Search Results (4,125)

As the world progresses towards more sustainable food systems, an increasing number of individuals are inclined to reduce meat consumption and transition to plant-based protein sources. Given the implications of climate change and escalating public health issues, plant-based protein sources appear to be a viable alternative; yet, this transition will be challenging to implement. Legumes, cereals, oilseeds, microalgae, and mycoprotein constitute the primary sources of plant-derived protein. Each possesses distinct functional attributes; yet, they also exhibit certain nutritional constraints. The restrictions mostly pertain to the composition of essential amino acids and the body’s efficacy in utilizing micronutrients such as iron, zinc, and vitamin B₁₂. From an ecological perspective, plant-based proteins often exert a significantly lesser impact on the environment compared to conventional meat. This reduces greenhouse gas emissions and optimizes resource utilization. Recent technological advancements, including fermentation methods, shear cell structuring, and high-moisture extrusion, have significantly improved the texture and flavor of plant-based products. However, consumer perceptions of the sensory attributes of these products significantly influence their acceptance. Current research priorities include improving protein digestibility, mitigating antinutritional factors, reducing salt content, and generating robust long-term data on health effects/health benefits. Ultimately, replacing meat with plant-based proteins involves not only scientific and nutritional considerations but also requires significant cultural and societal transformations to establish a more balanced and sustainable food system. Full article

Both breed and plumage color are considered potential genetic factors influencing meat quality in pigeons, yet their independent effects remain poorly distinguished. This study aimed to disentangle the regulatory roles of breed and plumage color on meat quality, nutritional composition, and flavor-related metabolites in meat pigeons. White-feathered (SQB) and grey-feathered (SQH) Shiqi pigeons were compared with European Mimas white pigeons (MMS) under identical rearing conditions. Slaughter performance, meat quality traits, and flavor profiles were assessed, followed by untargeted metabolomics and transcriptomics sequencing of pectoral muscle tissues. The results demonstrated that breed exerted a significant influence on carcass traits, water-holding capacity, collagen content, as well as the composition of fatty acids and free amino acids. In contrast, no notable disparity in meat quality was observed between the white- and gray-feathered varieties within the same Shiqi pigeon breed. A total of 114 and 205 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs), and 11 and 327 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in plumage color and breed comparisons, respectively. Key flavor-associated metabolites, including glutathione, L-histidine, L-carnosine, and cytidine-5′-monophosphate, were identified as candidate biomarkers for breed-specific flavor differentiation. Breed is the dominant genetic factor determining meat quality and flavor in meat pigeons, while plumage color variation within breed has a limited impact. The identified pathways and regulatory networks provide actionable targets for the precision breeding and flavor enhancement of local pigeon breeds. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the changes in the meat quality characteristics of Duolang sheep using rumen metagenomic and muscle metabolomic analyses across different age groups. A total of 24 three-month-old male Duolang sheep were selected and reared, and samples of longissimus thoracis muscle and rumen contents were collected at 4, 6, and 8 months of age to evaluate meat quality, metabolites, rumen metagenome, and volatile fatty acids (VFAs). The results indicated that the lightness (L*_45min) and yellowness (b*_45min) of the longissimus thoracis muscle at 45 min post-slaughter were significantly higher at 4 and 6 months than at 8 months of age (p < 0.05). In terms of ruminal VFAs, butyrate concentration was significantly higher at 6 months than at 4 months (p < 0.05), and valerate concentration exhibited a quadratic relationship with age (p = 0.02). With increasing age, the relative abundances of Prevotella and Fibrobacter increased, whereas those of Methanobrevibacter and Bacteroides decreased (p < 0.05), leading to shifts in functional pathways related to amino acid, lipid, and carbohydrate and energy metabolism. Untargeted metabolomics revealed that muscle betaine and inosine peaked at 4 months of age, whereas L-arginine, L-proline, and inosinic acid were most abundant at 6 months of age (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that the b*_45min was positively associated with ruminal concentrations of propionate, butyrate, and valerate, as well as with the relative abundances of key Selenomonadales taxa (p < 0.05). Inosinic acid exhibited a positive correlation with the abundance of the genus Sodaliphilus and ruminal butyrate concentration (p < 0.05), while Sodaliphilus abundance was negatively correlated with inosine (p < 0.05). In summary, this study demonstrates that age-related variations in the meat quality of Duolang sheep are closely associated with rumen microbial ecology and muscle metabolites, offering novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying meat quality formation and identifying potential biomarkers. Full article

Background/Objectives: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) based on single-step genomic BLUP (ssGBLUP) commonly assume equal single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variances, which may not reflect the biological architecture of complex traits. Alternative weighting strategies can increase detection power but may affect stability. This study evaluated how different SNP weighting approaches influence genomic region detection and biological interpretation of ribeye area (REA) and subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) in Guzerá cattle. Methods: Phenotypic records from 2729 animals and genotypes from 1405 individuals (43,039 SNPs after quality control) were analyzed. Heritabilities were estimated using Restricted Maximum Likelihood (REML), and GWAS were conducted under five approaches: unweighted method (UM), quadratic method (QM), and three Non-Linear A strategies with weighting constants (1.125, 1.2, and 1.5). Genomic windows of 20 adjacent SNPs explaining ≥0.5% of the additive genetic variance (AGV) were considered significant. Recurrent regions were prioritized, and functional enrichment analyses (KEGG, GO, and MeSH) were performed. Results: Heritability estimates were moderate for REA (0.26 ± 0.05) and SFT (0.22 ± 0.04). Weighted approaches increased detection sensitivity. For REA, UM identified 10 windows, whereas QM and A_1.5 detected 24 and 31 windows. For SFT, UM identified 8 windows, while QM and A_1.5 detected 30 and 23 windows. Recurrent chromosomes included 2, 4, 6, 12, 16, 19, and 22 for REA, and 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 17, and 22 for SFT. Key genes included AKT3, NOS2, and MSTN. Enrichment highlighted pathways related to muscle growth and lipid metabolism. Conclusions: SNP-weighted GWAS increased detection sensitivity but involved trade-offs between signal amplification and stability. Integrating weighting strategies improves biological interpretation and supports robust candidate gene identification for genomic selection. Full article

We conducted this experiment with the aim of investigating the effects of different noise levels from ventilation fans on the growth and slaughter performance, meat quality, blood parameters, and feeding behavior of geese from 21 to 70 days of age. A total of 108 male geese (21-day-old) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: a control group (no additional fan noise), low-noise treatment (65–75 dB), and high-noise treatment (85–95 dB). Each treatment included six replicates, with six geese per replicate. The results showed that neither ventilation fan noise level significantly affected growth performance, feeding behavior, slaughter performance, or major meat quality traits (p > 0.05). Compared with the control group, noise exposure significantly reduced circulating adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone concentrations (p < 0.05), and the low-noise group exhibited significantly reduced cortisol concentrations (p < 0.05), while the high-noise group had increased cortisol concentrations. Under noise exposure conditions, no statistically significant effects were observed on superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde concentration, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities compared with the control group (p > 0.05). Overall, prolonged noise stimulation (65–75 dB and 85–95 dB) alleviated stress responses in commercial geese aged 21–70 days, without negatively affecting their growth performance, slaughter performance, meat quality, or feeding behavior. Full article

The bioactive compounds in thyme essential oil (TEO) have been investigated as natural preservatives. However, their direct application in foods is limited by their poor water solubility and high volatility. In this context, nanoemulsions represent promising delivery systems for bioactive compounds due to their improved physicochemical stability and functional performance. This study aimed to develop and characterize TEO nanoemulsions prepared by ultrasound-assisted encapsulation using an ultrasonic probe and whey protein concentrate as a surfactant, with potential application in chicken burgers. Different sonication times (1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 min) were evaluated, and ultrasonication time was evaluated as the experimental variable. The formulation processed for 3 min presented the smallest hydrodynamic diameter (289 nm) and a homogeneous spherical morphology. The nanoemulsions showed low cytotoxicity, maintaining cell viability above 90% at all evaluated concentrations. In vitro antibacterial assays demonstrated activity against Staphylococcus aureus and antifungal effects against Aspergillus and Penicillium species. When applied to chicken burgers, the treatment containing 100 ppm of nanoencapsulated TEO contributed to reductions in S. aureus and mesophilic aerobic microorganism counts during 7 days of refrigerated storage. These findings indicate that TEO nanoemulsions present potential as natural antimicrobial systems for food preservation applications. Full article

Although soybean meal (SBM) is generally used as the main protein source in livestock diets, canola meal (CM) appears as a sustainable alternative, since it lowers diet cost, especially when regionally produced, while still meeting animal nutritional needs. The objective of this study was therefore to assess the effects of dietary protein source (SBM vs. CM) on carcass traits and meat quality characteristics of feedlot-fattened dairy lambs. A total of 193 weaned lambs, approximately 3 months of age, from two indigenous Greek dairy breeds (75 Chios and 118 Serres), were used. Lambs were randomly assigned to one of two isocaloric and isonitrogenous dietary treatments: a control ration containing SBM as the primary protein source, and an alternative ration in which SBM was completely replaced by CM. After a fattening period of 13 weeks for Chios lambs and 15 weeks for Serres lambs, animals were slaughtered upon reaching a live weight of 35–40 kg, and hot and cold carcass weights were recorded. After 24 h of carcass storage at 4 °C, Longissimus lumborum muscle was sampled and used for the measurement of pH, colour attributes, cooking loss, shear force, and intramuscular fat content. Lipid oxidation was evaluated on days 1, 3, 6, and 9 of refrigerated storage at 4 °C. The substitution of SBM by CM as the main dietary protein source did not affect carcass traits in Serres lambs, whereas CM- treated Chios lambs showed an increased hot and cold carcass weight (p < 0.05). Meat quality characteristics were not affected by the dietary treatment in either Chios or Serres lambs, with the exception of meat oxidative stability that was deteriorated in CM compared to SBM Serres lambs (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the utilization of canola instead of soybean meal did not negatively influence carcass traits or meat quality characteristics in either Chios or Serres lambs, with the exception of lipid oxidation which was significantly higher in CM supplemented Serres lambs. Full article

With the increasing consumer demand for high-quality lamb, crossbreeding has become a key technology for improving the production performance and meat quality of sheep. To evaluate the meat quality advantages and characteristics of Suffolk (SFK) and Hu sheep (HH) and their F₁ crossbreds (SH), thirty-six 3-month-old male lambs of SFK (n = 12), HH (n = 12), and SH (n = 12) were selected and raised in individual pens under the same nutritional and management conditions. After standardized feeding until 6 months of age, the Longissimus dorsi muscle was collected to determine meat quality traits, amino acid and fatty acid profiles, and volatile flavor compounds. The results indicated that the L*, a* and b* values of the SH group were significantly lower than those of the parental breeds (p < 0.05), with tenderness being intermediate between the two parent breeds. Notably, drip loss and cooking loss were significantly lower in the SH group (p < 0.05), indicating superior water-holding capacity. In terms of amino acid profiles, the contents of non-essential amino acids (NEAAs) and sweet-tasting amino acids in the SH group were significantly higher than those of the parent breeds (p < 0.05), with the overall profile meeting the FAO/WHO ideal protein pattern. Analysis of fatty acid profiles revealed that the SH group had significantly lower total saturated fatty acids (SFAs) (p < 0.05) and significantly higher levels of functional fatty acids (such as CLA), resulting in a significantly higher UFAs (unsaturated fatty acids)/SFAs (saturated fatty acids) ratio (p < 0.05) and superior nutritional value of fat. Furthermore, 32 volatile flavor compounds were detected in the SH group; among them, key aroma-active compounds such as isoamyl formate, 3-methyl-1-butanol, and acetoin were significantly higher than in the parental breeds (p < 0.05), contributing to a unique flavor profile. Consequently, this study systematically reveals the advantages of Suffolk × Hu F₁ crossbreds in terms of meat quality, nutritional value, and flavor characteristics, providing fundamental data for the optimization of crossbreeding systems, breeding selection, and the quality improvement of sheep meat products. Full article

Improving meat quality using safe phytogenic feed additives is of practical interest in yellow-feathered broiler production. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni extract (SBE) supplementation on meat quality traits. A total of 510 one-day-old, female yellow-feathered broilers were randomly allocated to six dietary treatments (0, 50, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg/kg SBE) for 63 days. Meat sensory attributes, routine physicochemical characteristics, amino acid and fatty acid composition, electronic-nose profiles, and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB–N) during refrigerated storage were assessed. Overall, the results provide evidence that dietary SBE supplementation is associated with changes in multiple meat quality-related parameters, supporting further evaluation of SBE as a phytogenic feed additive in yellow-feathered broilers. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of a host-specific multi-lactic acid bacterial (MLAB) probiotic and sex on performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and gut microbiota in fattening pigs. Thirty-two crossbred pigs (10 ± 0.80 weeks; 23.43 ± 0.17 kg) were assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial design with diet (control or MLAB probiotics) and sex (barrow or female). The MLAB supplement consisted of seven lactic acid bacterial strains mixed in equal proportions (≈14.3% each)—Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus reuteri, Weissella cibaria, Lactobacillus paraplantarum, Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus pentosus, and Pediococcus pentosaceus—administered at 1 × 10⁹ CFU/kg feed for 12 weeks. MLAB probiotic supplementation reduced bone proportion while increasing skin and fat content (p < 0.05), with a treatment × sex interaction for loin eye area (p < 0.05). Meat quality improved in the MLAB group, showing higher ultimate pH and lower cooking loss (p < 0.05), indicating improved water-holding capacity. Female pigs exhibited higher early postmortem pH and protein content (p < 0.05). Microbiome analysis revealed increased abundances of Oxalobacteraceae and Paludibacteraceae and reduced Clostridium sensu stricto 6 (p < 0.05). These results suggest that host-adapted probiotics may support gut microbial balance and improve certain pork quality traits. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of different environmental enrichment tools on broiler chickens from 1 to 21 days of age. A total of 120,000 one-day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to five treatments, each consisting of four replicates with 6000 birds per replicate. Replicates were housed in pens measuring approximately 362 m². The treatments included: T1, green balls (approximately 40 balls per pen); T2, hanging toys (8–10 toys per pen); T3, hanging strings (8–10 string bundles per pen); T4, rotational use of green balls, hanging toys, and strings at equivalent densities; and T5, a control group without enrichment. Data were collected on growth performance, foot health, behavioral activity, serum biochemical parameters, and carcass and meat quality traits. Birds provided with hanging enrichment tools showed significantly improved growth performance (p ≤ 0.05) compared with the control group. Among enriched treatments, T2 yielded the highest body weight and weight gain, as well as the lowest feed conversion ratio. Enrichment treatments also resulted in significant improvements (p ≤ 0.05) in carcass characteristics and selected meat quality parameters, including lightness (L*) and pH stability. Behavioral observations indicated substantially higher activity levels in enriched groups relative to the control. Toe damage scores differed significantly among treatments (p = 0.004), with the lowest scores observed in T1 and the highest in T4; however, no significant differences were detected in footpad dermatitis or hock burn scores (p > 0.05). In conclusion, hanging environmental enrichment tools, particularly hanging toys, can effectively enhance growth performance, behavioral activity, and selected carcass and meat quality traits in broiler production systems, while their effects on footpad health appear limited under the conditions of this study. Full article

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of zilpaterol hydrochloride supplementation strategies on growth performance, dietary energetics, carcass traits, and meat quality in feedlot finishing lambs. Twenty-four Dorper × Katahdin crossbred male lambs (45.5 ± 4.53 kg, mean ± SD) were used in a 27 d feeding trial. The zilpaterol supplementation strategies were: (1) control, no zilpaterol supplementation (CON); (2) zilpaterol administered once daily as a full dose in the morning feeding (ZMOR); (3) zilpaterol incorporated into the total mixed ration and continuously available throughout the day (ZMIX); and (4) intermittent zilpaterol supplementation applied in a daily alternating pattern, one day on, one day off (ZINT). A target dose of 0.20 mg/kg live weight of zilpaterol hydrochloride per administration was used for all supplemented treatments, with daily administration in ZMOR and ZMIX and alternate-day administration in ZINT. Compared to the CON, zilpaterol supplementation through the ZMOR + ZMIX strategies improved average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency (FE) by 28.6% and 18.5%, respectively. Additionally, dressing percentage and longissimus thoracis muscle area increased by 3.2% and 17.0%, respectively. The ZINT strategy also enhanced ADG by 20.9% and FE by 15.4%. However, ZINT did not improve hot carcass weight or dressing percentage. All zilpaterol supplementation strategies increased meat toughness by up to 39.2%. Results indicate that both the ZMOR and ZMIX strategies optimize the response to zilpaterol, with no evidence that ZMOR supplementation results in a diminished response. Full article

Buffaloes are vital livestock in South-East Asia, attributed to their adaptation to hot and humid climates as well as their capacity to produce high-quality milk and meat. However, the texture of buffalo meat is suboptimal and its slow growth rate restricts the development of the buffalo farming industry. Consequently, studies exploring the key biochemical factors associated with buffalo muscle development have become a research focus. CircRNAs are a class of non-coding RNAs which can function as molecular sponges, participate in protein scaffold formation, and encode short peptides. Previous studies have shown that circRNAs are capable of regulating muscle development; however, relatively few reports have addressed their association with buffalo muscle development. In this study, data from Western blotting and RT-qPCR showed that circCOPS8 significantly enhanced the differentiation of buffalo myoblasts while inhibiting their proliferation (p < 0.05). In contrast, in a mouse model of muscular injury, circCOPS8 prevented the repair of injured muscles. Additionally, RIP-qPCR assays confirmed that circCOPS8 could bind to IGF2BP3 (p < 0.05). Furthermore RT-qPCR and transcriptome sequencing results revealed that circCOPS8 inhibited cell growth by upregulating the expression of genes such as ATR (p < 0.05). Our findings suggested that circCOPS8 promoted the differentiation and apoptosis of buffalo myoblasts while inhibiting their proliferation. The inhibition of cell proliferation was primarily mediated by the binding of circCOPS8 to IGF2BP3 and the promotion of ATR gene expression. This study investigated the role and underlying mechanism of circCOPS8 in buffalo myoblasts, which will extend our understanding of non-coding RNA-mediated regulation of buffalo muscle development, with the ultimate goal of improving the meat quality of buffaloes. Full article

Xichuan black-boned chicken is a premium Chinese local breed in Xichuan County, Henan Province, China. However, the flavor characteristics of Xichuan black-boned chicken meat have not been systematically studied. Lipidomics and flavoromics approaches were used to analyze DLMs (differential lipid molecules) and DFCs (differential flavor compounds) in breast muscle (BM, n = 6) and leg muscle (LM, n = 6) of black-boned chicken, to reveal molecular mechanisms affecting meat quality in chicken. Lipidomics analysis reveals that 354 differential lipids are the differential abundance between the two groups, of which 33 are up-regulated and 321 are down-regulated in the BM group. These differential lipids were mostly enriched in glycerolipid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and metabolic pathways. Flavoromics results demonstrate that there are 70 differential flavors between the two groups. Of these flavors, 59 are down-regulated and 11 are up-regulated in the BM group. These differential flavor compounds are mainly enriched in insect hormone biosynthesis and terpenoid backbone biosynthesis. Integrated lipidomics and flavoromics analysis shows that TG-type lipids and dodecanenitrile flavors may be the major related pairs. These findings not only enhance the understanding of the mechanism of chicken meat flavor formation but also provide novel perspectives for the improvement of meat quality. Full article

Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) influences meat quality through glycolysis and also exhibits its moonlighting function as a protein kinase that catalyzes protein phosphorylation. However, it remains unclear whether PKM2 phosphorylates myofibrillar proteins, thereby affecting postmortem myofibrillar protein stability. This study investigates PKM2’s non-canonical kinase function using quantitative phosphoproteomics and an in vitro myofibrillar protein incubation model to identify its phosphorylation substrates and functional impacts. The quantitative phosphoproteomics identified 441 phosphoproteins, 881 phosphopeptides, and 1040 phosphorylation sites. Notably, the myosin regulatory light chain (MRLC) was identified as a likely candidate phosphorylation substrate of PKM2 in vitro. The interaction between PKM2 and MRLC was confirmed using co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and Western blotting. Furthermore, MRLC phosphorylation by PKM2 significantly inhibited its degradation and enhanced its stability. This work establishes an in vitro biochemical framework for the moonlighting role of glycolytic enzymes, suggesting a potential mechanistic pathway that might influence myofibrillar protein stability during meat aging. Full article