Chapter 22 - Muscle biology and meat quality – challenges, innovations, and sustainability

Abstract

The demand for beef as a protein source is increasing worldwide, although in most countries beef accounts for considerably less than half of total meat consumption. Beef also provides a highly desirable eating experience in developed countries and, increasingly, in developing countries. The sustainability of beef production has different meanings in the various geographical and socio-economic regions of the world. Notable differences exist across countries in the production of beef. These reflect differences in factors including natural resource availability and climate, population size, traditional culture and degree of economic development including industrial and technological developments. Many countries are addressing the issue of food security, i.e., producing enough food to feed their growing populations. Increasing the number of myofibers (muscle fibers) prenatally would lead to increase lean yield, thereby attenuating the anticipated shortage of meat worldwide. However, several decades of research have failed to increase in the number of myofibers in utero. A realistic solution to increasing the amount and efficiency of beef production is through the use of ß-adrenergic agonists (ß-AA). Feeding ß-AA to beef cattle increases muscle mass and improves average daily gain, feed efficiency, hot carcass weight, and dressing percentage. Acceptance of growth-promoting substances is problematic, especially in Europe, due to concerns with the environment and the perception of residues of ß-AA in beef. This review addresses the importance of beef production in developing and developed countries; the growth and development of muscle; determinants of beef quality; and the use of ß-AA on the growth of muscle and meat quality in beef cattle.