• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 2013

Marbling (intramuscular fat) is an important trait that affects meat quality and is a casual factor determining the price of beef in the Korean beef market. It is a complex trait and has many biological pathways related to muscle and fat. There is a need to identify functional modules or genes related to marbling traits and investigate their relationships through a weighted gene co-expression network analysis based on the system level. Therefore, we investigated the co-expression relationships of genes related to the 'marbling score' trait and systemically analyzed the network topology in Hanwoo (Korean cattle). As a result, we determined 3 modules (gene groups) that showed statistically significant results for marbling score. In particular, one module (denoted as red) has a statistically significant result for marbling score (p = 0.008) and intramuscular fat (p = 0.02) and water capacity (p = 0.006). From functional enrichment and relationship analysis of the red module, the pathway hub genes (IL6, CHRNE, RB1, INHBA and NPPA) have a direct interaction relationship and share the biological functions related to fat or muscle, such as adipogenesis or muscle growth. This is the first gene network study with m.logissimus in Hanwoo to observe co-expression patterns in divergent marbling phenotypes. It may provide insights into the functional mechanisms of the marbling trait.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.743-750
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• 2021

Objective: The objectives of this study were to explore the expression patterns of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) genes of different skeletal muscles from Chinese cattle, and to investigate the relationship between myofiber characteristics and meat quality of M. longissimus lumborum (LL), M. psoas major (PM), and M. semimembranosus (SM) from Chinese Luxi and Qinchuan cattle. Methods: Three major muscles including LL, PM, and SM from Chinese Luxi cattle and Chinese Qinchuan cattle were used in this study. The myofiber characteristics were measured by histochemical analysis. The MyHC isoforms expression was evaluated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Quality traits including pH value, meat color, cooking loss, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) and sarcomere length were determined at day 5 postmortem. Results: PM muscle had higher pH value, a* value, sarcomere length and lower WBSF value compared to LL and SM muscles (p<0.05). Numbers of type I myofiber and the relative expression of MyHC I mRNA in PM muscle were higher than those of LL and SM muscles (p<0.05). Myofiber diameter of PM muscle was lower than that of LL and SM muscles, regardless of myofiber types (p<0.05). Conclusion: According to the stepwise linear regression analyses, tenderness was influenced by myofiber characteristics in all three examined muscles. Tenderness of beef muscles from Qinchuan and Luxi cattle could be improved by increasing numbers of type I myofiber.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.85-100
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• 2023

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of high-intensity ultrasound (HIU) application on meat quality traits, sensory parameters, and the microstructure of semitendinosus muscle from Hanwoo cattle. The samples were treated in an ultrasonic bath (35 kHz) at an intensity of 800 W/cm² for 60 min, followed by aging at 1℃ for 0, 3, and 7 days. The application of ultrasound resulted in lower Warner-Bratzler shear force and higher myofibrillar fragmentation index values during the storage period. HIU also enhanced the tenderness, flavor, umami, and overall acceptability of cooked beef muscle. However, the electronic tongue evaluation results showed higher umami values in the control treatment on the seventh day of storage. The microstructure of sonicated meat showed disorganized myofibrillar architecture and swelling in the A-band region of sarcomeres during the storage period, which led to greater meat tenderness. The heatmap illustrated the high abundance of α-linolenic acid (C20:5n3) and eicosapentaenoic acid (C18:3n3) in sonicated meat samples on the third day of the storage. These results showed that HIU is a potential method for tenderizing and improving the sensory attributes of beef without compromising other quality aspects.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.210-218
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• 1987

In the previous report, we isolated and purified one of tendering enzyme 'ficin' from fig latex. In this study, various crude ficin concentrations and reaction time were employed to investigate the contents of free amino acids and other free nitrogen compounds after the treated with beef round muscle. 1. Free amino acids contents increased with the increase of temperature and time during the aging of beef at $1^{\circ}C$ and $8^{\circ}C$, and the increasing rate was remarkably high when fresh beef was treated with ficin. In the case of ficin treatment after various cooking, steaming showed the highest increase in free amino acid contents among three cooking methods such as boiling, steaming and pan broiling. The increased amounts of free amino acids in three groups-aging beef at $1^{\circ}C$ for 3 days, fresh beef treated with ficin(0.1%, 2hrs) and beef treated with ficin(0.1%, 2hrs) after cooking were 13%, 293% and 137% respectively. In contrast to aging group, the amount of free amino acids in other two groups treated with ficin was superiorly increased. 2. The amounts of total free nitrogen, free non-protein nitrogen and $NH_3-nitrogen$ increased with the increase of temperature and time during the aging of beef at $1^{\circ}C$ and $8^{\circ}C$, and the increasing rate was remarkably high in fresh beef treated with ficin. In the case of ficin treatment after cooking, steaming gave larger amount of total and non-protein nitrogen than other two cooking, e.g. boiling and panbroiling. The increasing rate of nonprotein nitrogen to the total nitrogen of fresh beef treated with ficin(0.1%, 2hrs) was 75 times greater than that of aging fresh beef at $1^{\circ}C$ for 3 days.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.455-462
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the carcass characteristics and nutritional composition of longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle of domestic steer beef (Hanwoo and Holstein born and raised in Korea) and imported beef (Angus imported from Australia, raised for about 6 months in Korea). A total of twelve steers (4 steers per each breed and quality grade 2) were slaughtered, LL muscles were separated and stored at $4^{\circ}C$ for 7 days. The pH values of Holstein meat were notably higher than those of Hanwoo, and WHC values were similar between Hanwoo and Holstein, but Angus showed some differences. The WHC of the LL muscle from Hanwoo was better than those from Holstein and Angus when stored for fourteen days. The CIE $a^*$, $b^*$, and $h^0$ values of the LL muscle from Hanwoo were significantly higher than those of Angus at day 7 (p<0.05). Oxymyoglobin and metmyoglobin contents were not significantly different among three breeds at days 7 and 14. In the intra-muscular fat contents, the LL muscle of Hanwoo was significantly higher than Holstein, whereas the moisture and ash contents tended to be lower than the others. In mineral contents, P and Zn contents in the LL muscle of Holstein were higher than the other breeds, and K contents was higher in Hanwoo and Holstein meat than Angus.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.1171-1176
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• 1999

The precision and reliability of the Computer Image Analysis technique using a desk top computer for extracting information from carcass cross section scans was evaluated by the repeatability (R) and coefficient of variation (CV) for error variance. The 6th and 7th ribs cross section of carcasses from 55 fattened Japanese Black steers were used. The image analysis was conducted using a desk top computer (Macintosh-Apple Vision 1710 Display) connected to a scanner and an image capture camera. Two software applications, Adobe Photoshop and Mac Scope were used interchangeably. The information extracted and measured were individual muscle area, circumference length, long and short axes lengths, muscle direction; distance between any two muscle centers of gravity; cross section total area, lean, fat, and bone. The information was extracted after the processes of scanning, digitization, masking, muscle separation, and binarization. When using the Computer Image Analysis technique by desk top computer, proper digitization and selection of scanning resolution are very important in order to obtain accurate information. The R-values for muscle area, circumference, long and axes lengths, and direction ranged from 0.95 to 0.99, whereas those of the distance between any two muscle centers of gravity ranged from 0.96 to 0.99, respectively. For the cross section total area, lean, fat, and bone it ranged from 0.83 to 0.99. Excellent repeatability measurements were observed for muscle direction and distance between any two muscle centers of gravity. The results indicate that the Computer Image Analysis technique using a desk top computer for extracting information from carcass cross section is reliable and has high precision.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1493-1498
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• 2014

Epigenetic factors, such as DNA methylation status, may regulate adipogenesis and lipogenesis, thus affecting intramuscular fat (IMF) deposition in longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) of beef cattle. In Korean cattle steers, the LM consists mainly of muscle tissue. However, the LM tissue also contains IMF. We compared the gene expression levels between the IMF and muscle portions of the LM after tissue separation. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that the mRNA levels of both adipogenic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma isoform 1 (PPARG1) and lipogenic fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) were higher (p<0.01) in the IMF than in the muscle portion of the LM. We determined DNA methylation levels of regulatory regions of the PPARG1 and FABP4 genes by pyrosequencing of genomic DNA. DNA methylation levels of two of three CpG sites in the PPARG1 gene promoter region were lower (p<0.05) in the IMF than in the muscle portion of the LM. DNA methylation levels of all five CpG sites from the FABP4 gene promoter region were also lower (p<0.001) in the IMF than in the muscle portion. Thus, mRNA levels of both PPARG1 and FABP4 genes were inversely correlated with DNA methylation levels in regulatory regions of CpG sites of the corresponding gene. Our findings suggest that DNA methylation status regulates tissue-specific expression of adipogenic and lipogenic genes in the IMF and muscle portions of LM tissue in Korean cattle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1432-1442
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• 2016

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of palm and/or linseed oil (LSO) supplementation on carcass quality, sensory evaluation and fatty acid profile of beef from crossbred Wagyu beef steers. Twenty four fattening Wagyu crossbred beef steers (50% Wagyu), averaging $640{\pm}18kg$ live weight (LW) and approximately 30 mo old, were stratified and randomly assigned in completely randomized design into 3 treatment groups. All steers were fed approximately 7 kg/d of 14% crude protein concentrate with ad libitum rice straw and had free access to clean water and were individually housed in a free-stall unit. The treatments were i) control concentrate plus 200 g/d of palm oil; ii) control concentrate plus 100 g/d of palm oil and 100 g/d of LSO, iii) control concentrate plus 200 g/d of LSO. This present study demonstrated that supplementation of LSO rich in C18:3n-3 did not influence feed intakes, LW changes, carcass and muscle characteristics, sensory and physical properties. LSO increased C18:3n-3, C22:6n-3, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), however, it decreased C18:1t-11, C18:2n-6, cis-9, trans-11, and trans-10,cis-12 conjugated linoleic acids, n-6 PUFA and n-6:n-3 ratio in Longissimus dorsi and Semimembranosus muscles.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.896-907
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• 2020

Imaging technique or computer vision (CV) technology has received huge attention as a rapid and non-destructive technique throughout the world for measuring quality attributes of agricultural products including meat and meat products. This study was conducted to test the ability of CV technology to predict the quality attributes of beef. Images were captured from longissimus dorsi muscle in beef at 24 h post-mortem. Traits evaluated were color value (L*, a*, b*), pH, drip loss, cooking loss, dry matter, moisture, crude protein, fat, ash, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), peroxide value (POV), free fatty acid (FFA), total coliform count (TCC), total viable count (TVC) and total yeast-mould count (TYMC). Images were analyzed using the Matlab software (R2015a). Different reference values were determined by physicochemical, proximate, biochemical and microbiological test. All determination were done in triplicate and the mean value was reported. Data analysis was carried out using the programme Statgraphics Centurion XVI. Calibration and validation model were fitted using the software Unscrambler X version 9.7. A higher correlation found in a* (r=0.65) and moisture (r=0.56) with 'a*' value obtained from image analysis and the highest calibration and prediction accuracy was found in lightness (r²_c=0.73, r²_p=0.69) in beef. Results of this work show that CV technology may be a useful tool for predicting meat quality traits in the laboratory and meat processing industries.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.63-70
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of proteolytic enzymes in Letinus edodes powder which has the ratio of 0%, 2%, 4%, and 8% on the tenderness and sensory characteristics of beef. Beef eye of rounds were marinated in distilled water (Control), 2% L. edodes (L2), 4% L. edodes (L4), and 8% L. edodes (L8). As a result, the enzyme activities have shown to have higher activity (p<0.001) as the amount of freeze-dried Letinus edodes powder increased. The pH and color of the meat were slightly different between the C (control) group and the sample groups. The cooking loss showed the lowest value of control (p<0.01), and water holding capacity showed the highest value of L8. Furthermore, the sample groups exhibited lower shear force values compared with the control (p<0.05). L4 and L8 showed muscle proteolytic effects compared with the control. In case of sensory evaluation, L4 showed significantly higher values in terms of color (p<0.05), flavor (p<0.01), taste (p<0.01), tenderness (p<0.01), juiciness (p<0.01), and overall acceptance (p<0.01). Based on the results, this study conclude that adding of 4% around freeze-dried Letinus edodes powder may be the best optimization ratio for sensory character and tenderization of the beef.