Towards better quality pork
The EXCELMEAT(opens in new window) (EXCELMEAT: An international research network for the genetic improvement of pigmeat quality and the development of biosensing technologies as rapid and cost-effective tools for meat quality evaluation) project is a collaboration of eight research groups geared towards increasing worldwide cooperation in the area of pig meat quality. The project will also encourage interaction between academia and industry and develop multidisciplinary collaborations on the genetics of pork quality. Since the beginning of the project, researcher exchanges and collaboration studies have examined genes related to muscle development and fat metabolism in pigs. From this information, researchers have developed new genetic meat quality markers. Project researchers have also developed cheap new sensors to evaluate meat quality. These new tools can be used in live animal monitoring or in abattoirs and meat packing plants. EXCELMEAT has completed two international workshops in Spain and Italy. The workshops included 30 research presentations and were attended by more than 80 delegates. The results will ultimately improve pig breeding and selection for quality meat. In the long term, this will allow the EU pork industry to be competitive and improve the health of the farmed animals.
