Quality Traits Research Articles

Heterosis and combining ability for yield and quality traits in monoecious, gynoecious and parthenocarpic parental lines of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) under tropical condition

Heterosis and combining ability for yield and quality traits in monoecious, gynoecious and parthenocarpic parental lines of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) under tropical condition

Exploration of a European-centered strawberry diversity panel provides markers and candidate genes for the control of fruit quality traits

Exploration of a European-centered strawberry diversity panel provides markers and candidate genes for the control of fruit quality traits

The feasibility of adding wood quality traits as selection criteria in the Galician Pinus pinaster Aiton breeding program: case study

The feasibility of adding wood quality traits as selection criteria in the Galician Pinus pinaster Aiton breeding program: case study

Genetic variations of bread wheat varieties for bread‐making quality traits in moisture stressed areas of Wollo, Ethiopia

AbstractIn Ethiopia, wheat variety development has traditionally prioritized yield and disease resistance over bread‐making quality. To address this gap, our study evaluated 22 Ethiopian bread wheat varieties across six locations during the 2015/2016 season, utilizing a randomized complete block design with three replications. Various quality traits, including 1000‐kernel weight (TKW), hectoliter weight (HLW), Perten hardness index (HI), single kernel weight (SKW), single kernel diameter (SKD), grain protein content (PC), wet gluten (WG), Zeleny value (ZV), and starch content (SC), were analyzed. Significant effects of varieties, locations, and their interactions on these traits were observed (p < 0.01). Madawalabu, Danda'a, and Mekelle‐4 displayed superior TKW (>40 g), while Menze and Bolo exhibited higher HLW. HI values ranged from 82.8% in Sofumar to 35.5% in Mekelle‐3, indicating diverse grain hardness. Favorable milling traits were observed with SKW values exceeding 30 mg and SKD surpassing 2.5 mm. Genotype and location influenced PC (9.5%–11.0%) and WG content (21.6%–25.2%), meeting bread‐making requirements. ZV ranged from 21.9% to 31%, and SC varied from 64% to 68%, reflecting changes in starch concentration between varieties. Varietal performance varied, with Madawalabu, Menze, and Bolo showing promise. Correlation analysis revealed positive associations among HLW, SKD, SKW, TKW, PC, WG, and ZV, and a negative correlation with SC. These insights provide a foundation for targeted breeding strategies to enhance specific attributes crucial for optimal bread quality, contributing valuable information to wheat breeding programs.

Meat Characteristics, Expression of Myosin Heavy Chain and Metabolism-Related Genes in Thai Native Pigs

This study investigated the meat quality, expression of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) and metabolism-related genes, ribonucleotides and fatty acids in Longissimus thoracis of Thai native pigs (TNPs) from different geographical regions (GR). Forty-one 9–10-month-old castrated TNPs (BW 60 kg), consisting of 18, 11 and 12 pigs from Northern (NT), Southern (ST) and Northeastern (NE) regions, respectively, were slaughtered. GR did not affect (p > 0.05) the expression of MyHC, phosphoglycerate mutase 1, cytosolic glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, triosephosphate isomerase 1 and adipocyte fatty acid binding protein genes. The trend of MyHC was MyHC IIx > MyHC IIb > MyHC IIa > MyHC I. The NT loin had higher (p < 0.05) glycogen, C18:2n6, C20:4n6 and cooking loss, lower inosine, inosine monophosphate and hypoxanthine and a shorter sarcomere length than the ST and NE loins. The ST loin had a lower (p < 0.05) a* compared to other loins. Principal component analysis established significant relationships between the TNP and specific meat quality traits. This finding suggests that GR affected the meat quality, ribonucleotides and selected fatty acids in TNPs. These results provide relevant information that can be used to optimize the use of Thai native pork.

Registration of upland cotton recombinant inbred lines MS‐4857 and MS‐4878 with resistance to root‐knot nematode and reniform nematode

AbstractThe root‐knot nematode (RKN; Meloidogyne incognita Kofoid & White) and reniform nematode (RN; Rotylenchulus reniformis Linford & Oliveira) are serious pathogens of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) that significantly affect yield and fiber quality annually. Here, we describe two upland cotton germplasm lines that have combined resistance to RKN and RN while maintaining good yield and fiber quality traits. Upland germplasm lines MS‐4857 (Reg. no. GP‐1147, PI 704481) and MS‐4878 (Reg. no. GP‐1148, PI 704482) are F6 recombinant inbred lines from a cross between M240 RNR (RKN resistant) and MT2468 Ren1 (moderately RN resistant). These lines are highly resistant to RKN and show ∼30% fewer RN eggs g−1 root than the MT2468 Ren1 parent due to significantly improved root system development compared with MT2468 Ren1. Yield and fiber quality traits are equivalent or superior to the parental lines. The upland‐derived RN resistance in these lines provides a valuable alternative source of resistance to cotton breeding programs, especially in combination with high‐level RKN resistance.

Assessment of genotypic variability and genome‐wide association analysis of cooking time and canning quality traits in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

AbstractDeveloping improved common bean varieties with short cooking time (CT) and good canning quality traits (CQTs) is very key for accelerating bean consumption among the urban and middle‐class population. The objective of this study was to assess the genotypic variability and identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers associated with CT and CQTs in common bean. A total of 250 common bean accessions were evaluated under field conditions for two seasons using alpha lattice design with two replications. Three months post‐harvest, the dry bean grains were evaluated for CT and CQTs. Significant variation was observed among the 250 common bean accessions tested for both traits. CT ranged from 51 to 215 min, with 11 genotypes cooking in less than 60 min. The percentage total CQTs' score ranged from 41% to 84% with 31 genotypes scoring 76% and above. Forty‐seven significant GWAS signals were detected for CT on chromosomes Pv01, Pv04, Pv05 and Pv11 and CQTs on Pv01, Pv02, Pv03, Pv04, Pv05, Pv06, Pv07, Pv08, Pv10 and Pv11, respectively. Positional candidate genes including Phvul.005G161200 on chromosome Pv05, Phvul.007G2803001 and Phvul.007G280700 on chromosome Pv07 were associated with seed coat colour retention of the canned beans. Besides their usefulness in breeding research, the identified bean genotypes with shorter CT and good CQTs could enhance bean consumption and processing industries.

Evaluation of Genetic and Non-genetic Factors Influencing Semen Production Potential in Sahiwal Bulls

Background: Understanding genetic and non-genetic factors that influence the quality and quantity of semen production plays a crucial role in determining the reproductive efficiency and genetic progress within the Sahiwal breed. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of genetic and non-genetic factors on the semen production potential of Sahiwal bulls. Methods: Semen ejaculate data, including volume (VOL), sperm concentration per milliliter (CONC), total sperm count per ejaculate (TS), initial motility (INIT) and post-thaw motility (PT), as well as semen quality traits such as hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST) and acrosome integrity of frozen semen (AIFS), were obtained from 52 Sahiwal bulls. The data spanned from January 2011 to December 2018 and were collected at BAIF’s frozen semen station in Jind, Haryana, India. To ensure data reliability, observations beyond the mean±4 standard deviations (S.D.) were identified as outliers and subsequently excluded from the study. Two key factors, namely the season of semen collection (winter, summer and monsoon) and the age of bulls at collection (categorized into 12-month intervals ranging from less than 36 months to 156 months), were considered influential factors affecting semen characteristics. To investigate the correlation between bulls (genetic + permanent environmental correlation) and semen parameters, a repeatability animal model was employed, treating the bull as a random effect. The statistical analysis was conducted using WOMBAT software. Result: The findings revealed that the season of semen collection had a highly significant effect (P less than 0.01) on VOL, CONC, TS and PT. However, INIT, HOST and AIFS were not influenced (P greater than 0.05) by the season of collection. Furthermore, age at semen collection significantly affected all semen characteristics. VOL and TS exhibited an increasing trend until 72 to 84 months, followed by a decline until 96 to 108 months.

Impact of the leptin receptor gene on pig performance and quality traits

The recessive T allele of the missense polymorphism rs709596309 C > T of the leptin receptor gene is associated with intramuscular fat. However, its overall impact on pork production is still partial. In this work, we investigated the all-round effects of the TT genotype on lean growth efficiency and carcass, meat and fat quality using data from an experiment that compared the performance of 48 TT and 48 C– (24 CT and 24 CC) Duroc barrows. The TT pigs were less efficient for lean growth than the C– pigs. Although heavier, their carcasses had less lean content, were shorter and had lighter loins. Apart from increasing marbling and saturated fatty acid content, changes caused by the TT genotype in meat and fat quality are likely not enough to be perceived by consumers. The effect on visual marbling score exceeded that on intramuscular fat content, which suggests a direct influence of the T allele on the pattern of fat distribution in muscle. With current low-protein diets, the T allele is expected to be cost-effective only in niche markets where a very high level of marbling is critical.

Advances in Breeding for Oil Quality Enhancement in Indian Mustard (Brassica spp. L.): Achievements, Challenges, and Research Opportunities

Major objectives in oil crop improvement are enhancement of seed and oil yield, quality of oil according to its use, i.e. edible or industrial uses, breeding of varieties that fit in different cropping systems and breeding biotic and abiotic stress resistant/tolerant varieties. Despite traditional breeding approaches, including pure line breeding, yielding only modest gains in productivity, recent advancements in mustard breeding have led to significant breakthroughs in both productivity and oil quality. This review discusses the innovative breeding strategies that have contributed to these advancements, with a focus on hybrid development, oil quality enhancement, and biotechnological approaches. To enhance productivity, researchers at the University of Delhi have developed hybrid seed production techniques using transgenic Barnase-barstar systems and cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) systems. These systems enable large-scale hybrid seed production, with field trials demonstrating significant yield heterosis ranging from 31% to 55% compared to national check varieties. In addition to productivity, improving oil and meal quality has been a key objective. By integrating genes from canola-quality mustard lines, breeders have achieved reductions in erucic acid and glucosinolates, enhancing the health profile and industrial applicability of mustard oil. A high-density linkage map developed using an F1 double haploid mapping population has facilitated the marker-assisted backcross breeding of desirable traits, enabling precise transfer of key quality traits. Transgenic approaches, such as antisense RNA technology, have led to the development of high-oleic, low-linoleic mustard lines with improved fatty acid profiles. These advancements reflect a strategic combination of conventional and biotechnological methods, demonstrating a clear pathway for boosting mustard yields while enhancing oil quality. Molecular markers reported for genetic diversity assessment, mapping and tagging genes/QTLs for different qualitative and quantitative traits and their use in marker-assisted selection have been presented. This progress not only addresses current challenges but also sets the stage for future research aimed at further optimizing productivity, oil quality, and resistance to pests and diseases in mustard cultivation.

Unraveling the genetic basis of superior traits in Gossypium barbadense: From phenotype to genotype

G. barbadense is renowned for its high-quality fiber and is highly regarded as a natural material in the textile industry. However, research on cotton has mainly focused on G. hirsutum, and progress in sea island cotton has been relatively slow. There was limited understanding of the genetic loci and transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of important traits, and the genetic basis for the development of superior traits remains unclear. In this study, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population was constructed using two sea island cotton parents from different cotton regions. The phenotypic characteristics of the two parents and the RIL population, as well as the phenotypic correlations, heritability, and genetic models of the RIL population, were comprehensively analyzed. The RIL population was genotyped using whole-genome resequencing technology, and a high-density intraspecific linkage map was constructed, consisting of 5295 bin markers and a total genetic map distance of 2721.79 centimorgans (cM). Phenotypic data collected from five different environments were used to detect 169 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) using the composite interval mapping method. Among these QTLs, 30 were related to agronomic traits, 61 were related to yield traits, and 78 were related to fiber quality traits. Additionally, 17 QTL clusters were detected, and the additive effects of these clusters explained the correlation between different phenotypic traits. Candidate genes for stable QTLs related to agronomic and yield traits were identified through variant annotation and functional prediction. Two bin markers associated with lint percentage (LP) were validated as potential breeding markers. Furthermore, using RNA-seq data of cotton fiber from the RIL population parents, the dynamic changes in gene expression during different developmental stages of cotton fiber were revealed, and important differentially expressed genes in the secondary cell wall development and metabolism network of fibers were identified. Importantly, through the combined analysis of fiber trait QTLs and transcriptomes, eight candidate genes involved in regulating fiber quality traits were predicted, and the genetic basis of the excellent allele site qFL_D04_1 in the breeding history of Chinese sea island cotton was elucidated. In summary, this study provides new genetic resources and potential breeding markers for cotton variety improvement, valuable theoretical information for understanding the genetic basis of important traits in sea island cotton, and effectively promotes the development of cotton biotechnology breeding.

Genomic Approaches for Enhancing Yield and Quality Traits in Mustard (Brassica spp.): A Review of Breeding Strategies

Mustard, a vital oilseed crop, plays a significant role in global agriculture due to its versatile applications in food, feed, and biofuel industries. However, meeting the increasing demands for yield and quality traits poses a substantial challenge to mustard breeders. In response, genomic approaches have emerged as powerful tools to expedite mustard breeding programs by unraveling the genetic basis of key agronomic traits. This review provides a comprehensive overview of genomic strategies aimed at enhancing yield and quality traits in mustard. Beginning with an exploration of traditional breeding methods and their limitations, we delve into the advancements in genomics, including next-generation sequencing technologies, marker-assisted selection (MAS), and genome editing techniques. We discuss how these tools are leveraged to identify yield-related genes, quantitative trait loci (QTLs), and markers for efficient trait selection. Furthermore, we examine genomic approaches for improving oil content, nutritional profiles, and phytochemical composition, crucial for enhancing mustard quality. Case studies demonstrating the successful integration of genomics into breeding programs are highlighted, along with discussions on challenges such as regulatory concerns and technical hurdles. Finally, we outline future directions and the potential of genomic approaches to revolutionize mustard breeding, paving the way for sustainable crop improvement. This study offers valuable insights into the application of genomics in mustard breeding and underscores its importance in addressing the evolving needs of agriculture in the 21st century.

CYP24A1 and TRPC3 Gene Expression in Kidneys and Their Involvement in Calcium and Phosphate Metabolism in Laying Hens

Ca and P homeostasis across the egg-laying cycle is a complex process involving absorption in the small intestine, reabsorption/excretion in the kidneys, and eggshell gland secretion. Diets with inadequate calcium and phosphorus can interfere with their absorption and digestibility, resulting in eggshell quality losses and reduced productive life, affecting egg production and welfare. A better understanding of gene expression profiles in the kidneys of laying hens during the late egg-laying period could clarify the renal role in mineral metabolism at this late stage. Therefore, the performance, egg quality and bone integrity-related traits, and expression profiles of kidney candidate genes were evaluated in 73-week-old laying hens receiving different Ca and P ratios in their diet: a high Ca/P ratio (HR, 22.43), a low ratio (LR, 6.71), and a medium ratio (MR, 11.43). The laying hens receiving the HR diet had improved egg production and eggshell quality traits compared to the other two groups. Humerus length was shorter in the HR than in the other groups. The CYP24A1 and TRPC3 genes were differentially expressed (p.adj ≤ 0.05) among the groups. Therefore, their expression profiles could be involved in calcium and phosphate transcellular transport in 73-week-old laying hens as a way to keep mineral absorption at adequate levels.

Markers for meat provenance and authenticity with an account of its defining factors and quality characteristics - a review.

Provenance is becoming increasingly important in meat supply chains as it lends products higher perceived quality. However, its precise definition and interpretation along with its associated characteristics factors have remained somewhat elusive. This review meticulously defines meat provenance while dissecting the essential factors and associated quality attributes that constitute its essence and are subsequently employed to establish pertinent markers for provenance. Meat provenance emerges as a multi-dimensional construct stemming from the adept management of a constellation of factors relating to geographical origin, farm production system, traceability, and authenticity. Through intricate interactions, these factors unveil innate originality that not only forges a distinct reputation but also imparts a unique typicity to the meat product. Gaining insights into a meat product's provenance becomes attainable by scrutinizing its pertinent composition and organoleptic quality traits. Trace elements and stable isotopes stand out as provenance markers, forging a direct connection to both geographical origin and dietary sources. While somewhat less direct in linkage, other markers such as plant biomarkers, fatty acid composition, pH levels, flavour and aromatic compounds along with organoleptic characteristics contribute to the overall understanding of provenance. Additionally, the identification of animal species and breeds serves as key markers, particularly in the context of protected geographical indications. The study findings are useful for the various stakeholders of how the information for meat provenance can be linked with intrinsic and extrinsic factors for meat quality and protecting the integrity of the supply chain with special reference to traceability and authenticity. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Genomic prediction and genome-wide association study using combined genotypic data from different genotyping systems: application to apple fruit quality traits

Abstract With advances in next-generation sequencing technologies, various marker genotyping systems have been developed for genomics-based approaches such as genomic selection (GS) and genome-wide association study (GWAS). As new genotyping platforms are developed, data from different genotyping platforms must be combined. However, the potential use of combined data for GS and GWAS has not yet been clarified. In this study, the accuracy of genomic prediction (GP) and the detection power of GWAS increased for most fruit quality traits of apples when using combined data from different genotyping systems, Illumina Infinium single-nucleotide polymorphism array and genotyping by random amplicon sequencing-direct (GRAS-Di) systems. In addition, the GP model, which considered the inbreeding effect, further improved the accuracy of the seven fruit traits. Runs of homozygosity (ROH) islands overlapped with the significantly associated regions detected by the GWAS for several fruit traits. Breeders may have exploited these regions to select promising apples by breeders, increasing homozygosity. These results suggest that combining genotypic data from different genotyping platforms benefits the GS and GWAS of fruit quality traits in apples. Information on inbreeding could be beneficial for improving the accuracy of GS for fruit traits of apples; however, further analysis is required to elucidate the relationship between the fruit traits and inbreeding depression (e.g., decreased vigor).

The relationship between gluten proteins and loaf volume

The storage proteins influence technological quality value of grain wheat, dough quality traits, and loaf quality. The aim of this study is to estimate variability in the dry gluten content, loaf volume, and their relationships with encoding alleles of gliadin and glutenins. Wheat genotypes grown in two vegetation seasons (2015/16 and 2016/17) were studied. The technological quality traits analyzed in this study varied in wheat genotypes within and between vegetation seasons. In both vegetation seasons the highest dry gluten content was established in G-3621-1 (30.23% and 31.15%) and the highest value of loaf volume in G-3621-1 (530 ml and 540 ml). In both vegetation seasons the least dry gluten content was found in G-3606-6 (25.42% and 25.98%) and the least loaf volume in G-3606-6 (380 ml and 390 ml). The composition of gliadin and glutenin alleles in the wheat genotypes analyzed was different. The genotypes carrying Gli-B1b, Gli-D1b, Gli-D2b, and Glu-A1b, Glu-B1c, Glu-D1d had the highest gluten content, while the genotype that carried Gli-B1l and Glu-A1b, Glu-B1c, Glu-D1d had high bread volume. The results have shown relationships between gliadin and glutenin alleles and quality traits of grain, flour, and bread.

Combining Ability Analysis of Yield and Quality Traits in Pumpkin [Cucurbita moschataduch. Ex Poir

The present analysis was carried out with aims to estimate the general and specific combining ability of pumpkin involving six parents namely, Arka Chandan (P1), Ambili (P2), Arka Suryamukhi(P3), Pusa Vishwas (P4), CO 2 (P5) and CO 1 (P6) and 30 F1 hybrids obtained through full diallel analysis in randomized block design with three replication. The observation were recorded for eighteen traits viz., vine length, node number at which first male flower anthesis, node number at which first female flower anthesis, number of primary branches vine-1, days to first male flower anthesis, days to first female flower anthesis, number of male flowers vine-1, number of female flowers vine-1, sex ratio, number of fruits vine-1, fruit weight, polar diameter of fruit, equatorial diameter of fruit, flesh thickness, 100 seed weight, carotene content, total soluble solids and yield vine-1.. The analysis of variance for combining ability among various traits in pumpkin revealed that there were significant differences for all the traits. Among the parents, Ambili was the best general combiner for number of fruits vine-1, yield vine-1 and yield contributing traits. The highest desirable SCA were obtained from a cross of Ambili x Arka Suryamukhi for yield and attributing traits, which was the best and promising hybrid.

5 Rumen microbiome and metabolome in dairy cattle performance

Abstract Cattle rumen microbiome converts fibrous feed to nutrients that directly influence cattle’s growth and performance. Recent research has revealed the composition and function of rumen microbiome can affect many economically important traits in cattle such as feed efficiency, milk/meat yield and quality, methane emission, metabolic health and so on. In this presentation, the research on the assessment of to what extent the rumen microbiome and its metabolites, as well as host metabolites contribute to milk production and quality traits will be focused and discussed. It has been evident that some dairy cows can produce large amounts of milk under the same nutritional and management conditions. Recent research has revealed that in addition to host genetics and diet, parity and days in milk of dairy cows can affect the rumen microbiota, and both core and pan rumen bacteriome can potentially contribute to variations of milk production traits. Additionally, the analysis of rumen metagenomics and metabolomics of dairy cows with varied milk production yield showed that some key bacterial taxa (for example, Prevotella species), and their functions (such as branched-chain amino acids biosynthesis, methanogenesis), some rumen microbial metabolites (mainly amino acids, carboxylic acids, and fatty acids) significantly differed between high and low production cows. Further integrated analysis with serum metabolomics of the cos revealed the varied contributions of rumen microbial composition, functions, metabolites, and the serum metabolites to the milk protein yield of a dairy cow, a potential new trait that can be used for high-quality milk production, respectively. The fundamental understanding of the role of rumen microbiome and its metabolome contributing to milk yield and protein yield traits can provide novel insights into future manipulation of rumen microbiome to enhance milk production and quality.

PSVI-16 Inclusion of dietary micelle silymarin on production performance, egg quality, storage capacity, and blood profile Sin Hy-line brown laying hens

Abstract Silymarin is known to have immunomodulating, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. This study aimed to investigate the effects of micelle silymarin (MS) supplementation on production performance, egg quality, egg water loss, and blood profile in Hy-line brown laying hens. For 12 wk, a total of 288, 28-wk-old laying hens were randomly allocated into one of three treatment groups. The dietary treatments were control (CON) a basal diet and a basal diet supplemented with 0.03, and 0.06% of MS. All hens were housed in an individual cage with 38 cm width × 50 cm length × 40 cm height. Growth performance was recorded at d 1, wk 6, and wk 12. The egg production and feed conversion ratio were recorded at the end of every week. The egg quality and water loss were measured at the end of wk 4, 8, and 12. At initial and at the end of wk 12, 5 mL of blood was collected to analyze aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), triglycerides, albumin, and cholesterol concentrations. All data were analyzed by the GLM procedure of SAS. The polynomial orthogonal contrasts of increasing dietary MS supplementation were examined by linear and quadratic effects. The inclusion of MS supplement in laying hen diet did not exhibit significant impact on growth performance. However, MS group showed linear improvement in egg weight, Haugh Units, and eggshell strength throughout the trial period (P < 0.05). Additionally, egg yolk color and eggshell thickness indicated linear improvements particularly at wk 4 and 8 (P < 0.05). While albumen height and egg water in MS group were linearly increased at wk 12 (P < 0.05). Compared with CON, laying hens fed MS supplement has linearly decreased the ALP and cholesterol concentrations in the serum (P < 0.05). Based on the findings, we inferred that the inclusion of 0.04 to 0.06% MS in the laying hen diet would not only increase the production performance, egg quality, and egg water loss traits but also to improve laying hens’ health.

Effect of sex and milk replacer with or without supplemental carnitine and arginine on growth characteristics, carcass, and meat quality of artificially reared low-birth weight pigs.

This study compared milk replacer either remaining unsupplemented (CON) or supplemented with 0.5g l-carnitine plus 16.7g l-arginine/kg (CarArg) and fed to 48 L-BtW artificially reared piglets (24 per group) from day 7 to 28 days of age. Eight farrowing series were needed to complete the study. On day 28, the lightest piglets were slaughtered, and the heaviest pigs were weaned. The heaviest pigs were weaned on day 28 and offered free access to a starter (weaning to 25kg body weight (BW)), grower (25-60kg BW), and finisher diet (60kg to 96kg BW on day 170 of age). After euthanization on day 28 and day 170, blood was sampled for assessment of serum metabolite and hormone concentrations, and the semitendinosus muscle (STM) was weighed, and later subjected to enzyme activity analysis and assessment of myofiber characteristics. In the 170-day old pigs carcass and meat quality traits were assessed. Growth data were analyzed as a two-way ANOVA, with dietary treatment and farrowing series as fixed effects, while remaining data were analyzed with dietary treatment, sex, their interaction, and farrowing series as main factors. Dietary treatments affected (P ≤ 0.049) muscle enzyme activity at both day 28, with greater CS and LDH activities and lower HAD:CS ratio in STM light portion, and lower LDH:CS ratio in STM dark portion, and 170 of age with lower HAD:CS ratio. In the starter period, CarArg pigs had greater average daily gain (P = 0.021) and average daily feed intake (P = 0.010). At slaughter, these pigs had lower (P = 0.013) glucose and greater (P = 0.022) urea serum concentrations. However, supplementing the milk replacer with carnitine and arginine had no long-term effects on growth performance, carcass composition, and meat quality of L-BtW pigs. In addition, muscle morphology and its myofiber-related properties remained unaffected by the supplementation.