• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.2_spc
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• pp.374-384
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• 2023

Skeletal muscle metabolism regulates homeostatic balance in animals. The metabolic impact persists even after farm animal skeletal muscle is converted to edible meat through postmortem rigor mortis and aging. Muscle metabolites resulting from animal growth and postmortem storage have a significant impact on meat quality, including flavor and color. Metabolomics studies of postmortem muscle aging have identified metabolisms that contain signatures inherent to muscle properties and the altered metabolites by physiological adaptation, with glycolysis as the pivotal metabolism in postmortem aging. Metabolomics has also played a role in mining relevant postmortem metabolisms and pathways, such as the citrate cycle and mitochondrial metabolism. This leads to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying the generation of key compounds that are associated with meat quality. Genetic background, feeding strategy, and muscle type primarily determine skeletal muscle properties in live animals and affect post-mortem muscle metabolism. With comprehensive metabolite detection, metabolomics is also beneficial for exploring biomarker candidates that could be useful to monitor meat production and predict the quality traits. The present review focuses on advances in farm animal muscle metabolomics, especially postmortem muscle metabolism associated with genetic factors and muscle type.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.254-261
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• 2017

Objective: The effects of aging and freezing/thawing sequence on color, physicochemical, and enzymatic characteristics of two beef muscles (Mm. gluteus medius, GM and biceps femoris, BF) were evaluated. Methods: Beef muscles at 3 d postmortem were assigned to four different combinations of aging and freezing/thawing sequence as follows; aging at $2^{\circ}C$ for 3 wk (A3, never-frozen control), freezing at $-28^{\circ}C$ for 2 wk then thawing (F2, frozen/thawed-only), aging at $2^{\circ}C$ for 3 wk, freezing at $-28^{\circ}C$ for 2 wk then thawing (A3F2), and freezing at $-28^{\circ}C$ for 2 wk, thawing then further aging at $2^{\circ}C$ for 3 wk (F2A3). Results: No significant interactions between different aging/freezing/thawing treatments and muscle type on all measurements were found. Postmortem aging, regardless of aging/freezing/thawing sequence, had no impact on color stability of frozen/thawed beef muscles (p<0.05). F2A3 resulted in higher purge loss than F2 and A3F2 treatments (p<0.05). A3F2 and F2A3 treatments resulted in lower shear force of beef muscles compared to F2 (p<0.05). Although there was no significant difference in glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, F2A3 had the highest ${\beta}-N-acetyl$ glucominidase (BNAG) activity in purge, but the lowest BNAG activity in muscle (p<0.05). GM muscle exhibited higher total color changes and purge loss, and lower GSH-Px activity than BF muscle. Conclusion: The results from this present study indicate that different combinations of aging/freezing/thawing sequence would result in considerable impacts on meat quality attributes, particularly thaw/purge loss and tenderness. Developing a novel freezing strategy combined with postmortem aging will be beneficial for the food/meat industry to maximize its positive impacts on tenderness, while minimizing thaw/purge loss of frozen/thawed meat.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2010

This study investigated the effects of astaxanthin, which is used to improve the muscle color of fish, on the nutritional composition of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The trout were fed extruded pellets containing astaxanthin (pigmented rainbow trout) or without astaxanthin (non-pigmented rainbow trout). No significant differences in the contents of crude protein and crude ash between the two muscles of the two groups were observed. However, the crude fat composition of the muscle of pigmented rainbow trout was about two times higher than that of control muscle. In the muscle of pigmented rainbow trout, the contents of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3), which are functional polyunsaturated fatty acids, were 1.6 fold higher than in non-pigmented muscle. In addition, the contents of minerals such as Zn and Fe, vitamins (B group, C, and E), free amino acids, carotenoids and astaxanthin were increased in the muscle of rainbow trout fed pellets supplemented with astaxanthin. Specifically, the content of the bioactive compound astaxanthin, was increased six times in the pigmented muscle, as compared to the control muscle. The results suggest that a diet supplemented with astaxanthin improves the nutritional composition of rainbow trout muscle as well as improving the muscle color.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.1036-1043
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• 2019

Objective: To investigate the color and oxidative stabilities of longissimus lumborum (LL) and psoas major (PM) muscles from grain-finished Bos indicus cattle in Brazil. Methods: The LL and PM muscles were obtained 24 h post-mortem from eight (n = 8) Nellore bull carcasses, fabricated into 1.5-cm steaks, aerobically packaged, and stored at $4^{\circ}C$ for nine days. Steaks were analyzed for myoglobin concentration, pH, instrumental color, metmyoglobin reducing activity (MRA) and lipid oxidation. Results: The LL steaks exhibited greater (p<0.05) redness, color stability, and MRA than their PM counterparts on days 5 and 9. The LL and PM steaks demonstrated similar (p>0.05) lightness and yellowness on days 0, 5, and 9. On the other hand, PM steaks exhibited greater (p<0.05) myoglobin concentration, pH, and lipid oxidation than their LL counterparts. Conclusion: These results indicated that muscle source influenced the color and oxidative stabilities of beef from grain-finished Bos indicus animals. These results highlighted the necessity of muscle-specific strategies to improve the color stability of beef from grain-fed Bos indicus cattle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.810-814
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• 1999

The influence of dietary vitamin E supplementation on meat color and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentrations in plasma, longissimus thoracis muscle and subcutaneous fat was investigated. Ten Japanese $Black{\times}Holstein$ crossbred steers were placed in three experimental groups receiving different supplements of vitamin E. Four steers (control) were fed no supplemental vitamin E. Two groups of three steers each, were supplemented with 500 mg dl-${\alpha}$-tocopherol acetate per animal daily for 175 days and 1,000 mg for 100 days, respectively, before slaughter. The ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentration in plasma increased, as vitamin E were fed, and were related to the length of time and the amount of supplement. The ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentrations in the muscle and the fat from the two supplemental groups did not differ significantly and were three or more times greater than those in the control group. Vitamin E supplementation did not affect the quantity of marbling of beef. Supplemental vitamin E stabilized the color of displayed beef around wavelengths of 500 nm and 640 nm. The two methods of vitamin E supplementation had similar effects on meat color. The effect of supplemental vitamin E on the color of beef with marbling was observed 2-3 days after slaughter and was followed for another two weeks.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.1014-1018
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• 2004

Relationships between muscle $\alpha$-tocopherol oncentrations and metmyoglobin percentages during display of six muscles, m. serratus ventralis (SV), m. psoas major (PM), m. gluteus medius (GM), m. semimembranosus (SM), m. semitendinosus (ST) and m. longissimus lumborum (LL), of Japanese Black steers slaughtered at 28 months of age were studied. Steers were supplemented with 0, 2,000 and 4,000 mg $\alpha$-tocopheryl acetate/head/day for 28 days prior to slaughter in the VE 0, the VE 2,000 and the VE 4,000 groups, respectively. $\alpha$-Tocopherol concentrations in PM, GM, SM, ST and LL of the VE 2,000 and the VE 4,000 groups were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those of the VE 0 group. There were no significant (p>0.05) differences in $\alpha$-tocopherol concentrations in all muscles between the VE 2,000 group and the VE 4,000 group. The muscle $\alpha$-tocopherol concentrations ($\ell$/g meat) which can retard metmyoglobin formation in muscles were estimated to be 5.3 for SV, 4.5 for PM, 4.2 for GM, 4.0 for SM, 3.6 for ST and 3.5 for LL. The equation to predict color-shelf-life of each muscle from the $\alpha$-tocopherol concentration in each muscle could be obtained.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.455-466
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• 2022

The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of white striping (WS), wooden breast (WB), and WS combined with WS/WB muscle abnormalities in broilers (Ross 500) at different slaughter ages (34, 41, and 48 d). In addition, the influence of these muscle abnormalities at different slaughter ages on quality characteristics (physical dimensions, pH, color index, and chemical composition) was studied. Overall occurrence of muscle abnormalities was 45%, 92%, and 100% at slaughter ages of 34, 41, and 48 d, respectively. It was found that about 39% from the occurrence of muscle abnormalities was not similar in the same bird (left and right fillets). Breast fillets affected by muscle abnormalities had significantly (p<0.05) higher weight than normal fillets. At slaughter age of 34 d, normal fillets had significantly higher L^* (67.37 vs. 61.73 and 63.05, p<0.05), lower a^* (3.25 vs. 4.87 and 5.18, p<0.05) and b^* (4.02 vs. 5.20 and 5.99, p<0.05) than WS and WS combined with WB fillets; respectively. The changes in chemical composition due to muscle abnormalities were more significant at high slaughter age than at low slaughter age. In conclusion, the occurrence of muscle abnormalities was strongly influenced by slaughter age. Moreover, breast fillets affected by muscle abnormalities had different quality characteristics (proximate composition, color traits, and dimensions) in comparison to normal fillets.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.87-102
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• 2024

This study aims to compare the chemical composition, quality, and muscle fiber characteristics of cull sows and commercial pigs, investigating the effect of changes in muscle fiber characteristics on pork quality. The proximate composition, color, pH, water-holding capacity (drip loss and cooking loss), protein solubility, total collagen content, and muscle fiber characteristics of cull sows (n=20) and commercial pigs (n=20) pork were compared. No significant differences were found between cull sows and commercial pigs in terms of proximate composition, drip loss, protein solubility, or total collagen content of their meat (p<0.05). However, cull sow pork exhibited a red color and a higher pH (p<0.05). This appears to be the result of changes in muscle fiber number and area composition (p<0.05). Cull sow meat also displayed better water-holding capacity as evident in a smaller cooking loss (p<0.05), which may be related to an increase in muscle fiber cross-sectional area (p<0.05). In conclusion, muscle fiber composition influences the pork quality; cull sow pork retains more moisture when cooked, resulting in minimal physical loss during processing and can offer more processing suitability.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.689-698
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• 2007

This study aims to estimate the genetic parameters for carcass traits on Hanwoo of breeding farmhouses using Animal Products Grading Service’s data of 428,812 cattle from 101 slaughterhouses nationwide from 2000 to 2005. Using carcass traits of carcass weight, eye muscle area, backfat thickness, marbling score, meat color and fat color that greatly influence Hanwoo's grade, the effects of carcass year, carcass season, sex and carcass region were estimated. Based upon carcass traits of carcass weight, eye muscle area, backfat thickness, marbling score and meat color that greatly influence Hanwoo’s grade, the heritabilities and genetic parameters were estimated of 17,578 Hanwoo slaughtered in 2005 with existing herdbook, where EM-REML algorithm was used in estimating genetic parameters. The mean and standard deviation of each carcass trait are 321.42±53.62kg, 76.25±10.43cm2, 9.96± 4.14mm, 3.75±2.00, 4.83±0.48 and 2.99±0.40, for carcass weight, eye muscle area, backfat thickness, marbling score, meat color and fat color, respectively. As a result of analysis on the effects of carcass year, the carcass weight, backfat thickness and meat color came out highest as 359.40±0.181, 9.82±0.017 and 4.90±0.002, respectively in 2004. As a result of analysis on the effects of carcass season, the carcass weight and eye muscle area came out highest as 345.88±0.144 and 79.57±0.033 respectively in spring, and the backfat thickness was highest as 8.78±0.013 in winter, and the meat color and fat color slightly came out higher as 4.88±0.002 and 2.96±0.001 in fall, while the marbling score was highest as 3.29±0.006 in summer. The results of the analysis on the effects of sex indicated that the backfat thickness and fat color were highest as 10.53±0.010 and 3.07±0.001 in cow, the carcass weight came out highest in Hanwoo steer as 368.03±0.068kg, the eye muscle area were highest as 82.96±0.042 in bull, and the marbling score was highest as 4.19±0.007 in steer, and the meat color was highest as 4.89±0.001 in cow. Regarding the results of analysis on the effects of carcass region, the carcass weight, eye muscle area,

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.721-724
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• 2009

Astaxanthin is a valuable pigment source for many aquacultured species, including salmonoids, shrimp, sea bream, and ornamental species. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and ascidian tunic extracts were mixed with the basal diet of rainbow trout to investigate their pigmentation effects. Synthetic Carophyll Pink and natural carotenoids that came from the tunic extracts were incorporated into muscle and skin tissues. The main carotenoids found in muscle after 8 weeks were canthaxanthin in CP12 (13.4%), and CP52 (17.2%), and astaxanthin in CP12 (58.5%), and CP52 (59.2%) in the Carophyll Pink group, while those in skin were canthaxanthin in CP14 (34.5%), and CP54 (29.2%), and astaxanthin in CP14 (32.0%), and CP54 (36.5%) in the ascidian tunic extract group. The total carotenoid content in skin (53.0-69.3 mg/kg) was greater than that in muscle (9.5-13.8 mg/kg).