CONTENT OF MICROMINERALS IN THE M. semimembranosus AND M.

longissimus
thoracis et lumborum FROM FIVE PUREBRED PIGS PRODUCED IN VOJVODINA
Vladimir Tomovi1, Marija Jokanovi1, arko Kevrean2, Branislav oji1, Sneana kaljac1,
Tatjana Tasi2, Predrag Ikoni2, Duan ivkovi3, Slavia Staji3, Ivana Lonarevi1
1

University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technology Novi Sad, Bulevar cara Lazara 1, 21000 Novi
Sad, Serbia
2
University of Novi Sad, Institute for Food Technology, Bulevar cara Lazara 1, 21000 Novi
Sad, Serbia
3
University of Belgrade, Faculty of Agriculture, Nemanjina 6, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Abstract

The content of zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn) was determined in
the M. semimembranosus (SM) and M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) for five
purebred pigs (Large White, n=8; Landrace, n=7; Duroc, n=6; Hampshire, n=7; Pietrain,
n=7), produced in Vojvodina. Metals were determined by flame atomic absorption
spectrometry after mineralization of samples by dry ashing. The differences in the content of
Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn in the SM (n=35) and in the LTL (n=35) muscles among the five purebred
pigs were not significant (P>0.05). The type of the muscles had no significant effect (P>0.05)
on the micromineral content, except on Mn content for Pietrain (P=0.030). The content of Zn,
Fe, Cu and Mn in all the SM and LTL muscles (n=70), in mg/100g, was in the range: 2.24
3.45 (average 2.73), 1.002.79 (average 1.42), 0.180.50 (average 0.32) and 0.0170.039
(average 0.025), respectively. The Vojvodian pork meat showed similar Zn content, slightly
higher Fe content and higher Cu and Mn content compared with the values found in other
countries.
Key words: Pigs, Microminerals, M. semimembranosus, M. longissimus thoracis et
lumborum

1. INTRODUCTION
The nutritive factors of meat quality include proteins and their composition, fats and their
composition, vitamins, minerals, utilisation, digestibility and biological value [13]. Red meat
(pork) contains high biological value protein and important micronutrients, including zinc,
iron and vitamin B12, all of which are essential for good health throughout life [48].
Minerals are the inorganic elements, other than carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen,
which remain behind in the ash when food is incinerated. They are usually divided into two
groups macrominerals (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, sulphur) and
microminerals (chromium, cobalt, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium,
zinc). The minerals are classified as either essential or non-essential, depending on whether or
not they are required for human nutrition and have metabolic roles in the body [9].
The M. semimembranosus and M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum are two economically
most important muscles in the pork carcass [10].
Five purebred pigs (Large White, Landrace, Duroc, Hampshire and Pietrain) and their
crosses are used for commercial pork production in Vojvodina. In (cross)breeding programme
Large White and Landrace are used as female lines and Duroc, Hampshire and Pietrain are
used as male lines [8,11].

The continuous innovations in the breeding systems, rearing practices, feeds composition,
changes in slaughtering methods and ageing, largely contribute to induced changes in the
concentration of some of micronutrients [5,12]. According to Hermida and co-workers [13],
the average macrominerals and microminerals concentrations in tissues depend, in part, on the
type of cuts, the age of the animals, and various other factors. However, the existing
information in the scientific literature related to the influence of the mentioned factors on the
mineral content in pork meat are very scarce [8,14,15].
In the present investigation, we determined the content of zinc, iron, copper and
manganese in two muscles (M. semimembranosus and M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum),
obtained from five purebred pigs (Large White, Landrace, Duroc, Hampshire and Pietrain)
used nowadays in Vojvodina for pork production.
2. EXPERIMENTAL
Animals, sampling and preparing. In this study five purebred pigs (castrates males and
females) were used: Large White (LW), n=8; Landrace (L), n=7; Duroc (D), n=6; Hampshire
(H), n=7; and Pietrain (P), n=7.
The pigs were fattened at the production farms in the northern part of the Republic of
Serbia (Autonomous Province of Vojvodina). The pig fattening involved the following
phases: starting period (from 15 to 25 kg), growing period (from 25 to 60 kg) and finishing
period (from 60 to 110 kg). The diets were based on locally produced corn and soybean
meals, and were formulated to meet the nutrient requirements for the different growth phases
[8,16]. The finishers were housed in pens with fully slatted floor and 0.80 m2 space allocation
per pig. Each pen contained 10 animals. The environmental temperature in the building was
22C. All pigs had ad libitum access to a diet and water.
The pigs were randomly selected at an individual live weight between 95 and 110 kg, and
were about 6 months old. One pig from each purebred was taken at every six mounts from the
same farm. The pigs were slaughtered in the two biggest Vojvodian slaughterhouses
according to routine procedure. Carcasses were conventionally chilled for 24 h in a chiller at
24C. After chilling, M. semimembranosus (SM) and M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum
(LTL) were removed from the each right half-carcases. SM and LTL muscles were taken from
the same half-carcases. The samples for chemical analysis (approximately 250 g) taken after
the homogenisation of the SM and LTL muscles, were vacuum packaged in polyethylene bags
and stored at 40C until analysis.
Analytical methods and quality control. The content of zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu)
and manganese (Mn) was determined as described in detail by Tomovi and co-workers [8].
All analyses were performed in duplicate.
A strict analytical quality control programme was employed during the study, as described
in detail by Tomovi and co-workers [8].
Statistical analysis. All data are presented as average (X), standard deviation (SD) and
range. Independent t-test and analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA) were used to test the
hypothesis about differences between two or more mean values. The software package
STATISTICA 12.0 [17] was used for analysis.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The average content, the standard deviation and range for the zinc, iron, copper and
manganese in the investigated samples of the semimembranosus and longissimus thoracis et
lumborum muscle tissues of five different purebred pig breeds (Large White, Landrace,
Duroc, Hampshire and Pietrain), are presented in Table 1.

Table 1. Zinc, iron, copper and manganese content (mg/100g) of M. semimembranosus and M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum from purebreed pigs
produced in Vojvodina
Pig breed
Element Muscle
P value1 All animals
Large White Landrace
Duroc
Hampshire
Pietrain
Zn
SM
XSd
2.680.08
2.740.18
2.700.08
2.630.21
2.830.32
0.532
2.720.19
Range
2.592.80
2.502.95
2.552.79
2.322.87
2.433.24
2.323.24
LTL
XSd
2.570.22
2.740.46
2.790.22
2.830.23
2.850.25
2.750.29
Range
2.322.94
2.243.45
2.503.01
2.523.07
2.473.17
0.493
2.243.45
P value2 0.294
0.981
0.394
0.140
0.915
0.580
Fe
SM
XSd
1.570.73
1.460.30
1.470.29
1.370.16
1.520.27
0.750
1.480.38
Range
1.002.79
1.161.99
1.131.83
1.191.60
1.171.93
1.002.79
LTL
XSd
1.550.14
1.290.27
1.280.23
1.310.19
1.370.25
0.228
1.360.22
Range
1.411.81
1.041.65
1.071.57
1.061.62
1.161.77
1.041.81
P value2 0.666
0.333
0.239
0.547
0.338
0.097
Cu
SM
XSd
0.300.09
0.350.09
0.300.10
0.280.06
0.310.07
0.632
0.310.08
Range
0.180.42
0.250.47
0.180.42
0.220.39
0.250.40
0.180.47
LTL
XSd
0.260.07
0.320.13
0.330.08
0.350.09
0.350.09
0.511
0.320.09
Range
0.190.39
0.180.50
0.230.43
0.240.46
0.220.47
0.180.50
P value2 0.532
0.629
0.617
0.158
0.371
0.532
Mn
SM
XSd
0.0290.006 0.0240.004 0.0250.004 0.0260.005 0.0280.003 0.433
0.0260.005
Range
0.0200.036
0.0210.031
0.0210.030
0.0210.036
0.0260.032
0.0200.036
LTL
XSd
0.0260.006 0.0200.003 0.0280.006 0.0240.005 0.0230.004 0.107
0.0240.005
Range
0.0190.036
0.0170.026
0.0220.039
0.0190.033
0.0190.028
0.0170.039
2
P value 0.496
0.066
0.223
0.593
0.030
0.162
1
indicates significant difference between purebred within raw
2
indicates significant difference between SM and LTL within column

The differences in the content of Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn in the SM (n=35) and in the LTL (n=35)
muscles among the five purebred pigs were not significant (P>0.05). Also, the type of the
muscles had no significant effect (P>0.05) on microminerals content, except on Mn content for
Pietrain (P=0.030).
The order of the microminerals in the SM and LTL muscles was Zn > Fe > Cu > Mn. The
content of Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn in all the SM muscles (n=35), in mg/100g, was in the range: 2.32
3.24 (average 2.72), 1.002.79 (average 1.48), 0.180.47 (average 0.31) and 0.0200.036
(average 0.026), respectively. The content of Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn in all the LTL muscles (n=35),
in mg/100g, was in the range: 2.243.45 (average 2.75), 1.041.81 (average 1.36), 0.180.50
(average 0.32) and 0.0170.039 (average 0.024), respectively.
The SM and LTL muscles, investigated in the present study, showed similar Zn content,
slightly higher Fe content and higher Cu and Mn content compared to the data presented in the
food composition tables of other countries [12,1822].
4. CONCLUSION
The results of the present investigation show that the content of zinc, iron, copper and
manganese determined in the M. semimembranosus and M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum of
Large White, Landrace, Duroc, Hampshire and Pietrain pigs was not influenced by the pig
breeds, as well as by the type of the muscles, except Mn content for Pietrain. Compared with
other countries, the iron content in the muscle tissues of the purebred pigs from Vojvodina was
slightly higher, and the content of copper and manganese was higher.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Research was financially supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological
Development, Republic of Serbia, project TR31032. These results are part of the project No 114451-1016/2014 (Improvement of meat quality from indigenous and modern pig breeds produced
in Vojvodina for the production of traditional dry fermented sausages and dry cured meat
products) which is financially supported by the Provincial Secretariat for Science and
Technological Development, Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Republic of Serbia.
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SADRAJ MIKROMINERALA U M. semimembranosus I M. longissimus thoracis et

lumborum PET ISTIH RASA SVINJA OGDAJANIH U VOJVODINI
Vladimir Tomovi1, Marija Jokanovi1, arko Kevrean2, Branislav oji1, Sneana kaljac1,
Tatjana Tasi2, Predrag Ikoni2, Duan ivkovi3, Slavia Staji3, Ivana Lonarevi1
1

Univerzitet u Novom Sadu, Tehnoloki fakultet Novi Sad, Bulevar cara Lazara 1, 21000 Novi
Sad, Srbija
2
Univerzitet u Novom Sadu, Nauni institut za prehrambene tehnologije, Bulevar cara Lazara 1,
21000 Novi Sad, Srbija
3
Univerzitet u Beogradu, Poljoprivredni fakultet, Nemanjina 6, 11080 Beograd, Srbija
Izvod
Sadraj cinka (Zn), gvoa (Fe), bakra (Cu) i mangana (Mn) je utvren u M.
semimembranosus (SM) i M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) pet istih rasa svinja
(Velika Bela, n=8; Landras, n=7; Durok, n=6; Hampir, n=7; Pietren, n=7), odgajanih u
Vojvodini. Metali su odreeni plamenom atomskom apsorpcionom spektrofometrijom nakon
mineralizacije uzoraka suvim spaljivanjem. Razlike u sadraju Zn, Fe, Cu i Mn izmeu miia
SM (n=35) kao i izmeu miia LTL (n=35) pet istih rasa svinja nisu znaajne (P>0.05). Tip
miia nema znaajan (P>0.05) uticaj na sadraj mikrominerala, osim na sadraj Mn kod svinja
rase Pietren (P=0.030). Sadraj Zn, Fe, Cu i Mn u svim SM i LTL miiima (n=70), u mg/100g,
je bio u intervalu: 2.243.45 (proseno 2.73), 1.002.79 (proseno 1.42), 0.180.50 (proseno
0.32) i 0.0170.039 (proseno 0.025), respektivno. Svinjsko meso proizvedeno u Vojvodini ima
slian sadraj Zn, neto vei sadraj Fe i vei sadraj Cu i Mn u poreenju sa sadrajima
utvrenim u drugim zemljama.
Kljune rei: Svinje, Mikrominerali, M. semimembranosus, M. longissimus thoracis et
lumborum