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Iberian pigs are renowned for their high-quality products and distinctive characteristics, including high fat accumulation, low protein deposition rate, and a long productive cycle. The study aimed to assess in vivo body composition of purebred Iberian pigs using bioimpedance analysis (BIA) and ultrasonography. Accurate estimation of body composition in live animals is crucial for adopting decisions at the farm level. The experiment involved three groups of pure male Iberian pigs differing in body weight (BW; 60, 80 and 100 kg) with the same nutritional management. Body measurements, BIA and back fat and loin thickness (measured by ultrasonography) were obtained before slaughter. After slaughter pig carcasses were chemically analysed. A strong correlation between BIA measurements, specifically resistance (R s ) values, and body chemical parameters (total protein, lipids, ash, and water contents; p < 0.001 for all) was found. Reactance values (X c ), however, did not exhibit significant correlations. Regression analyses were conducted to predict carcass composition based on BIA measurements, BW, ultrasonography and linear corporal measurements. The prediction models achieved high R 2 values for lipids, protein, total ash, water, and lean tissue (0.957, 0.968, 0.936, 0.961 and 0.976, respectively, p < 0.001 for all), indicating strong predictive power. These findings demonstrate the potential of non-invasive techniques such as BIA for estimating body chemical composition and quality of pig carcasses. However, it is important to acknowledge that the prediction models developed may not be applicable to other pig populations, as they were based on a specific sample of pigs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests that could influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Several genetic markers, previously associated with meat quality traits, have been proposed to be included in Iberian pig breeding programs. However, before being implemented, effects of these candidate SNPs on premium cuts' yield should be evaluated to avoid potential undesirable antagonistic effects. Therefore, the main goals of this study were to evaluate the effects of a set of 26 polymorphisms on premium cuts weights and to corroborate their effects on meat quality in a larger population. Phenotypic data of approximately 1550 Iberian pigs were recorded. The PRKAG3&#95;rs319678464C and PRKAG3&#95;rs1108399077G alleles were associated with an increase of shear force, water losses and color values and a reduction of average daily gain (ADG). The CAST&#95;rs196949783G > A and ADIPOQ&#95;rs3476515794T > G SNPs mainly affected IMF content, with this last SNP being the only one with significant effects on any of the carcass measures, specifically Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) weight. The ELOVL6&#95;rs3473714672A, FASN&#95;rs331694510A, MTTP&#95;rs335896411C and ACACA&#95;rs340781986C alleles were linked to a higher percentage of oleic acid and monounsaturated FA and a decrease in palmitic, palmitoleic and saturated FA. Besides, suggestive effects were observed between ELOVL6&#95;rs3473714672A > G and ham and shoulder weights, and between MTTP&#95;rs335896411T > C and LTL muscle weight. Finally, the NR6A1&#95;rs326780270T allele was associated with a significant increase in ADG and tended to reduce the ham weight. The SNPs mapped to PRKAG3 (rs319678464G > C), ACACA, FASN and CAST genes could be implemented in breeding programs to improve meat quality traits without undesirable effects on carcass composition. The SNPs mapped to PRKAG3 (rs1108399077G > A) ELOVL6, MTTP and NR6A1 should continue to be tested in a larger number of animals., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)