Consequences of divergent selection for residual feed intake in pigs on muscle energy metabolism and meat quality

Abstract Selection to decrease Residual Feed Intake (RFI) is a relevant way to improve feed efficiency in growing pigs. However, RFI criterion is correlated with body composition and muscle characteristics. Present study evaluated adaptive responses to divergent selection on RFI on muscle metabolism and homeostasis through AMP-activated protein kinase pathway. Consequences on technological and sensory meat quality were also analyzed in two lines of Large White pigs after six generations of divergent selection on RFI. RFI − pigs (n = 60) exhibited similar growth rate but lower feed intake and conversion ratio, and were leaner than RFI + pigs (n = 57). Despite higher glycogen content, metabolic enzyme capacities involved in glycolytic, fatty acid oxidation pathway and energy balance were reduced in the Longissimus muscle of the RFI − pigs. Reduced muscle homeostasis in the RFI − line influenced post-mortem metabolism and impaired technological quality traits of loin and ham but had only slight effects on meat eating quality.