Comparison of carcass traits, meat quality and expressions of MyHCs in muscles between Mashen and Large White pigs

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in carcase traits, meat quality and muscle characteristics (mean fibre diameter and MyHCs levels of expression) between Mashen and Large White pigs. A total of 60 pigs (30 Mashen pigs and 30 Large White pigs, half male and half female in each breed) were used in this experiment. Results showed that Mashen pigs exhibited lower slaughter weight, reduced back-fat thickness, reduced loin eye area and lower lean meat ratio than Large White pigs (p < .05). Meat from Large White pigs had higher pH1, greater drip losses, higher Warner-Bratzler shear force values, higher lightness, higher yellowness, and greater mean diameter of muscle fibres. Also, meat from Large white pigs had lower cooked yield, lower redness, and reduced intramuscular fat content than meat from Mashen pigs (p < .05). The contents of 17 amino acids, total amino acids, essential amino acids and umami amino acids in the longissimus dorsi of Mashen pigs were higher than those in Large White pigs (p < .05). Large White pigs had higher monounsaturated fatty acids and lower polyunsaturated fatty acids than Mashen pigs (p < .05). Meanwhile, the expression of MyHCI was significantly higher and the expression of MyHCIIb was lower in Mashen than in Large White pigs (p < .05). The higher MyHCI and lower MyHCIIb found in muscles from Mashen pigs might partially explain meat quality differences found between the two breeds in the present study. These results provide valuable information for meat quality differences between Mashen and Large White pigs. HIGHLIGHTSCarcase traits and meat quality between Large White and Mashen pigs exhibited significant differences. The total amino acids, essential amino acids and umami amino acids in Mashen pigs were higher than those in Large White pigs. Large White pigs had higher monounsaturated fatty acids and lower polyunsaturated fatty acids than Mashen pigs. The expression of MyHCI was significantly higher and the expression of MyHCIIb was lower in Mashen than in Large White pigs. ARTICLE HISTORY

Comparative Transcriptome Analyses of Longissimus thoracis Between Pig Breeds Differing in Muscle Characteristics

“…MYH7 , MYH2 , MYH4 , and MYH3 are the specific genes of type I, type IIA, type IIB, and type IIX myofibers, respectively ( Schiaffino and Reggiani, 2011 ). In a previous study, the specific gene expression of type I and type IIA myofiber in MS pigs was significantly higher than that in LW pigs, whereas the specific gene expression of type IIB myofiber was higher in LW pig ( Guo et al, 2019 ). In the present study, the expression of MYH7 in MS pigs was higher than that in LW pigs at 0 day, but there were no significant differences at 90 and 180 days.…”

“…A previous study showed that the growth rate of MS pigs was slower than that of LW pigs ( Zhao et al, 2017 ; Guo et al, 2019 ). We clustered the longissimus thoracis muscle tissues sampled at three time points (early, middle, and later development stages).…”

“…Mashen (MS) pig is a northern China breed. A previous study analyzed the differential phenotype related to growth rate and meat quality between MS and LW pigs ( Guo et al, 2019 ). MS pigs have lower growth rate and higher meat quality than LW pigs ( Guo et al, 2019 ).…”

Comprehensive Analysis of Differentially Expressed CircRNAs and CeRNA Regulatory Network&nbsp;in Porcine Skeletal Muscle

“…Currently, circRNA research focuses on various diseases, particularly malignant tumors, with circRNA expression in, and effect on, pig muscle development not yet reported. Here, we selected the Large White (LW) pig, a Western commercial breed, and the Mashen (MS) pig, a Chinese local breed, based on the differences in muscle ber diameter, density, intramuscular fat content, at different developmental stages between these two pig breeds [30,31]. RNA sequencing technology and bioinformatics methods were applied to analyze the differential expression of circRNA (DEcircRNA) and its regulatory network during different developmental stages of these two breeds (1, 90, and 180 days old).…”

Table_4.XLSX

“…A previous study showed that the growth rate of MS pigs was slower than that of LW pigs (Zhao et al, 2017;Guo et al, 2019).…”