Iberian dry-cured ham has great value in a traditional Spanish diet, although experts have recommended its consumption should be reduced because of its high salt content and link to cardiovascular diseases. Eighteen boneless Iberian hams (RIB), eighteen boneless white commercially crossed pig hams (RWC), and eighteen traditionally salted and processed Iberian hams (TIB) were manufactured to check whether the breed (RIB vs. RWC) or the processing (RIB vs. TIB) affects their physical–chemical and sensory characteristics. Moisture, protein, total nitrogen, nonprotein nitrogen, proteolysis index, NaCl, and ash contents were higher in RWC, contrary to the fat values, which were more than double in RIB. All macrominerals, except Ca, were affected by the processing stage and breed, whereas only the micromineral Zn was higher in RWC. The breed did not affect the free amino acid content; however, the total content was slightly higher in RWC. Regarding the manufacturing process, the deboning of RIB allowed the reduction of salt by over 30%. However, the microbiological stability was not affected, resulting in a safe product. Although deboning and salt reduction significantly affect the hardness, adhesiveness, deformation, and elasticity of dry-cured hams, consumers value all sensory parameters with higher scores in RIB.

The evolution of some fetal growth indices and arterial blood flow parameters in the umbilical cord of the embryos and fetuses of primiparous pregnant goats of Murciano-Granadina breed were analyzed by ultrasonography. Weekly ultrasonographic sessions took place from 18- to 125-days post-breeding. Fetal measures were carried out by ultrasound B-mode. This mode was used to take a series of measurements in the embryo/fetus throughout pregnancy: crown-rump length (CRL, from 24-days post-mating -dpm- to 61 dpm), trunk diameter (TD, 24–34 dpm), biparietal diameter (BPD, 28–125 dpm) and eye orbit diameter (EOD, 75–125 dpm). Spectral Doppler was used to study blood flow from umbilical artery. Different blood flow parameters were obtained as follows: Arterial Pulse, Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV), End Diastolic Velocity (EDV), Mean Velocity (MV), Systolic velocity/Diastolic velocity Ratio (S/D), Pulsatility Index (PI) and Resistance Index (RI). In this study, the umbilical cord was first noticed between 32- and 35-days post-breeding. However, these umbilical arterial blood flow parameters were not conclusive (positive S/D ratios and RI < 1) until 65–80 days of pregnancy. The explanation to these results could be that vascular development related to umbilical arteries elasticity and diameter is not good enough in early pregnancy. Therefore, these vessels have already acquired their appropriate characteristics in order to allow blood flow parameters and Doppler index measures from only 2.5 months of pregnancy. This is the first time that a detailed study of fetal growth indices and umbilical artery flow rates in fetuses from Murciano-Granadina goats has been performed throughout virtually the entire duration of gestation. In conclusion, the evolution of the fetal growth indices in this breed has determined that the umbilical artery velocimetric parameters (PSV, EDV, MV) increase significantly and the AP, S/D, PI and RI indices decrease significantly throughout the analyzed pregnancy period.