Prediction and Experimental Verification of a Hierarchical Transcription Factor Regulatory Network of Porcine Myoglobin (Mb)

Myoglobin is a key chemical component that determines meat’s color and affects consumers’ purchase intentions. In this work, we firstly identified the promoter sequence of the Mb gene from the primary assembly of high-throughput genome sequencing in pigs, and predicted its potential transcription factors by LASAGNA. Through the data mining of the mRNA expression profile of longissimus dorsi muscle of different pig breeds, we constructed a hierarchical interplay network of Mb-TFs (Myoglobin-Transcription Factors), consisting of 16 adaptive transcription factors and 23 secondary transcription factors. The verification of gene expression in longissimus dorsi muscle showed that the Mb mRNA and encoded protein were significantly (p < 0.05) more abundant in Bama pigs than Yorkshire pigs. The qRT-PCR (Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR) validation on genes of the Mb-TFs network showed that FOS, STAT3, STAT1, NEFL21, NFE2L2 and MAFB were significant positive regulatory core transcription factors of Mb-TFs network in Bama pigs, whereas ATF3 was the secondary transcription factor most responsible for the activation of the above transcription factors. Our study provides a new strategy to unravel the mechanism of pork color formation, based on public transcriptome and genome data analysis.

Effects of Marination with Different Salt Concentrations on Some Quality Criteria of Beef Meat

In the present study, the effect of different salt concentrations on some quality properties such as the total number of coliform bacteria, texture, cooking loss, total salt content, metmyoglobin, pH, the water activity of steaks prepared from longissimus dorsi muscle of fresh beef was investigated. For this purpose, steaks prepared from longissimus dorsi muscle were dipped in marination brine in four different concentrations; 0% (control group), 1.5% NaCl, 2% NaCl and 2.5% NaCl, and marinated for 24 hours at +4 °C. The initial crude protein, crude fat, pH, moisture, and ash contents of beef were determined as 20.50%, 5.80%, 6.13, 72.63%, 1.07%, respectively. In the cooked meat samples, the hardness, chewiness and gumminess of the samples marinated with 1.5% and 2% NaCl was found to be higher than the control group. Metmyoglobin content of the meat samples marinated with NaCl is lower than the control group. The results revealed that the total number of coliform bacteria decreased drastically in parallel with the increase in salt concentration. As a result, the changes in the quality of the bovine longissimus dorsi muscle with different salt concentrations and marination were investigated, and positive effects on the textural properties and coliform bacterial load of the meat were observed.

Response to iodine supplementation in the growth and quality of Texel lamb meat

Iodine deficiency determines reproductive problems especially in the production of thyroid hormone, affecting the functions that thyroidal hormones regulate, such as energy metabolism, thermoregulation, reproduction, growth, muscle and bone tissue function. Indeed a certain concentration of iodine in the diet can promote performance in production in terms of fattening and growth. The main goal of the work was the supplementation with iodine salt from weaning to work on the production and quality of carcass and meat of early lambs of the Texel breed. Three random groups were formed. In one group, iodine salt was administered daily individually, in another group salt without iodine and finally a third "control" group without salt aggregate. All these animals were fed on natural field with an energy-protein supplement. The weaning weight and its evolution (daily gain) were determined, fortnightly until the work weight (35 kg) was reached. Blood levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and Selenium (Se) were evaluated. In the carcass were measured the hot and cold carcass weight, pH, colour; GR point and in the meat tenderness will be determined in the Longissimus dorsi muscle. Se concentrations, neutral detergent fiber, crude protein and iodine in pastures were also determined. The results show that no significant differences were found for any of the characters measured.

Effects of Paper Mulberry Silage on the Growth Performance, Rumen Microbiota and Muscle Fatty Acid Composition in Hu Lambs

Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) is widely ensiled to feed sheep in southwestern China, as unconventional woody forage. Feeding lambs with paper mulberry silage (PMS) may improve certain feeding characteristics, thereby affecting the growth performance and meat quality. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of four diets of PMS on growth performance, rumen microbial composition, and muscle fatty acids profile in Hu lambs. The results showed that 30% and 40% PMS increased the dry matter intake and average daily gain of Hu lambs compared to the control group. PMS30 and PMS40 increased the content of C24:1, and PMS40 increased the content of C20:5n-3. The content of microbial protein (MCP) was higher in PMS40 than in others, but PMS30 and PMS40 reduced the total volatile fatty acid in rumen. PMS30 significantly increased the ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid. The abundance of ruminal Christensenellaceae_R-7_group and norank_f_Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group was significantly higher in PMS30 and PMS40 groups. Moreover, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group had a significant positive correlation with n3-polyunsaturated fatty acid. PMS40 might lead to a relatively high content of unsaturated fatty acids in longissimus dorsi muscle by increasing the relative abundance of Christensenellaceae_R-7_group in rumen.

Segmentação de imagens de ultrassonografia da carcaça em pequenos ruminantes utilizando Deep Learning

Brazil is one of the main countries operating in the agribusiness sector. Sheep and goat farming is one of the segments of Brazilian agribusiness. The evaluation of each carcass of goats and sheep is carried out by a specialist who evaluates them based on visual aspects, being susceptible to errors in the final evaluation. In this context, the purpose of this work is to use Convolutional Neural Networks to segment the Longissimus dorsi muscle area in ultrasonographic images of small ruminants. Our experiments showed that the PSPNet CNN architecture achieved the results with an Intersect over Union (IoU) rate of 0.89. It was possible to obtain a precise segmentation of the images, which will allow the producer to correctly diagnose the measurements of the animals with greater practicality and saving time.

Meat quality, biosecurity, and animal welfare: consequences of an inefficient inspection

In livestock, biosecurity, animal welfare and meat quality have a synergetic effect on the final product. To meet minimal safety and humane production, it is necessary to consider biosecurity risks and procedures to mitigate animal welfare problems. Following guidelines to achieve it, the meat quality improves consequently. Here we tested two parameters regarding the meat quality of beef cattle to understand how the poor inspection affects the quality of the final product. Therefore, 12 samples of the longissimus dorsi muscle were evaluated from different butcheries, using fresh meat recently received by the supplier. There were no sanitary inspection records related to the sampled meat. The results showed a large percentage of PSE (pale, soft, and exudative) and DFD (dark, firm, and dry) meats. Given the pH and color values, it is concluded that the slaughtering was not carried out properly. Hence, technological defects in the meat were observed, making it inappropriate for consumption. We concluded that inefficient pre-slaughter handling is compromising animal welfare, increasing the biosecurity risk, and impairing the quality of the final product. We argue that these problems not only decrease the sustainability of livestock systems, but also compromises human health. Currently, livestock plays an important role in global environmental concerns, such as climate change, land degradation, water pollution and biodiversity loss. Then, it is needed to reduce the waste of such products.

PSIII-26 The effects of maternal melatonin supplementation during pregnancy on longissimus dorsi muscle morphometrics in bovine fetuses at 240 days of gestation

Melatonin is a multifunctional hormone that positively impacts postnatal growth and weaning weight in cattle offspring when supplemented to adequately fed dams during gestation. However, it is unclear whether supplemental melatonin is effective as a countermeasure to decrease effects of a nutritionally compromised pregnancy on fetal tissues. The current study evaluated the efficacy of maternal melatonin supplementation during gestation, as a therapeutic in nutrient restricted beef heifers using fetal LM morphometrics for evaluation of carcass tissue growth. On gestational d 160, 25 Brangus heifers were assigned to one of four groups in a 2 x 2 factorial: nutrient restricted (RES-CON: 60% NRC; n = 6), adequate fed (ADQ-CON; 100% NRC; n = 6), nutrient restricted supplemented with 20 mg melatonin (RES-MEL; n = 7), or adequate fed supplemented with 20 mg melatonin (ADQ-MEL; n = 6). Treatments were top-dressed with 2 mL of melatonin dissolved in 100% ethanol (10 mg/mL) or 2 mL of ethanol (control). At gestational d 240, Caesarean sections and fetal necropsies were performed, both fetal LM were dissected to determine weight, length, and midline circumference. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. There was a diet by treatment interaction wherein the mass of the left and right LM was increased (P0.035) by an average of 42.46 g in RES-MEL offspring compared to RES-CON fetuses, but no differences (P0.0812) among ADQ groups. Restricted nutrition decreased left LM circumference (10.21 vs. 10.95 cm; P = 0.0445). Treatment had no effect on LM length (P0.1139). In the present study, maternal melatonin supplementation during the Summer promoted muscle growth and mitigated the adverse effects of a nutritionally compromised pregnancy on LM morphometrics. These data are indicative of the potential for melatonin as a gestational therapeutic for prenatal muscle growth and improved efficiency of meat animal production.

191 Pulsatile Administration of Leucine Promotes mTOR Signaling and Protein Synthesis in Skeletal Muscle of Continuously Fed Preterm Pigs

Continuous feeding does not elicit an optimal anabolic response but is required for some premature infants. We reported previously that intermittent intravenous pulses of Leu (800 μmol Leu·kg-1·h-1 every 4 h) to continuously fed pigs born at term enhanced skeletal muscle mTOR signaling and protein synthesis (PS). The objective of this study was to determine if the anabolic response of skeletal muscle to intermittent Leu pulses is altered following premature birth. Pigs delivered 10 d preterm by cesarean section were advanced to full oral feeding over four days (195 kcal·kg-1·d-1; 13.5 g protein·kg-1·d-1). Pigs were assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: 1) ALA (continuous feeding; 800 μmol Ala·kg-1·h-1 every 4 h; n = 7); 2) L1× (continuous feeding; 800 μmol Leu·kg-1·h-1 every 4 h; n = 6); 3) L2× (continuous feeding; 1600 μmol Leu·kg-1·h-1 every 4 h; n = 6); and 4) INT (intermittent feeding every 4 h; n = 5). Pigs received a Phe tracer 30 min following the amino acid pulse or intermittent feeding to measure PS in longissimus dorsi muscle. Anabolic signaling downstream of mTOR was determined by immunoblot.ResultsPS was higher in L2× and INT compared to ALA (P &lt; 0.05) but was not different between L2× and INT; PS in L1× was intermediate and not different from other groups. Phosphorylation of 4EBP1 and S6K1 was higher in INT compared to L1× and ALA groups (P &lt; 0.05) but was not different compared to L2×. Phosphorylation of 4EBP1, but not S6K1, was higher in L2× compared to ALA (P &lt; 0.05); phosphorylation of 4EBP1 and S6K1 was not different between L1× and L2×.ConclusionsThese results demonstrate that intravenous Leu enhances mTOR activation and PS in LD muscle of continuously fed preterm pigs. However, the amount required may be higher than in pigs born at term.Source of Research SupportNIH and USDA.

High-Condensed Tannin Diet and Transportation Stress in Goats: Effects on Physiological Responses, Gut Microbial Counts and Meat Quality

Feeding condensed tannin (CT)-containing diets such as sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) and reducing stress have been reported to improve meat quality and food safety in goats. In a completely randomized design with split-plot, thirty-six uncastrated male Spanish goats were assigned to 3 dietary treatments (n = 12/treatment): ground ‘Serala’ sericea lespedeza hay (SER), bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) hay (BG), or bermudagrass hay—dewormed goats (BG-DW; Control) at 75% of intake, with a corn-based supplementation (25%) for 8 weeks. Prior to slaughter, goats were either transported for 90 min to impose stress or held in pens. Basophil counts were lower (p < 0.01) in the SER group compared to BG or BG-DW groups suggesting a better anti-inflammatory capacity due to polyphenols in the SER diet. Compared to BG-DW group, cortisol level was higher (p < 0.05) and norepinephrine was lower (p < 0.05) in the SER group. The SER group had the lowest aerobic plate counts (APC) in both rumen and rectum (p < 0.01). Longissimus dorsi muscle initial pH was not affected by diet or stress. Feeding sericea hay to goats may have beneficial effects, such as enhanced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties during stress and reduced gut microbial counts, without changing meat quality characteristics.