Triglyceride composition of fresh ham fat from Iberian pigs produced with different systems of animal nutrition

Abstract A method based on triglyceride composition for evaluating the nutrition received by Iberian pigs (Ib) is presented. Triglycerides were extracted with chloroform from subcutaneous fat of fresh ham and triglyceride percentages were determined by reverse-phase HPLC with a light scattering detector. The main triglycerides identified were: POO, POS, OOO, POL, OOL, POP and POS (P, palmitic; S, stearic; O, oleic; L, linoleic). Montanera is a nutrition procedure for Iberian pigs based, during the last 2 or 3 months of life, on acorn fruits in a semi- or complete extensive mode. The intensity of montanera diet, which produces the most appreciated cured hams, was evaluated. Four groups of animals with different feeding systems were studied: (I) Ib produced by montanera exclusively; (II) Ib montanera supplemented with mixed feeds (850 g/day); (III) Ib montanera supplemented with mixed feeds (250 g/day); and (IV) Ib mixed feeds only. Significant differences were obtained between Iberian pigs with different intensities of montanera for triolein (OOO) and OOL. The OOL/SOO and OOO/SOO ratio indices showed clear differences between the four groups studied. The method was easy to apply and did not need saponification and the formation of methyl esters.