• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.628-633
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• 2005

Muscle fiber characteristics were evaluated for predictability of meat quality traits using 231 crossbred pigs. Muscle $pH_{45min}$, R-value, and $pH_{24hr}$ were selected to estimate regression equation model of drip loss and lightness, although variances of coefficient estimates could only account for small part of drip loss (about 16.3 to 25.3%) and lightness (about 16.9 to 31.7%). Muscle $pH_{24hr}$ was represented to drip loss and lightness, which explained corresponding 25.3 and 31.7% of estimation in drip loss and lightness, respectively. Area percentage of type IIb fiber significantly contributed to prediction of metabolic rate and meat quality. However, equations predicting meat quality traits based on area percentage of type IIb fiber alone are less useful than ones based on early postmortem parameters. These results suggest estimated model using both metabolic properties of muscle and postmortem metabolic rate could be used for prediction of pork quality traits.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1504-1510
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• 2013

Native chickens hold a significant share of the market in China. In response to the huge demand from the market, the productivity of Chinese native chickens needs to be improved. Cross breeding is an effective method to increase productivity, although it might affect meat quality. In this study, two pure lines (SD02 and SD03) of Erlang mountainous chickens were hybridized with a yellow feather and faster growing line (SD01). The effect of hybridization on carcass and meat quality (physiochemical and textural traits) was measured in the $F_1$ population at d 91 of age. The hybrids exhibited higher body weight and dressed weight, and amount of semi-eviscerated, eviscerated, breast muscle and abdominal fat (p<0.05). Abdominal fat yield also increased (p<0.05) compared to the offspring of the two pure-lines. Meanwhile, there was no significant difference in meat quality traits except for the myofiber diameter and density and the shear force of the breast muscle. Overall, the offspring of cross-lines were similar to pure lines in meat color, pH value, inosinic acid, crude protein, crude fat, dry matter, moisture content and amino acid composition in the breast muscle. These results suggest that productivity can be improved via cross-breeding while maintaining meat quality of the Erlang mountainous chicken.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.1224-1232
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• 2020

Objective: The QingYu pig is well known for its excellent meat quality attributes in Sichuan province, China. In order to improve its production efficiency, the determination of genetic factors contributing to quantifiable economic traits of livestock is important. Moreover, the cross-breeding of QingYu pigs with western breeds possessing strong growth attributes is an efficient way to improve the performance of this breed. Methods: Here, the genetic parameters of several important reproductive traits of QingYu pigs were estimated, include total number born (TNB), number born alive, litter birth weight, individual birth weight, number of piglets weaned, litter weaning weight, and individual weaning weight. The data was analyzed using the ASReml 3.0 software (NSW Inc., Sydney, Australia). Furthermore, the effects of crossing Berkshire with QingYu (BQ) pigs on carcass and meat quality traits, as well as the effects of slaughter weight on carcass and meat quality of BQ were characterized. Results: QingYu pigs exhibited superior reproductive traits. The TNB available to QingYu pigs was more than 8 per parity. The observed repeatability of the reproductive traits of the QingYu pigs was between 0.10 and 0.23. The significantly correlated genetic and phenotypic of reproduction traits were consistent. Interestingly, the BQ pigs exhibited improved carcass quality, with a significant increase in loin muscle area, lean percentage and reduction in sebum percentage. As a result, BQ had higher L_45min, lower cooking scores, and lower drip loss. In addition, the loin muscle area, body length, and sebum percentage were significantly higher in 90 and 100 kg animals. Cooking loss showed a significant increase at 80 kg, and marbling increased significantly from 90 kg. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that QingYu pigs exhibit excellent reproductive properties and heritability of these traits. Crossing with Berkshire is an efficient strategy to improve the carcass and meat quality of QingYu pigs for commercial operations. Furthermore, it appears as though the optimal slaughter weight of BQ pigs is at approximately 90 kg.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.1544-1551
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality and hair follicle development of growing Rex rabbits as affected by different environmental enrichment materials. Methods: A total of one hundred and twenty Rex rabbits were randomly assigned to four groups; reared in conventional cages (not enriched) and in enriched cages with either willow stick (WS), rubber duck, or a can containing beans (CB), for 44 days. Results: The average daily gain of the CB group was the highest and had a significant difference from that of the other groups (p<0.05). The spleen and cecum weight of the CB group was greater than those of the WS and control groups (p<0.05). The redness (Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage a^*) of the meat sample of the control group was lower than those of the enriched cage groups (p<0.05). Moreover, the hue value of the CB group was significantly lower than that of the other groups (p<0.05). The tenderest meat belonged to the CB group. In addition, more secondary (p<0.05) and primary follicles were found in the CB group than in the control group. Conclusion: Environmental enrichment increased the average daily gain and improved some carcass traits, meat quality, and hair follicle density. Among the three environmental enrichment materials, CB could be recommended for rabbit husbandry.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.1286-1293
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• 2018

This study assessed the effects of non-stunning (NS) and head-only electrical stunning (HOES) slaughtering condition on meat quality traits of longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle from Korean black goat (KBG). Ten KBGs (18 months) were assigned into two groups and exposed to either NS or HOES treatments. Blood loss (BL) % was measured after exsanguination, and meat quality traits including muscle pH, meat color measurements (CIE $L^*$, $a^*$, $b^*$, Chroma, and hue angle), water-holding capacity (WHC), Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), and sarcomere length were measured at 24 h postmortem. Results indicated that NS and HOES had no significant difference on BL %, the rate of pH decline, meat color properties, and WHC (p>0.05). It has only a small effect on WBSF and sarcomere length values, but the difference was marginal. These results suggested that meat quality of LL muscle from goat might not be affected by slaughter methods because neither NS nor HOES did result in poor quality of meat.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.231-238
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• 2010

There is no investigation has yet been conducted for ACOX1 and CSRP3 gene polymorphisms in Korean cattle (Hanwoo), and their associations with carcass and meat quality traits. In this study, SNPs in ACOX1 and CSRP3 genes were identified and their associations with carcass and meat quality traits were investigated in 227 Hanwoo animals. Two SNPs (g.224G> A and g.19491G>A) in ACOX1 gene and one SNP (g.14859C>T) in CSRP3 gene were identified in Hanwoo and sequence analysis indicated that these SNPs were located in the coding regions. The allele frequencies of ACOX1 g.224G>A and g.19491G>A SNPs were 0.57, 0.43, and 0.56 and 0.44, respectively, For CSRP3 g.14859C>T polymorphism, the C and T allele frequencies were 0.64 and 0.36, respectively. The Hanwoo cattle were used to detect PCR-RFLP patterns for estimating the allele frequencies. Single marker association analyses were performed between genotype of each SNP, and carcass and meat quality association traits to evaluate the relationships in Hanwoo. The g.224G>A SNP genotypes of ACOX1 gene, which was significantly associated with meat quantity grade at slaughter (P<0.03) and backfat thickness tended to be greater (P=0.06) in Hanwoo. The previously identified g.14859C>T SNP was used in this study and the obtained genotype and allele frequencies are almost similar with the previous results reported by Bhuiyan et al. (2007). However, no significant association was found between g.19491G>A SNP in the ACOX1 and g.14859C>T SNP genotypes of CSRP3 gene and considered carcass and meat quality traits. In conclusion, the information on the identified SNPs in CSRP3 and ACOX1 genes could be useful for further association study and haplotype analysis for the development of carcass and meat quality traits in Hanwoo.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.537-542
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• 2011

Biological or physiological genes that regulate metabolism and energy partitioning have the potential to influence economically important traits such as carcass and meat quality traits in beef cattle. The neuropeptide Y (NPY) functions as a central appetite stimulator and plays a major role in feed intake and energy-balance control. Therefore, the NPY gene is an excellent biological and physiological candidate gene for body weight, feeding, fatness or growth related traits in beef cattle. The objective of this study was to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the NPY gene and to evaluate the association of NPY SNP markers with carcass and meat quality traits in Korean cattle. The genomic region (711 bp) including intron 2 of NPY gene was amplified and sequenced, and five SNPs, g.4389 Del(C), g.4371Del(C), g.4271T>C, g.1899A>G and g.1517A>C, were identified. The PCR-RFLP method was then developed to genotype the individuals examined. The g.4271T>C SNP was significantly associated with M. Longissimus dori area (LDA) value (p<0.027). Animals with the TT ($78.144{\pm}0.950\;cm^2$) genotype had higher LDA than those with the CC ($72.266{\pm}2.039\;cm^2$), and animals with TC genotype showed intermediate value. This SNP genotype also showed a highly significant additive genetic effect for the LDA (p<0.01). No significant associations, however, was detected between any of the SNP genotype and other carcass traits measured in this study. In conclusion, SNP genotype of the NPY gene may be used as DNA markers to select animals that have a higher meat yield.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.305-316
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• 2013

The strategy for increasing the palatability of Hanwoo beef through fattening could lead to a decline in yield grade. The aim of this study was to examine the meat quality traits of Longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle from carcasses of Hanwoo steers at different yield grades. A total of 246 Hanwoo steers was divided into the following yield grades: A (n=77), B (n=76) and C (n=93). Meat quality traits, including proximate composition, cholesterol content, nucleotide content, dipeptide content, creatine and creatinine, free amino acid content, fatty acid composition, instrumental meat color, pH, water holding capacity, drip loss, cooking loss, and sensory qualities of the LD muscle from the 3 yield grades of Hanwoo carcasses were measured. The decline in yield grade from A to C resulted in an increase in crude fat and cholesterol content as well as a decrease in inosine 5'-monophosphate and aspartic acid in the LD muscle (p<0.05). In terms of fatty acid composition, the LD muscle from yield grade A had higher SFA and PUFA and lower MUFA content than that from yield grade C (p<0.05). However, the ratio of PUFA/SFA and n-6/n-3 did not differ among LD muscles from the 3 yield grades. There were no significant differences among other meat quality traits in relation to the yield grade. In conclusion, we suggest that the changes of substances related with health and flavor can be considered in order to obtain better quality Hanwoo beef.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.641-649
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• 2016

In this study, we compared qualities and physiochemical traits of meat from Berkshire (black color) pigs with those of meat from 3-way Landrace (white color) × Yorkshire (white color) × Duroc (red color) crossbred pigs (LYD). Meat quality characteristics, including pH, color, drip loss, cooking loss, and free amino acid, fatty acid, vitamin, and mineral contents of longissimus dorsi muscles, were compared. Meat from Berkshire pigs had deeper meat color (redness), higher pH, and lower drip loss and cooking loss than meat from LYD pigs. Moreover, meat from Berkshire pigs had higher levels of phosphoserine, aspartic acid, threonine, serine, asparagine, α-aminoadipic acid, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine, histidine, tryptophan, and carnosine and lower levels of glutamic acid, glycine, alanine, and ammonia than did meat from LYD pigs. The fatty acids oleic acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were present in significantly higher concentrations in Berkshire muscles than they were in LYD muscles. Additionally, Berkshire muscles were significantly enriched with nucleotide components (inosine), minerals (Mg and K), and antioxidant vitamins such as ascorbic acid (C) in comparison with LYD muscles. In conclusion, our results show that in comparison with LYD meat, Berkshire meat has better meat quality traits and is a superior nutritional source of all essential amino acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, vitamin C, and minerals (Mg and K).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1529-1534
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• 2008

The aim of this study was directed at exploring the possible use of muscle fiber characteristics as new selection traits for improving both porcine lean meat production and quality. A total of 174 (114 Yorkshire, 30 Landrace, and 30 Meishan) pigs were used for this study, and lean meat production ability was estimated by backfat thickness and loin eye area. The Longissimus dorsi muscle was taken in order to measure meat quality and muscle fiber characteristics. Due to the high correlations between total muscle fiber number and most of the performance traits, all pigs were classified into three groups (low, intermediate, or high) by total muscle fiber number using cluster analysis. The high group had the highest loin eye area (p<0.001). The meat quality traits were within normal ranges as reddish pink, firm, and nonexudative (RFN) pork, but the groups classified as intermediate and high had relatively large drip loss percentages (p<0.05), produced more than twice the amount of pale, soft, and exudative (PSE) pork as compared to the low group. The group with a high total muscle fiber number was further classified, based on type 2b fiber percentage, into low or high groups by cluster analysis. The results showed that the low type 2b fiber group had good loin eye area (p<0.05), small drip loss (p<0.05), and did not produce PSE pork. For these reasons, a high total muscle fiber number, with a low percentage of type 2b fibers, may be suitable in selecting for improvements in both lean meat production and meat quality.