Novel Insights into the Differences in Nutrition Value, Gene Regulation and Network Organization between Muscles from Pasture-Fed and Barn-Fed Goats

Multi-omics reveal the effects and regulatory mechanism of dietary neutral detergent fiber supplementation on carcass characteristics, amino acid profiles, and meat quality of finishing pigs

This study aimed to reveal the effects and regulatory mechanism of dietary NDF on the performance of pigs by multi-omics analysis. Results showed that 16 % dietary NDF significantly improved meat quality, increased flavor amino acid content, and reduced backfat thickness and the feed-to-gain ratio. 16S rDNA sequencing showed that 16 % NDF significantly increased the abundance of Akkermansia, Lachnoclostridium, and Ruminococcus. Transcript analysis showed that genes related to muscle development and lipid metabolism were significantly modified. Metabonomic analysis showed that 16 % NDF significantly increased amino and fatty acid related metabolites. Correlation analysis suggested that 16 % NDF treatment may alter the gut microbiota and metabolites, regulate the expression of genes related to lipid and amino metabolism, and ultimately affect the flavor and performance of pigs. This study provides a novel understanding about the effect and regulatory mechanism of NDF supplements on the finishing pigs and a relevant reference for the improvement of diet formulation.

Integrated Metabolomics and Transcriptomics Analyses Reveal the Candidate Genes Regulating the Meat Quality Change by Castration in Yudong Black Goats (Capra hircus)

Yudong black goats (YDGs) are a local breed in southwest China that possess unique meat qualities and produce a high meat yield, making them ideal models for studying goat meat quality. Castration may decrease off-odors, significantly change metabolites and improve meat quality. Using multi-omics techniques, this study focused on Yudong black goat wethers (YDW, n = 4) and Yudong black bucks (YDB, n = 4). The findings revealed that 33 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 279 significantly changed metabolites (SCMs) influenced goat meat quality by affecting fat accumulation and lipolysis regulatory processes. Herein, several candidate genes (IGF1, TNNT2, PPP2R2C, MAPK10 and VNN1, etc.) were identified that play a role in regulating meat quality, non-castrated and castrated, alongside a series of metabolites that may serve as potential meat quality biomarkers. Lipids (triglycerides, oxidized lipids_5-iso PGF2VI, ceramide (t18:1/36:2(2OH)) and Carnitine C20:5, etc.) were significantly higher in the castrated goats. These results revealed that lipids and hydrophilic metabolites were affected by castration, which might be beneficial in terms of goat meat quality. This study aimed to investigate the differences in meat quality between uncastrated and castrated male goats and the possible molecular regulatory mechanisms.

Feeding regimens affecting carcass and quality attributes of sheep and goat meat - A comprehensive review

Sheep and goats can efficiently convert low quality forage into high-quality meat which contains specific nutrients and quality traits. Carcass traits and quality attributes of sheep and goat meat depend upon several factors and one of most effective strategies amongst these is feeding regimens. In this review, the major aspects of feeding regimens affecting growth rate, carcass traits and quality attributes of sheep and goat meat are thoroughly discussed, with a particular focus on physical-chemical composition, flavor profile, and fatty acid (FA) profile. Grazing lambs and kids receiving concentrate or under stall-feeding systems had greater average daily gain and carcass yield compared with animals reared on pasture only. However, growth rate was higher in lambs/kids grazing on pastures of improved quality. Moreover, the meat of grazing lambs receiving concentrate had more intense flavor, intramuscular fat (IMF) content, and unhealthy FA composition, but comparable color, tenderness, juiciness, and protein content compared to that of lambs grazed on grass only. In contrast, meat of concentrate-fed lambs had more intense color, greater tenderness and juiciness, IMF and protein contents, and lower flavor linked to meat. Additionally, the meat of kids grazed on concentrate supplementation had higher color coordinates, tenderness, IMF content and unhealthy FA composition, whereas juiciness and flavor protein content were similar. In contrast, kids with concentrate supplementation had superior color coordinates, juiciness, IMF content and unhealthy FA composition, but lower tenderness and flavor intensity compared to pasture-grazed kids. Thus, indoor-finished or supplemented grazing sheep/goats had higher growth rate and carcass quality, higher IMF content and unhealthy FA composition compared to animals grazed on grass only. Finally, supplementation with concentrate increased flavor intensity in lamb meat, and improved color and tenderness in kid meat, whereas indoor-fed sheep/goats had improved color and juiciness as well as reduced flavor compared to pasture-grazed animals.

Expression Variation of CPT1A Induces Lipid Reconstruction in Goat Intramuscular Precursor Adipocytes

Intramuscular fat (IMF) deposition is one of the most important factors affecting meat quality and is closely associated with the expression of carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1A (CPT1A) which facilitates the transfer of long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) into the mitochondria. However, the role of how CPT1A regulates the IMF formation remains unclear. Herein, we established the temporal expression profile of CPT1A during the differentiation of goat intramuscular precursor adipocytes. Functionally, the knockdown of CPT1A by siRNA treatment significantly increased the mRNA expression of adipogenic genes and promoted lipid deposition in goat intramuscular precursor adipocytes. Meanwhile, a CPT1A deficiency inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis significantly. CPT1A was then supported by the overexpression of CPT1A which significantly suppressed the cellular triglyceride deposition and promoted cell proliferation although the cell apoptosis also was increased. For RNA sequencing, a total of 167 differential expression genes (DEGs), including 125 upregulated DEGs and 42 downregulated DEGs, were observed after the RNA silencing of CPT1A compared to the control, and were predicted to enrich in the focal adhesion pathway, cell cycle, apoptosis and the MAPK signaling pathway by KEGG analysis. Specifically, blocking the MAPK signaling pathway by a specific inhibitor (PD169316) rescued the promotion of cell proliferation in CPT1A overexpression adipocytes. In conclusion, the expression variation of CPT1A may reconstruct the lipid distribution between cellular triglyceride deposition and cell proliferation in goat intramuscular precursor adipocyte. Furthermore, we demonstrate that CPT1A promotes the proliferation of goat adipocytes through the MAPK signaling pathway. This work widened the genetic regulator networks of IMF formation and delivered theoretical support for improving meat quality from the aspect of IMF deposition.

Review of Feeding Systems Affecting Production, Carcass Attributes, and Meat Quality of Ovine and Caprine Species

Growth rate, carcass attributes, and meat quality traits of small ruminants (i.e., sheep and goats) depend on various factors, among which the feeding system is one of the most important factors. However, how feeding systems affect these parameters differ between sheep and goats. Therefore, this review aimed to evaluate the differences in how different feeding systems affect the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of sheep and goats. It also explored the effects of a new finishing strategy-time-limited grazing with supplements on these traits. Compared with stalled feeding, finishing lambs/kids on pasture-only feed reduced the average daily gain (ADG) and carcass yield, while supplemented-grazing lambs/kids had near-equivalent or higher ADG and carcass attributes. Pasture-grazing increased the meat flavor intensity and healthy fatty acid content (HFAC) of lamb/kid meat. Supplemental grazing lambs had comparable or superior meat sensory attributes and increased meat protein and HFAC compared to stall-fed ones. In contrast, supplemental grazing only improved the meat color of kids but had little effect on other meat qualities. Moreover, time-limited grazing with supplemental concentrates increased the carcass yield and meat quality in lamb meat. Overall, the effects of different feeding systems on growth performance and carcass traits were comparable between sheep and goats but differed in terms of the meat quality.

Comparative evolutionary and molecular genetics based study of Buffalo lysozyme gene family to elucidate their antibacterial function

Lysozyme is used as a food preservative, biological medicine, and infant food additive as a natural anti-infective chemical having bactericidal activity and abundantly secreted in mammals' milk, saliva, etc. We systematically analyzed the 16 coding LYZ genes (C and G-type) in buffalo and cattle to elucidate their evolutionary perspective thoroughly by evaluating an evolutionary relationship, motif patterning, physicochemical attributes, gene, and protein structure, as well as the functional role of the mammary gland-specific expressed buffalo and cattle LYZ genes precisely while considering expression levels difference and the interaction sites variation with bacteria envisaged the potential ability of buffalo LYZ protein with enhanced antibacterial effect. Thus, we speculated that the buffalo mammary glands expressed lysozyme has good antibacterial activity. This study on the buffalo lysozyme gene family not only provides comprehensive insights into the genetic architecture and their antibacterial effect but also offers a theoretical basis for the development of new veterinary drugs and animal health care for mastitis, as well as a new molecular genetic basis to study food or medical lysozyme.