding. Physicochemical parameters (pH and water activity) and chemical composition, (moisture, intramuscular fat, ash, protein and total chlorides content), colour parameters (L*, a* and b*) and lipid oxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances value) were studied during the whole process after salting, post-salting, drying and bodega stages. Hams from crosses were characterised by higher intramuscular fat (12.78% and 10.48% for C x D and C x L lines, respectively) and moisture (46.86% and 46.63% for C x D and C x L genotypes, respectively), contents respect to Celta pure line that showed values of 5.96% and 35.83% for intramuscular fat and water content, respectively. Concerning colour parameters, hams from Celta line had lower values for all colour traits. The influence of crossbreeding on most physicochemical parameters observed was mainly due to the differences in moisture and intramuscular fat between hams obtained from pure breed and crosses. As a general conclusion, the crossbreeding of Celta pig (especially with the Duroc line) allows to improve the quality of dry-cured hams.