Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica ›› 2024, Vol. 55 ›› Issue (1): 110-119.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2024.01.012

• ANIMAL GENETICS AND BREEDING • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Comparative Study on Meat Quality Characteristics of Three-Way Hybrid Sheep Charolais×Duper×Hu and Charolais×Australian White×Hu and Hu Sheep

WANG Haibo1,2, ZHAN Jinshun1, GU Zhiyong1,3, CHEN Xinfeng4, PAN Yue1,3, JIA Haobin1, ZHONG Xiaojun1, LI Kairong4, ZHAO Shengguo2*, HUO Junhong1*   

  1. 1. Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanchang 330200, China;
    2. College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China;
    3. College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin 300384, China;
    4. Ganzhou Lulinwan Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Co. LTD., Ganzhou 341103, China
  • Received:2023-07-10 Online:2024-01-23 Published:2024-01-24

Abstract: The aim of this experiment was to compare the meat quality characteristics of three-way hybrid sheep Charolais×Duper×Hu (CDH) and Charolais×Australian white×Hu (CAH) and Hu sheep. Healthy male lambs with similar birth weight ((3.61±0.65) kg)were selected and followed by mothers until 45 days, followed by intensive weaning. The weaned lambs were then divided into 3 treatment groups (Hu, CAH and CAH groups) with 15 lambs in each treatment. In addition, a total of 45 lambs from 3 treatments were mixed fed until 6 months of age for slaughter. Subsequently, the tissue morphology, meat quality and nutritional composition of longissimus dorsi were analyzed. During the experiment period, the whole mixed basal diet was fed. The results showed as follows: 1) Compared with Hu sheep, longissimus dorsi muscle L* was significantly decreased, and cooked meat rate was significantly increased (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in longissimus dorsi muscle pH, shear force, water loss rate, a* and b* in three-way hybrid sheep (P>0.05). 2) Compared with Hu sheep, the muscle fiber diameter and average muscle fiber area of longissimus dorsi muscle of three-way hybrid sheep were significantly increased, while the number and density of muscle fibers were significantly decreased (P<0.05). 3) Compared with Hu sheep, the contents of crude protein, essential and non-essential amino acids in longissimus dorsi muscle of ternary hybrid sheep were significantly increased (P<0.05), but the contents of total saturated fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids and trace elements (Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn) were not significantly affected (P>0.05). 4) There were no significant differences in pH, shear force, water loss rate, cooked meat rate, meat color, muscle fiber quantity, muscle fiber area, muscle fiber density, conventional nutrients (moisture, crude protein, crude fat, crude ash), trace elements (Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn), essential and non-essential amino acids contents, and total saturated and unsaturated fatty acids contents in longissimus dorsi muscle between CAH and CDH (P>0.05). In conclusion, there was no significant difference in meat quality between the hybrid offspring of the same terminal father. Interestingly, three-way hybrid sheep can significantly improve meat quality, increase crude protein and amino acid levels in longissimus dorsi muscle, and have the potential to breed and produce high-quality mutton.

Key words: sheep, muscle fibers, trace elements, amino acids, fatty acids

CLC Number: