Temperament Upregulates Mitochondrial Enzymes and Negatively Affects Myofibrillar Fragmentation in Beef of Excitable <i>Bos taurus indicus</i> Cattle
Background: <i>Bos taurus indicus</i> cattle is known to be temperamental and to produce beef with greater variability in terms of quality compared to beef of <i>Bos taurus taurus</i>. Cattle adaptability and resilience are of great importance to sustain beef production world...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Metabolites |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/15/1/24 |
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| Summary: | Background: <i>Bos taurus indicus</i> cattle is known to be temperamental and to produce beef with greater variability in terms of quality compared to beef of <i>Bos taurus taurus</i>. Cattle adaptability and resilience are of great importance to sustain beef production worldwide. Objective: The study aimed to understand early post-mortem metabolites among muscles with different fiber types profile of calm and excitable Nellore, as well as its relationship with fragmentation of beef aged up to 28 d. Methods: Animals were evaluated based on chute score and exit velocity to calculate a temperament index, which was used to classify them as calm or excitable. At slaughter, the pH and temperature declines of <i>Triceps brachii</i> (TB) and <i>Longissimus lumborum</i> (LL) were measured, muscles were sampled, and aged up to 28 d. Metabolites were determined, and sarcomere length and myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI) were quantified. Metabolomics data were analyzed using a multivariate approach, while other traits were investigated through ANOVA. Results: The pH decline was affected by all three fixed effects investigated (temperament × muscle × time post-mortem: <i>p</i> = 0.016), while temperature decline was affected by muscle × time (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Metabolites differed among muscles and cattle temperament, with excitable cattle showing greater taurine abundance in LL, as well as greater creatine in TB 1 h post-mortem, based on the volcano plot. Sarcomere length and MFI results revealed faster and limited tenderization in excitable cattle beef. Conclusions: Altogether, results emphasized the upregulation of mitochondrial enzymes and reduced tenderization as determinants of inferior beef quality after prolonged aging in excitable cattle. |
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| ISSN: | 2218-1989 |