# The Impact of Modifications in the Testing Method for Determining Lean Meat Content in Carcasses on Pig Slaughter Value in Poland

## TL;DR

This study examines how changes in the EU's testing method for lean meat content in pigs affect slaughter values in Poland.

## Contribution

The study confirms that the new EU testing procedure did not alter the regression equation for estimating lean meat content in Poland.

## Key findings

- The new EU testing procedure did not change the regression equation for lean meat content estimation.
- The scaling factor (SF) of 0.89 remained consistent with previous EU regulations.
- Increased meatiness levels in pig carcasses were influenced by changes in carcass weight over time.

## Abstract

In order to harmonize carcass grading in the SEUROP system, it was necessary to make sure that all of the methods used in assessing lean meat content give possibly the same results when dissecting the same carcass. It was important that this evaluation affected the results of dissection and, thus, changed the lean meat content of domestic fattening pigs compared to the regression equations that are currently in force. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the current modification of the testing procedure on the level of lean meat content in domestic fattening pigs compared to the procedure that was in force in 2018. The research was carried out on an opto-needle device that is often used in the Polish meat industry. After the completion of this study, it was concluded that the new procedure for testing grading devices introduced by the EU in 2018 did not affect the form of the regression equation for estimating lean meat content in Poland.

In order to harmonize carcass grading, it was necessary to make sure that all methods used in the EU for assessing lean meat content give the same result when dissecting the same carcass. Research was conducted to establish the influence of the changes to the testing method introduced by the EU in 2018 on the meatiness value of pig carcasses. A question arose about whether this system would affect the results and, thus, change the lean meat content of domestic fattening pigs compared to the regression equations that are currently valid. In this study, the CGM-Sydel device was used. It was found that the form of the regression equation was not significantly affected by the new test procedure because the obtained SF (scaling factor), being equal to 0.89, was the same as the one used earlier by EU regulations. The change in the form of the regression equation was affected by the increase in the meatiness level of pig carcasses and their weight in the period from 2011 to 2023 in Poland. The implementation of the new equation for the CGM-device caused of the level of meatiness to be 0.58 pp.