This study sought to evaluate pig carcass grading, describing the existing approaches and definitions, and highlighting the vision for overall quality grading. In particular, the current state of pig carcass grading in the European Union (SEUROP system), its weaknesses, and the challenges to achieve more uniformity and harmonization across member states were described, and a broader understanding of pig carcass value, which includes a vision for the inclusion of meat quality aspects in the grading, was discussed. Finally, the noninvasive methods for the on-line evaluation of pig carcass and meat quality (hereafter referred to as pork quality), and the conditions for their application were discussed. As the way pigs are raised (especially in terms of animal welfare and environmental impact), and more importantly, their perception of pork quality, is becoming increasingly important to consumers, the ideal grading of pigs should comprise pork quality aspects. As a result, a forwardlooking "overall quality" approach to pork grading was proposed herein, in which grading systems would be based on the shared vision for pork quality (carcass and meat quality) among stakeholders in the pig industry and driven by consumer expectations with respect to the product. Emerging new technologies provide the technical foundation for such perspective; however, integrating all knowledge and technologies for their practical application to an "overall quality" grading approach is a major challenge. Nonetheless, such approach aligns with the recent vision of Industry 5.0, i.e. a model for the next level of industrialization that is human-centric, resilient, and sustainable.
Authors
Marjeta Čandek-Potokar, Bénédicte Lebret, Marina Gispert, Maria Font-I-Furnols
- Bibliographic Reference
- Marjeta Čandek-Potokar, Bénédicte Lebret, Marina Gispert, Maria Font-I-Furnols. Challenges and future perspectives for the European grading of pig carcasses – A quality view. Meat Science, 2024, 208, pp.109390. ⟨10.1016/j.meatsci.2023.109390⟩. ⟨hal-04299155⟩
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2023.109390
- HAL Collection
- ['Physiologie, Environnement et Génétique pour l’Animal et les Systèmes d’Elevage', 'Institut National de Recherche en Agriculture, Alimentation et Environnement', 'Physiologie animale et systèmes d’élevage', 'Réseau "Systèmes Agricoles et Eau"', 'Institut Agro']
- HAL Identifier
- 4299155
- Institution
- ['Agricultural Institute of Slovenia', 'Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement', 'Institut Agro Rennes Angers', 'Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries = Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology']
- Laboratory
- Physiologie, Environnement et Génétique pour l'Animal et les Systèmes d'Elevage [Rennes]
- Published in
- France
Table of Contents
- Challenges and future perspectives for the European grading of pig carcasses – A quality view 2
- 1 Introduction 2
- 2 Lean meat content of pig carcass as the basis for the current classification and grading 3
- 2.1 Different approaches and definitions of lean meat content 3
- 2.2 Technologies used for on-line assessment of lean meat content 5
- 2.3 Issues for European classification based on lean meat content 6
- 2.3.1 Uncertainty associated with the reference method for lean meat content determination 6
- 2.3.2 Operator effect influencing the determination of LMP 6
- 2.3.3 Issue of harmonization regarding the EU approved methods for LMP estimation 7
- 3 Future perspectives – A quality view 7
- 3.1 Pork quality in the context of grading 7
- 4 Meat grading in view of the principles of Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 8
- 4.1 Non-destructive methods for on-line evaluation of intrinsic pork quality 8
- 4.2 Requirements for on-line equipment installation 9
- 5 Conclusions 9
- Ethical statement 9
- CRediT authorship contribution statement 9
- Financial support statement 9
- Declaration of Competing Interest 9
- Data availability 9
- Acknowledgements 9
- References 9
