Longissimus Research Articles

Microbiome-proteome analysis of gastrointestinal microbiota and longissimus thoracis muscle proteins in cattle with high and low grades of marbling

Marbling is a key indicator of the meat quality of ruminants. Gastrointestinal microbiota may regulate the formation of marbling by influencing the nutritional metabolism of animals. This study analyzed the composition and functional differences of microbiota in the rumen and cecum, the differences in volatile fatty acids (VFAs) content in the longissimus thoracis muscle, and the differences in protein abundance in the longissimus thoracis muscle of ruminants with different marbling grades through microbiome-proteome analysis. The results showed that the diversity of gastrointestinal microbiota in high-marbling ruminants was significantly higher than that in low-marbling ruminants. The relative abundance of Firmicutes and Akkermansia in the gastrointestinal of high-marbling ruminants was higher than that in low-marbling ruminants, while the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Prevotella was lower. In addition, PICRUST2 functional prediction results of the microbiota revealed that the gastrointestinal microbiota of high-marbling ruminants was mainly involved in the biosynthesis pathways of fat and lipids. The metabolomics results showed that the content of VFAs (acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isovaleric acid, valeric acid, and hexanoic acid) in the rumen of high-marbling ruminants was significantly higher than that in low-marbling ruminants. The proteome analysis results indicated that the differential proteins in the longissimus thoracis muscle of high-marbling ruminants were mainly involved in lipid transport and metabolism compared to low-marbling ruminants. In summary, the differences in the composition and function of the gastrointestinal microbiota led to higher levels of VFAs in the gastrointestinal tract of high-marbling ruminants, which provides the basis for lipid/fat synthesis. The proteome results of the longissimus thoracis muscle support the view that high-marbling ruminants have richer lipid transport and metabolic functions in their muscle.

Transcriptomics and metabolomics insights into the seasonal dynamics of meat quality in yak on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

BackgroundMeat quality in yak is influenced by the fluctuation of nutritional composition in different grazing seasons on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. However, the molecular mechanism underlying in yak meat remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the seasonal dynamics of meat quality in yak by transcriptomics and metabolomics techniques. Twelve healthy female yaks with a similar weight were divided into two groups, including the warm season group (WS) and cold season group (CS). After slaughter, samples of longissimus lumborum were collected and subjected to transcriptomics and metabolomics to explore the effects of different seasons on meat quality.ResultsYak in the WS group had higher contents of n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), n-6 PUFA, threonine, and valine compared to the CS group, but the pH45min and b* values were lower. A total of 75 differentially expressed metabolites in the longissimus lumborum muscle were identified, with 23 metabolites upregulated and 52 metabolites downregulated in the WS group. These metabolites were mainly enriched in the pathway of glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, and carbohydrate digestion and absorption. In comparison, the WS group exhibited 262 upregulated genes in the longissimus lumborum muscle and 81 downregulated genes relatives to the CS group, which were enriched in the fat deposition of TGF-beta, ECM-receptor interaction, MAPK, and PPAR signaling pathway.ConclusionsAmong these, downregulated genes NPNT, GADL1, SESN3, and CPXM1 were associated with lipid metabolism and fat deposition in grazing yaks. It was found that DDC, DHTKD1, CCBL1, GCDH, and AOC1 involved in the tryptophan metabolism played an important role in the regulation of energy metabolism in yak.

Replace part of regenerative rice silage feed with whole cottonseed enhances growth performance and nutrient digestibility via regulating gH/IGF axis in beef cattle

This work was designed to assess the impacts of whole cottonseed (WCs) on growth performance, nutrient digestion, GH /IGF-1 axis, and meat quality in beef cattle. Twenty-four healthy male simmental cattle (18 months old and 370.5 ± 12.5 kg) were arbitrarily classified into two groups (n=12 per group): Control group (without WCs) and WCs replaced group (part of regenerative rice silage was replaced with WCs). The dry matter intake (DMI) was declined(P < 0.01), while the average daily gain (ADG) was increased(P < 0.05), therefore the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was lower (P < 0.05) in WCs replaced group. Beef cattle consuming WCs had a higher digestibility of total gastrointestinal nutrients (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). The growth hormone receptor (GHR), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) mRNA amounts were all enhanced (P < 0.05) in liver, longissimus dorsi muscle, and semitendinosus muscle of beef cattle after feeding WCs relative to control group. The mRNA amounts of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta-1 (S6K1) and the protein phosphorylation levels of Akt、mTOR, and S6K1 were all markedly enhanced (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) in liver, longissimus dorsi muscle, and semitendinosus muscle for WCs replacement. The shear force and cooking loss values having somewhat raised(P < 0.05) for WCs replacement. Altogether, WCs improves the growth performance and nutrient digestibility via regulating GH/IGF axis in beef cattle, and has negative effects on meat quality.

DNA Imprinting and Differentially Expressed Genes in Longissimus thoracis Muscle of Bos indicus Submitted to Early Weaning Management

Background/Objectives: Early weaning management followed by energy supplementation can lead to metabolic alterations in the calf that exert long-term effects on the animal’s health and performance. It is believed that the main molecular basis underlying these metabolic adaptations are epigenetic mechanisms that regulate, activate, or silence genes at different stages of development and/or in response to different environmental stimuli. However, little is known about postnatal metabolic programming in Bos indicus. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the DNA methylation profile of Nellore animals submitted to conventional and early weaning and to correlate the findings with genes differentially expressed in the Longissimus thoracis skeletal muscle of Bos indicus cattle. Methods: For this, we used Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing (RRBS) and RNA-Sequencing techniques to prospect differentially methylated genes (DMGs). Results: A total of 481 differentially methylated regions were identified, with 52% (250) being hypermethylated and 48% (231) hypomethylated. Functional enrichment analysis of 53 differentially methylated and differentially expressed genes was performed. The main enriched terms and pathways were associated with 3′-5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling, which presents the upregulated adenylate cyclase 3 (ADCY3) gene and significatively hypomethylated in the promoter region. Alterations in cAMP signaling are involved in numerous processes, many of them related to lipid metabolism. The relative differential expression of key genes of this pathway demonstrates the relationship between cAMP signaling and de novo lipogenesis. Conclusions: These findings suggest an important role of postnatal metabolic programming through DNA methylation mechanisms in determining fat deposition in beef.

Effects Of Increasing Supplemental Zinc To Non-Implanted And Implanted Finishing Steers.

The effects of supplemental Zn within steroidal implant strategy on performance, carcass characteristics, trace mineral status, and muscle gene expression were tested in a 59-d study using 128 Angus-crossbred steers (492 ± 29kg) in a 2 × 4 complete randomized design. Implant strategies included no implant (NoIMP) or Component TE-200 (TE200; Elanco, Greenfield, IN) administered on d 0. Zinc was supplemented at 0, 30, 100, or 150mg Zn/kg dry matter (Zn0, Zn30, Zn100, Zn150, respectively) from ZnSO4. Steers were stratified by body weight (BW) to pens (n = 5 or 6 steers/pen) equipped with GrowSafe bunks (GrowSafe Systems Ltd., Airdrie, AB, Canada) and assigned treatments (n = 15, 16, or 17 steers/treatment). Cattle were weighed on d -1, 0, 18, and 59 with blood collected on d -1, 18, 40, and 59. Muscle samples were collected from the longissimus thoracis on d 11 and liver samples collected on d 55 or 56. Data were analyzed using the Mixed Procedure of SAS via contrast statements testing the linear and quadratic response to Zn supplementation within implant treatment and NoIMP vs. TE200 for performance, carcass, blood, and liver parameters. Specific contrast statements were formed for the analysis of gene expression in muscle including: Zn0 vs. Zn150 within NoIMP and TE200, NoIMP vs. TE200 (Zn0 and Zn150 only), and the linear effect of supplementing Zn0, Zn100, and Zn150 within TE200. Steer was the experimental unit. Day 18 BW and d 0-18 average daily gain (ADG) were linearly increased due to Zn supplementation within TE200 (P ≤ 0.002) in conjunction with a linear increase from Zn in d 11 muscle epidermal growth factor receptor, matrix metalloproteinase 2, and phosphodiesterase 4B gene expression of TE200 steers (P ≤ 0.05). Plasma Zn on d 18 and 40 linearly increased with increasing Zn supplementation regardless of implant treatment (P ≤ 0.03) and was lesser for TE200 than NoIMP steers on d 18 (P = 0.001). Day 59 BW and hot carcass weight (HCW) were greater for TE200 vs. NoIMP (P ≤ 0.002) and HCW of implanted steers tended to linearly increase with increasing Zn supplementation (P = 0.09). No effects of Zn supplementation were observed in NoIMP for HCW, BW, or ADG (P ≥ 0.17). Yield grade and 12th rib fat tended to quadratically decrease within NoIMP (P ≤ 0.09), with Zn100 being most lean. These data indicate increasing supplemental Zn influences steroidal implant signaling machinery while increasing the Zn status and implant-induced growth of feedlot cattle.

Meta-analysis of dietary supplementation with flavonoids in small ruminants: Growth performance, antioxidant status, nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation, and meat quality

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with flavonoids on growth performance, antioxidant status, nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation, and meat quality of small ruminants through a meta-analytic approach. The data used in the meta-analysis were extracted from 29 scientific articles identified through systematic searches following the PRISMA methodology. Der-Simonian and Laird, random effects models, were used to assess effect sizes using weighted mean differences. Dietary supplementation with flavonoids increased (P < 0.05) dry matter intake, average daily gain, hot carcass weight, hot carcass yield, Longissimus dorsi muscle area, and backfat thickness. In contrast, the feed conversion ratio decreased (P < 0.05) in response to dietary flavonoid supplementation. Dietary supplementation with flavonoids increased (P < 0.001) the serum concentration of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and total antioxidant capacity but decreased (P < 0.001) the serum concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA). The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber increased (P < 0.05) in response to dietary flavonoid supplementation. Dietary supplementation with flavonoids decreased (P < 0.001) the ruminal concentration of ammonia nitrogen and increased (P < 0.001) the ruminal concentration of total volatile fatty acids and acetate. Dietary supplementation with flavonoids decreased (P < 0.001) cooking loss, shear force, and MDA in meat. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with flavonoids can be used as a nutritional strategy to improve growth performance, antioxidant status in blood serum, nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation, and meat quality in small ruminants.

Age at first gestation in bovine influences female progeny post-weaning growth and reproductive development

This study investigated the impact of the age at which heifers conceive for the first time on the growth and reproductive development of their female offspring. A total of seven heifers pregnant at 15 months of age (15M), nine heifers pregnant at 27 months of age (27M) and seven multiparous pregnant cows (Adult) were used in the present trial. All dams were pregnant by AI from a single sire and managed in a single group during gestation, lactation and rearing stages. After weaning heifer calves were stocked on natural pastures. Progeny of heifers that gestated for the first time at different ages did not present differences in growth; however, progeny of 15 and 27M dams had reduced BW, longissimus muscle area and 12th fat thickness compared to progeny of adult dams (P < 0.05). Diameter of the largest follicle was greater in progeny born to Adult compared to progeny born to 15 and 27M (P = 0.04). Reproductive tract score (RTS) in heifers born to Adult at 399 days of age was greater compared to heifers born to 27M, and this category presented greater development than heifers born to 15M (P = 0.02). At 435 days of age, the heifers born to Adult had a greater percentage defined as pubertal compared to the progeny of 15 and 27M (P = 0.04). At 495 days of age, the weight of uterus, ovaries and corpora lutea were not affected by the age of dams at calving (P > 0.25). These data indicated that the age at which heifers received their first service affects female offspring growth RTS at early ages, but it does not have any impact in organ development after diet with a high energy level.

Residual Feed Intake in Hereford Steers: Is It Associated with Carcass and Meat Quality Characteristics?

Carcass and meat quality traits were evaluated on 136 Hereford steers categorized according to their residual feed intake (RFI): high RFI (HRFI), medium RFI (MRFI), and low RFI (LRFI). Steers from the 3 groups of RFI did not differ (P &amp;gt; 0.05) on final live weight, hot carcass weight, carcass yield, marbling scores, ribeye area, and subcutaneous fat thickness. No differences (P &amp;gt; 0.05) were observed in the weights of tenderloin, strip loin, bottom round, knuckle, and tri-tip among RFI groups; however, steers from LRFI and MRFI had heavier (P &amp;lt; 0.05) top sirloins than HRFI animals and inside rounds from more efficient animals (LRFI) were heavier (P &amp;lt; 0.05) than HRFI steers. Steers from HRFI showed a greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) proportion of intramuscular fat (IMF) than LRFI animals. Longissimus muscles from HRFI steers presented greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) concentrations of saturated (SFA), monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) than those from MRFI and LRFI animals. The PUFA/SFA ratio of IMF did not differ (P &amp;gt; 0.05) between LRFI and HRFI steers and neither between LRFI and MRFI. In addition, the omega 6:omega 3 fatty acids ratio did not differ (P &amp;gt; 0.05) among the 3 RFI groups. Consumer's panel acceptability scores for tenderness, flavor, and overall liking were not significantly different (P &amp;gt; 0.05) among meat samples from LRFI, MRFI, and HRFI steers. Our findings indicated that RFI would not be associated with carcass traits and meat quality of Hereford steers, except for the IMF content and fatty acids concentrations. Therefore, end-product quality would be only marginally affected when RFI characteristic is included in a Hereford breeding program.

Lnc-MEG8 regulates yak myoblast differentiation via the miR-22-3p/RTL1 axis

BackgroundThe yak (Bos grunniens) is essential to the livelihoods of Tibetan people on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau; however, its growth and productivity are constrained by the region's harsh climate and high altitude. Yak skeletal muscle myoblasts, which have evolved to thrive under these challenging conditions, offer a valuable model for investigating muscle development. In this study, we performed transcriptome profiling of yak longissimus dorsi muscle at different growth stages, identifying a key long non-coding RNA, LncRNA-XR_314844 (Lnc-MEG8), with a potential role in muscle development.ResultsWe developed a novel technique to isolate high-quality yak myoblasts, enabling detailed analysis of Lnc-MEG8. Our results indicated that Lnc-MEG8's subcellular localization varies during muscle cell growth: it is found in both the nucleus and cytoplasm during proliferation but shifts mainly to the cytoplasm during differentiation. Functional experiments showed that Lnc-MEG8 promotes cell proliferation and inhibits differentiation, while its silencing had the opposite effect. Further analysis revealed that both Lnc-MEG8 and the gene RTL1 share miR-22-3p as a common target. Dual-luciferase assays confirmed miR-22-3p directly targets both Lnc-MEG8 and RTL1 mRNA. Co-transfection of Lnc-MEG8 and a miR-22-3p mimic restored RTL1 expression, highlighting Lnc-MEG8's regulatory role. Lnc-MEG8 also counteracts miR-22-3p's suppression of key muscle genes such as MyF5 and MyoG, facilitating myotube formation.ConclusionThese findings demonstrate that the Lnc-MEG8-miR-22-3p-RTL1 axis plays a crucial role in yak muscle development, providing insights that could advance muscle tissue engineering and enhance yak meat quality.

Full-length transcriptome sequencing of the longissimus dorsi muscle of yak and cattle-yak using nanopore technology

Short-read RNA sequencing has been used to sequence the transcriptome of the skeletal muscle of yak and cattle-yak; however, full-length transcripts cannot be obtained and alternative splicing (AS) events cannot be inferred using this sequencing approach. Here, we used Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) full-length sequencing to sequence the transcriptome of the longissimus dorsi of yak and cattle-yak. A total of 20,323 novel genes and 172,870 novel transcripts were identified, and 159,700 novel transcripts were successfully annotated. A total of 157,812 AS events, 58,073 simple sequence repeats, 57,468 complete open reading frames, 2296 transcription factors, and 20,404 lncRNAs were detected. Differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) in the longissimus dorsi muscle of yak and cattle-yak were involved in the MAPK and JAK-STAT signaling pathways related to muscle development and growth. Protein–protein interaction analysis of DETs suggested that TNNI2 might make a major contribution to differences in muscle growth and meat quality traits between yak and cattle-yak. The results have enriched the transcriptome data of dorsal muscles, providing new ideas for the study of transcriptional regulation processes, and also providing useful information for the production of higher yields of yak meat.

Comparisons of functional movements and core muscle activity in women according to Pilates proficiency.

This study aims to investigate the differences in functional movements and core muscle activities between experienced and novice practitioners during Pilates exercises. Thirty-eight participants were recruited for the study, comprising 19 experienced and 19 novice Pilates practitioners. Participants performed functional movement screening (FMS) tests and six Pilates exercises at the basic, intermediate, and advanced levels. Surface electromyography (EMG) was utilized to measure muscle activity at four sites: right rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), multifidus (MU), and longissimus (LO). Mean EMG activity, co-contraction indices, and duration of core muscle activation were analyzed using independent t-tests to examine the differences between groups. Cohen's d was used to calculate effect sizes based on the standard deviations of the groups. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The experienced practitioners scored significantly higher in total FMS scores and in four sub-units of the FMS scores compared to the novice group (p ≤ 0.01). Mean EO EMG activity was also significantly greater in experienced practitioners during all Pilates exercises (p < 0.05). Additionally, the RA/EO co-contraction index was higher in experienced practitioners during the 'double leg stretch' exercise (p = 0.02). The results suggest that experienced Pilates practitioners have superior functional movement abilities and greater core muscle activation, particularly in the EO muscle group, compared to novice practitioners. These findings may assist Pilates instructors in refining instructional strategies to cater to different skill levels and enhance training effectiveness.

Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal heterosis for meat quality of Neijiang pigs.

Obese pig breeds have excellent meat quality, while lean pig breeds have high lean meat percentage and feed conversion rate. However, due to their respective shortcomings, obese pig and lean pig breeds are unable to balance production and consumption needs. Therefore, this study crossbred the obese Chinese pig breed Neijiang (NJ) with lean type Large White pigs (LW) to produce Neijiang × Large White(NL) pigs. This study compared the differences in carcass and meat quality traits between NJ pigs and NL pigs, and for the first time comprehensively analyzed the longissimus dorsi muscle of NJ pigs and NL pigs using transcriptomics and metabolomics. The results of slaughter and meat quality testing indicate that the carcass performance of NL pigs was significantly higher than that of NJ pigs, and the excellent meat quality characteristics of NJ pigs were also retained on NL pigs. The results of transcriptomics and metabolomics showed that there were 635 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 11 significantly different metabolites (SDM) in the longissimus dorsi muscle of NJ and NL pigs. The results of multi omics joint analysis showed that betaine, uridine triphosphate, glycerol 3-phosphate, and glutathione in SDMs were enriched in the shared KEGG pathway and significantly correlated with C1QTNF12, GGA3, SLC16A6, and RXRG in DEGs. In general, it is feasible to enhance the production performance of NJ pigs through crossbreeding with LW pigs. The hybrid offspring inherit the advantages of these two varieties, maintaining excellent meat quality while also having better carcass performance.

Response of protein DJ-1 to oxidative stress in porcine longissimus thoracis and semimembranous muscles: Expression, oxidation, and protein interactions during postmortem aging

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been recognized to have a significant impact on meat quality, while the role of the antioxidant system in response to ROS in postmortem muscle remain unclear. Protein DJ-1 serves as a sensor of oxidative stress and has an antioxidant function in biological systems. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the expression, oxidation, and interaction of protein DJ-1 in porcine longissimus thoracis (LT) and semimembranous (SM) muscles, as well as its correlation with meat quality, to gain a better understanding of meat quality formation during postmortem aging. The findings indicated significant variations in pH, L*, a*, purge loss, cooking loss, and Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) between the muscle groups (P < 0.05). The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), protein DJ-1, and oxidized DJ-1 (oxDJ-1) in SM muscle were higher than those in LT muscle throughout the 3 d of postmortem aging (P < 0.05). Moreover, protein DJ-1 and oxDJ-1 were significantly associated with water holding capacity and a* value of pork (P < 0.05). Through co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry, a total of 23 DJ-1 interacting proteins were identified, mainly participating in glycolysis, energy metabolism, muscle contraction, resistance to oxidative stress, as well as amino acids biosynthesis and metabolism. These results suggest that DJ-1 may exert a regulatory influence on the development of pork quality during postmortem aging.

Influence of Bovine Myosin Heavy Chain Isoforms and Muscle Fiber Cross-Sectional Are&lt;em&gt;a o&lt;/em&gt;n the Eating Quality and Connective Tissue Characteristics of 11 Different Beef Muscles

The objective of this study was to determine the impact of muscle fiber type, cross-sectional area (CSA), and diameter on the eating quality of 11 different beef muscles. Eleven different beef muscles were utilized in 2 separate studies. In the 2 studies, triceps brachii, rectus abdominus, rectus femoris, supraspinatus, gluteus medias, pectoralis profundi, semitendinosus, longissimus thoracis, longissimus lumborum, tensor fascia latae, and gastrocnemius were collected from 10 USDA Choice carcasses (N = 110). To determine muscle fiber type, myofibrillar proteins were extracted and separated via gel electrophoresis and immunoblot, while muscle fiber CSA and diameter were determined using a dystrophin antibody stain via fluorescence microscopy. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to determine the relationship between muscle fiber type, CSA, diameter, and the eating quality of the 11 beef cuts from previously reported studies. Muscles from both studies showed distinct differences in the relative percentage of type I and type IIA muscle fiber types, CSA, and diameter (P &amp;lt; 0.05). Correlation analysis from study 1 demonstrated positive correlations between type I fibers and many positive attributes of eating quality such as tenderness, juiciness, and lipid flavor intensity, while negative correlations were found between type IIA fibers and those attributes (P &amp;lt; 0.01). Interestingly, results from study 2 showed that increasing type I fiber percentage may also contribute to greater connective tissue content and collagen crosslink density (P &amp;lt; 0.01). Finally, a negative correlation was found between muscle fiber CSA and diameter with connective tissue amount (P &amp;lt; 0.05), and a positive correlation was found between muscle fiber CSA and diameter with tenderness measurements (P &amp;lt; 0.05) in both studies. Overall, muscles with greater type I fiber % delivered a more favorable eating experience than those with more glycolytic metabolism. Notably, increased CSA and fiber diameter did not diminish eating quality and were found to have a muscle-specific relationship with tenderness.

Effect of Various Thermal Processing Methods on the Sensory, Textural, and Physicochemical Characteristics of Foal Meat.

Previous research on the impact of various heat treatment methods on meat has primarily focused on conventional meats from common livestock animals, with limited studies on the effects of different heat treatments on foal meat. The aim of this study was to evaluate how different heat treatments, including sous-vide, affect the sensory, textural, and physicochemical characteristics of foal meat. This allowed for the identification of the most effective heat treatment method to preserve the optimal quality attributes of foal meat while enhancing sensory and textural qualities preferred by consumers. Samples of m. longissimus thoracis were subjected to traditional cooking in two variants: in water at 100 °C in a foil bag for 1.5 h, and cooked to a core temperature of 85 °C (16 half-carcasses × 2 traditional heat treatment methods = 32 samples). Additionally, m. longissimus thoracis was subjected to sous-vide at 55 °C and 65 °C for 4 and 24 h (16 half-carcasses × 2 temperature settings × 2 time settings = 64 samples). Chemical composition, physicochemical properties, color parameters, hem pigment levels, texture characteristics, and sensory properties were analyzed. Compared to sous-vide samples, traditionally cooked foal meat exhibited higher weight loss (p = 0.002), higher fat content (p = 0.003), and lower water content (p = 0.03). Significant improvements in tenderness were observed in sous-vide samples, with the lowest shear force values (52.86 N/cm2 at 55 °C and 48.39 N/cm2 at 65 °C; p = 0.001) and meat hardness (102.44 N and 101.27 N, respectively; p = 0.015) after 24 h of thermal processing. Moreover, sous-vide cooking significantly improved sensory properties of foal meat, particularly juiciness (p = 0.002), tenderness (p = 0.002), and flavor desirability (p = 0.03), which were highly rated by consumers.

Effects of High-Dose Vitamin D3 Supplementation on Pig Performance, Vitamin D Content in Meat, and Muscle Transcriptome in Pigs.

Vitamin D is known for its role in calcium homeostasis, bone health, and immune function. Recent research has explored its effects on muscle functionality and meat quality in pigs. This study examined high-dose vitamin D3 supplementation in pigs, focusing on growth, blood and tissue vitamin D3 levels, and muscle transcriptome changes. Thirty pigs were divided into three groups, given different amounts of oral supplementation: control, 5000 IU/kg and 10,000 IU/kg vitamin D3. Biochemical and haematological blood parameters, vitamin D content in blood and muscle, and kidney calcium content were evaluated. RNA-seq and qPCR analysed muscle transcriptome changes, while gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) identified gene expression enrichments. Results showed that 5000 IU/kg vitamin D3 supplementation altered blood parameters like platelet anisocytosis and glucose levels but did not affect body weight, weight gain, or feed intake. Kidney calcium content increased with supplementation. The muscle (longissimus dorsi) vitamin D content increased, suggesting the potential for biofortified pork, although still not optimal as a dietary vitamin D source. Transcriptome analysis revealed minimal gene expression changes, with only the interferon-gamma receptor 2 (IFNGR2) gene differentially expressed at the highest dose. GSEA indicated enrichment in ATP metabolic processes and electron transport chain genes in the 5000 IU/kg group, and immune system, cholesterol, steroid, and fatty acid metabolism genes in the 10,000 IU/kg group. Despite literature suggesting a role for vitamin D in muscle gene expression and growth improvement, this study found its effects limited.

Alternative polyadenylation landscape of longissimus dorsi muscle with high and low intramuscular fat content in cattle.

Intramuscular fat content is one of the most important factors affecting beef quality. However, the role of alternate polyadenylation (APA) in intramuscular fat deposition remains unclear. We compared APA events in muscle samples from high and low intramuscular fat (IMF) cattle, based on RNA-seq data. A total of 363 significant APAs were identified. Notably, the number of shortened 3'UTR events exceeded the number of lengthened 3'UTR events, and genes associated with shortened 3'UTR events were enriched in fatty acid metabolism-related pathways. Most APA events had alternative 3'UTR (aUTR) lengths of 200-300bp. As the 3'UTR lengthened, the aUTR also lengthened (R2 = 0.79). These findings indicate that genes with longer 3'UTRs are more likely to be regulated by APA in the muscle of cattle with high IMF. To determine whether the identified APA events drove alterations in the expression of fat deposition-related genes, we analyzed the relationship between APA events and differentially expressed genes and identified several genes critical for fat deposition (e.g., PFKL and SLC1A5). Since miRNAs usually bind to the 3'UTR region of protein-coding genes and affect gene expression, we constructed an miRNA-APA network to detect several key miRNAs that may regulate fat deposition. We identified 10 important miRNAs that affect changes in IMF content, which may be gained (gained miRNA-binding sites) or lost (lost miRNA-binding sites) owing to 187 differential APA events. Our study characterized the APA profiles of cattle with high and low intramuscular fat content and provided further insights into the relationship between APA, miRNA, and fat deposition.

Cowpea legumin preservative impacts on beef ribeye and implications on antibiotic resistant food borne pathogens

The current study assessed the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Cowpea-legumin (CPL) against antibiotic-resistant foodborne pathogens (FBP), the consequences on Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) quality and shelf-life, and the growth curves of inoculated FBPs. Fresh LTL-steaks were enriched with either 0.5 mg/g (CPL0.5) or 1 mg/g (CPL1) and evaluated over 15 chilling-days at 4 °C. Antibiotic-resistant Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli were inhibited by 25 and 3.125 mg/mL, respectively, while antibiotic-susceptible FBPs and antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were suppressed by 0.1 mg/mL CPL. CPL1-fortification produced fully tender LTL that was initially yellower/less red than the control, then turned brighter red with storage. CPL demonstrated promising dose-dependent antioxidant, and antibacterial activities against native spoilage and antibiotic-resistant/susceptible FBPs. CPL’s proteinaceous composition, besides sample size, might impact stability. Conclusively, CPL demonstrated promising preservative stability in fresh meat for a maximum of fifteen-days and represents a viable antimicrobial alternative in battle against antibiotic-resistance.

Dietary energy level and β2-adrenergic agonist supplementation on growth performance, dietary energy, carcass traits, and visceral mass of hairy lambs

Context The beta-agonist zilpaterol (ZH) is a feed additive that improves growth performance via protein accretion during the finishing phase of ruminant fattening. However, evaluating the possible interaction between ZH and nutrients of the diet has received limited attention. Aims We investigated the changes in growth performance and carcass traits in response to ZH supplementation of hairy lambs fed finishing diets with different energy concentration. Methods Forty-eight Pelibuey × Katahdin crossbred male lambs (43.8 ± 6.3 kg) were used in a 34-day feeding trial to evaluate the interaction between diet energy density [8.37 (LE) and 8.79 (HE) MJ of net energy for maintenance (NEm) per kilogram of diet] and zilpaterol hydrochloride supplementation (ZH, dosed at 0 or 6 mg ZH/kg) on growth performance, carcass traits, and visceral mass. All diets contained 14.5% crude protein (CP). Key results There was no interaction of energy level and ZH in any of the variables evaluated. HE increased average daily gain (ADG) and gain efficiency (GF) without affecting the observed-to-expected dietary NE. Zilpaterol supplementation increased ADG, GF, and observed-to-expected dietary NE. Both HE and ZH increased carcass weight. HE increased carcass fat, whereas ZH decreased it. HE increased dressing percentage. ZH increased longissimus muscle area, the muscle:fat ratio in the shoulder, and leg whole-cut proportion. Visceral mass was not affected by energy level. ZH decreased visceral fat. Conclusions Increasing diet energy from 8.37 to 8.79 MJ NEm/kg enhanced growth performance and carcass traits but did not improve dietary energy utilization. Supplemental ZH enhanced growth performance, dietary-energy utilization and carcass traits of lambs. Implications ZH supplementation is a tool to enhance growth performance by improving protein accretion and reducing carcass fat. Response to ZH supplementation is independent of the differences in energy density of finishing diets.

Effects of Flavonoids in Fructus Aurantii Immaturus on Carcass Traits, Meat Quality and Antioxidant Capacity in Finishing Pigs.

This experiment aimed to explore the effects of flavonoids in Fructus Aurantii Immaturus (FFAI) on carcass traits, meat quality, and the antioxidant capacity of finishing pigs. The results indicated that the addition of an appropriate amount of FFAI into their diet could significantly reduce the backfat thickness and perirenal fat percentage of finishing pigs, as well as the drip loss, water-holding capacity, shear force, and the levels of lactate, glucose-6-phosphate, glucose, ATP, phosphofructokinase, and pyruvate in the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle. It also elevated the levels of flavor amino acids such as glutamate, serine, and threonine, and enriched the composition of flavor substances, including benzene and octanal, which significantly contributed to the enhancement of pork flavor. Furthermore, it enhanced the expression levels of MyHC I and MyHC IIa. In summary, the appropriate addition of FFAI to the diet could improve the carcass traits, meat quality, and antioxidant capacity of finishing pigs. The optimal level of FFAI supplementation is 0.12%.