Characteristics of intramuscular collagen in calf-fed Nellore bulls and steers throughout the finishing phase

Juliana Chaves da Silva; Luiz Henrique Pereira Silva; Maria Verônica de Souza; Polyana Galvão Bernardes Coelho; Cris Luana de Castro Nunes; Walmir da Silva; Débora Evelyn Freitas Assis; Taiane da Silva Martins; Mario Luiz Chizzotti; Simone Eliza Facioni Guimarães

doi:10.1016/j.meatsci.2023.109347

Characteristics of intramuscular collagen in calf-fed Nellore bulls and steers throughout the finishing phase

Meat Sci. 2023 Dec:206:109347. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2023.109347. Epub 2023 Sep 21.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Veterinary, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG 36570-900, Brazil.
² Department of Agriculture and Food Science, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101-1066, USA.
³ Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG 36570-900, Brazil.
⁴ Department of Veterinary, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG 36570-900, Brazil; Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG 36570-900, Brazil. Electronic address: sfacioni@ufv.br.

PMID: 37757505
DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2023.109347

Abstract

This study evaluated collagen solubility and gene expression of biomarkers for intramuscular collagen (IMCT) deposition and remodeling in the Longissimus muscle of bulls and steers through the finishing phase. Thirty-six Nellore calves were used (18 bulls and 18 steers), and six of each sexual condition were randomly assigned to be harvested at 0, 100, or 200 days on feed (DOF) to evaluate collagen characteristics in different time points throughout the finishing phase. Bulls showed a greater collagen solubility than steers (P = 0.03). The gene expression of fibrogenic markers (TGFβ1, COL1A1, and COL3A1) and IMCT remodeling mediators (MMPII, TIMPII, and LOX) were not affected by sexual condition or DOF (P > 0.05). Our data indicate that young Nellore bulls have a higher percentage of soluble intramuscular collagen, possibly due to higher collagen remodeling associated with a faster growth rate and muscle hypertrophy. Moreover, castration and DOF did not modify mRNA levels of fibrogenic and collagen remodeling markers.

Keywords: Lysyl oxidase; Meat quality; Metalloproteinases; TGF; Zebu cattle.