Carcass traits, meat quality characteristics, and lipid metabolism-related gene expression pattern of Yaoshan white goats raised in traditional extensive production system: effects of slaughter age and meat cuts

Abstract We investigated the effect of slaughter age on carcass and meat quality, and compared the physicochemical traits and mRNA levels of lipid metabolism-related genes in triceps brachii (TB), longissimus thoracis (LT) and gluteus (GL) muscles of fifteen castrated Yaoshan white goats. We found that goats slaughtered at 2.5 y had higher final body, carcass, meat, and bone weights than at 1.5 y or 2 y. GL had higher crude protein concentration. Amino acids and fatty acids differed among the three muscles. The expression of PPARγ, LPL, SREBP-1c, and ACACA were the highest in LT, followed by GL and TB, which was consistent with the IMF content. Overall, carcass quality was higher in goats slaughtered at 2.5 y. From a consumer health perspective, IMF of TB and GL muscles displayed better quality attributes (lower MUFA/PUFA, higher PUFA, and higher PUFA/SFA ratio) than LT. IMF deposition was related to the expression of PPARγ, LPL, SREBP-1c, and ACACA.