• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.447-456
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• 2014

The use of electrical stimulation (ES) as a management tool to improve meat quality and efficiency of meat processing is reviewed. The basis of the efficacy of ES is its ability to fast track postmortem glycolysis, which in turn stimulates myriad histological, physical, biochemical, biophysical and physiological changes in the postmortem muscle. Electrical stimulation hastens the onset and resolution of rigor mortis thereby reducing processing time and labor and plays a vital role in improving meat tenderness and other meat quality traits. However, ES may have negative impacts on some meat quality traits such as color stability and water holding capacity in some animals. Electrical stimulation is not an end in itself. In order to achieve the desired benefits from its application, the technique must be properly used in conjunction with various intricate antemortem, perimortem and postmortem management practices. Despite extensive research on ES, the fundamental mechanisms and the appropriate commercial applications remained obscured. In addition, muscles differ in their response to ES. Thus, elementary knowledge of the various alterations with respect to muscle type is needed in order to optimize the effectiveness of ES in the improvement of meat quality.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.26-31
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• 2005

Leptin, the product of the obesity (ob) gene, is synthesized in adipocytes or fat cells and has been implicated in the regulation of food intake, energy balance and body composition in mammals. Therefore, the leptin gene could be a candidate gene controlling fat deposition, meat quality and carcass traits in cattle. In this study the microsatellite genotypes for leptin gene were determined and their effects on carcass traits and meat quality were estimated in Korean cattle. Six different microsatellite alleles within leptin gene were identified and gene frequencies of 173, 177, 184, 186, 190 and 192 bp alleles were 0.012, 0.308, 0.067, 0.260, 0.342 and 0.016, respectively. The microsatellite marker of the leptin gene showed a significant association with the carcass percentage (CP) and marbling score (MS). Animals with genotypes 192/192 and 177/184 had higher CP than animals with other genotypes. Animals with genotypes 184/192 and 177/184 had higher MS compared with animals with other genotypes. Thus, the results suggest that the 177, 184 and 192 bp alleles may be associated with increased carcass percentage and intramuscular fat levels. No associations were found between the microsatellite genotypes of the leptin gene and other carcass traits such as carcass weight (CW), backfat thickness (BF) and M. longissimus dorsi area (LDA). In conclusion, the microsatellite markers of the leptin gene may be useful for marker-assisted selection of carcass traits and meat quality in Korean cattle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.1049-1054
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• 2003

A group of Hanwoo (Korean cattle) steers (n=14,386) was sampled from a commercial abattoir located in Seoul over one year period (spring, summer, autumn and winter) and their carcass traits were collected. Carcass traits assessed by an official meat grader comprised degree of marbling, meat color, fat color, texture and maturity for quality grade, and back fat thickness, ribeye area and carcass weight for yield grade. A heavier carcass with a higher marbling score, more red meat color and white fat color received better quality grade (p<0.05). Regression analysis showed that the marbling score was the strongest attribute (partial $R^2=0.88$) for quality grade. Lighter carcasses with a thinner back fat and larger ribeye area received higher yield grade score. The back fat thickness was the most negative determinant of yield grade (Partial $R^2=-0.66$). The slaughter season had a little effect on quality and yield grades. As slaughter weight increased, back fat thickness and ribeye area increased linearly, whereas marbling score reached its asymptotic level at approximately 570 kg. As a consequence, quality grade showed a considerable improvement up to 570 kg, but increases in slaughter weight afterward showed a little benefit on quality grade. There was a clear curvilinear relationship between slaughter weight and yield grade in that the yield grade reached its highest point at approximately 490 kg and decreased afterward. These results suggested that 570kg at the age of 24 months might be the economic slaughter weight for quality grade but 490 kg for yield grade.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.315-325
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• 2015

Recently, livestock breeding is more focused on the meat quality rather than meat quantity, mainly due to the improvement of consumers' income. Among the meat quality traits, meat color is one of very important traits because meat color is the first selection criterion from the consumers in the market. Most of the economically important traits have continuous variations and these are called quantitative traits. the genomic locations affecting these traits are called quantitative trait locus (QTL), which is mostly controlled by many genes having small effects. In this study, the recent QTL and candidate gene studies were reviewed in order to meet the consumers' demand for the future market. In the chicken QTL database, three traits are related with meat colors, namely breast color (Bco), meat color (Mco), drip loss (DL) and pH. The identified number of QTLs is 33 from 13 chromosomal regions. In these QTL regions, 14 candidate genes were identified; Eight for meat color (APP, BCMO1, COL1A2, FTO, KPNA2, PSMD12, G0S2, FTSJ3), two for drip loss (AGRP, FTO) and four for pH (GALNT1, PCDH19, DIAPH1, SPP2). These QTLs and candidate genes need to be confirmed and fine mapping is ultimately needed for identification of causative variations. The recently developed chicken resource population using Korean native chicken can be used for the improvement of meat quality traits, which increase the value that needed in the chicken industry.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1594-1608
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• 2009

Research on barley as an animal feed started some decades ago but its utilization in animal production has been limited to countries that grow the crop extensively. Corn has been the most popular energy feed in cattle rations, but the high price of corn and the decreased supply of the grain in the international market have shifted the focus of the animal industry to other cereal crops like barley. Studies have indicated that growth performance of cattle fed barley-based diets has been generally comparable with that of those fed corn-based diets, while results for cattle fed whole-crop barley silage have been more variable. Beef from cattle fed barley-based diets has proved to be as tender and as acceptable for taste as that from animals fed other finishing diets when compared at similar growth rates and degree of finish. The barley crop contains good amounts of antioxidants like 2"O-GIV isovitexin, so from the meat science point of view, a desirable influence of these components on meat quality traits such as meat color, oxidative stability and sensory characteristics might be expected. Furthermore, the effect of the distinctive fatty acid profile of beef fed from whole-crop barley silage on sensory traits is also an important subject to be elucidated. A lot of studies have been made over past decades on the effect of barley, and especially whole crop barley, on beef cattle production and meat quality, but these data have not been collectively documented in a review. The current review re-visits previous literature to underline the effects of barley in the diet on beef quality traits and to identify areas for further studies.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.1081-1093
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• 2023

This study aimed to compare meat quality traits between Berkshire and crossbreed (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc), and to investigate the relationship between meat quality traits and fatty acid composition. 20 Berkshire and 20 crossbreed pigs were used to compare pork loin quality and to determine the relationship between measured variables. 23 variables were measured including proximate composition, pH, drip loss and cooking loss, Warner-Bratzler shear force, and fatty acid composition. Berkshire had higher moisture content, pH, water-holding capacity, saturated fatty acids, and redness than the crossbreed pig (p < 0.05). The fat content and polyunsaturated fatty acid were low (p < 0.05) in Berkshire. Correlation analysis showed a negatively correlation between moisture and fat content, and a positively correlation between saturated fatty acid and fat content. Moreover, saturated fatty acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid were negatively correlated. As a result of factor analysis and partial least square regression, saturated fatty acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid were estimated to be the main factors affecting quality characteristics of pork. Pig breed is associated with differences in meat quality, and fatty acid composition can have an effect on meat quality parameters.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.414-427
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• 2012

Carcass characteristics and meat quality traits as a function of endpoint months of slaughter age (26 vs 32 mon) and chiller ageing (1 vs 10 d) were evaluated for m. longissmus of 26 Hanwoo steers fed with commercial diets including whole crop barley silage. Totally twenty six Hanwoo steers for 6 mon of age that were fed until 26 mon of age constituted the short term-fed group and fed until 32 mon of age constituted long-term fed group. Carcasses were chilled for 24 h and were graded. Strip loin samples were divided into two age groups (1 d and 10 d). Long-term feeding increased carcass weight, rib-eye area, yield grade, marbling score, firmness and quality grade of the meat. The feeding for 32 mon produced tender, juicy meat (p<0.01) with lower cooking loss and higher rating score (p<0.05) than short term feeding, while other quality traits were not influenced by the length of feeding. Intramuscular fat content and oxidative stability (TBARS value) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in beef from long-term feeding however the length of feeding did not alter the fatty acid composition. Chiller aging reduced instrumental tenderness (WBSF value), improved color, sensory tenderness, acceptability and rating of beef. The results of the present study mirrors that Hanwoo steers until 32 mon of age overall improved carcass traits and palatability compared to that for 26 mon. However, from the viewpoints of economical and environmental aspects, cost of the additional feeding for 6 mon for value-adding of eating quality was relatively high and the effects in turn were limited.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.55-61
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• 2016

With the aim of investigating the differences in the quality traits of breast meat between spent hen and broiler chicken, the physicochemical characteristics, fatty acid profile and sensory attributes of breast meat from the two chicken types were assessed. A higher protein content and a lower moisture content were found in breast of spent hen compared to that of commercial broilers (P<0.05). No significant differences in crude fat and ash contents were detected between commercial broilers and the older spent hens (P>0.05). Spent hens showed a significantly lower pH value than did commercial broilers. Spent hen meat had a higher $L^*$ value than broiler chicken meat did (P<0.05). However, $a^*$ and $b^*$ values of breast meat were similar between spent hens and commercial broilers. Water holding capacity values measured in the breast meat were comparable between the two types of chicken used in this study (P>0.05). However, spent hen meat showed a higher cooking loss value than did broiler meat (P<0.05). Total polyunsaturated fatty acid content was significantly higher in spent hen meat compared to broiler meat, in particular eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. Nevertheless, sensory characteristics of breast meat were comparable between spent hen and broiler chicken. This information can help consumers to understand better the nutritive value and important quality traits of breast meat from commercial broilers and spent hens.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.151-161
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• 2019

The objective of this study was to investigate the correlations of marbling characteristics, including marbling score, intramuscular fat (IMF) content, and fleck traits, with meat quality traits and histochemical characteristics of the longissimus thoracis muscle from Hanwoo steers. Marbling fleck characteristics, especially area, number, and fineness (F) index, measured by computerized image analysis were strongly correlated with marbling score and IMF content (p<0.05). However, coarseness (C) index and F/C ratio were somewhat limited relationships with marbling score. In contrast, the IMF content and the number of smaller white flecks increased with increasing lightness value (p<0.05). Moreover, beef with higher marbling scores showed lower cooking loss and Warner-Bratzler shear force value compared to beef with lower marbling scores (p<0.05). Regarding the muscle bundle traits, as number of bundle increased, number of marbling flecks increased (p<0.05), although most marbling characteristics did not have significant correlation with muscle fiber or bundle characteristics.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.328-333
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• 2007

Carboxypeptidase E (CPE) plays an important role in the regulation of the body fat content. Therefore, it has been suggested as candidate gene for traits related to meat quality in beef cattle. This study was conducted to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CPE gene and to investigate association of SNP marker with carcass and meat quality traits in Korean cattle. Three SNPs were identified in the intron 4 (A309G SNP and C445T SNP) and exon 5 (C601T SNP) of the CPE gene by sequence analyses of CPE cDNA and genomic DNA samples. The sequences have been deposited in GenBank database with accession numbers AY970664 and AY970663. Genotyping of the gene-specific SNP marker was carried out using the PCR-RFLP with restriction enzymes DdeI for C445T SNP and NlaIII for C601T SNP. The frequencies of C and T alleles were 0.43 and 0.57 for C445T SNP and 0.42 and 0.58 for C601T SNP, respectively. Statistical analysis indicated that the C445T SNP showed a significant effect (p<0.05) on marbling score (MS) and breeding value of backfat thickness (BF-EBV), respectively. Animals with the CT genotype showed higher marbling score and backfat thickness than those with the TT genotype. This marker also showed a significant dominance effect for the MS and BF-EBV (p<0.05). However, no significant associations were observed between C601T SNP genotypes and all traits examined. The results suggest that the CPE gene may be used as a marker for carcass traits in Korean cattle.