Porcine stress syndrome and postmortem muscle characteristics of two purebreds and three specific terminal crosses.

The incidence of Porcine Stress Syndrome (PSS), determined by halothane screening, and parameters of muscle quality and carcass leanness were studied in 108 pigs from a larger population of 658 pigs of Pietrain (P), Minnesota No. 1 (M), Hampshire (H) x (P x M), Yorkshire (Y) X (P X M) and P X (P X M) breeding. The larger population was also surveyed by the halothane screening procedure for incidence of PSS, and growth rate was measured. At 6 to 14 weeks of age, pigs were classified as PSS if they exhibited muscle rigidity within 5 min after the commencement of anesthetization with 3% halothane in oxygen. The incidences noted for the larger population were: H x (P x M) and Minnesota No. 1, 0%; Pietrain, 88%; Y x (P x M), 3%, and P x (P x M), 17%. Results demonstrated that the H x (P x M) group displayed excellent carcass meatiness combined with acceptable meat quality and freedom from PSS.