Evaluation of the Effects of Acorns on the Meat Quality and Transcriptome Profile of Finishing Yuxi Pigs

TL;DR

Feeding finishing Yuxi pigs 300 g/kg of acorns improves pork quality by changing muscle fiber types and regulating metabolism.

Contribution

This study demonstrates that acorn supplementation enhances pork quality through myofiber conversion and metabolic regulation.

Findings

The AC2 group showed higher pH24h, intramuscular fat, and umami amino acids compared to the control group.

Acorn supplementation increased glycogen and ATP levels while decreasing glycolytic potential and lactic acid.

Transcriptome analysis revealed significant gene expression changes, including upregulation of MYH7, MYH2, and MYH1.

Abstract

Acorns, the fruit of oak trees, are widely distributed throughout China. In this study, we explored the effects of dietary acorns on the meat quality and transcriptome profile of finishing Yuxi pigs, and found that dietary supplementation with 300 g/kg acorns in finishing Yuxi pigs improved pork quality by inducing myofiber conversion to types that improve pork quality and taste, regulating glycolysis, extracellular matrix formation, and substance and energy metabolism. The findings of this study highlight acorn supplementation as a strategy for improving pork quality and a basis for the development of alternative feed components enhancing the sustainability of the swine industry.

In this study, we explored the effects of dietary acorn on the meat quality and transcriptome profile of finishing Yuxi pigs. A total of 90 pigs (99.60 ± 1.63 kg) were randomly assigned to three groups: the control group fed a commercial diet (CN), and two treatment groups fed 100 (AC1) and 300 (AC2) g/kg of acorns, respectively. Each group contained five replicates with six pigs per replicate. After a 120-day treatment period, the AC2 group showed significantly higher pH24h, a*, intramuscular fat, and umami amino acid and significantly lower L*, cooking loss, and shear force than the CN group (p < 0.05). Further, the AC2 group showed significantly increased glycogen, ATP, and ADP, creatine kinase activity, and myofiber density and significantly decreased glycolytic potential, lactic acid, and lactate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, phosphofructokinase muscle, and pyruvate kinase activities (p < 0.05). The mRNA levels of MYH7, MYH2, and MYH1 were significantly upregulated in the AC2 group (p < 0.05). A transcriptome analysis further revealed significant differences in gene expression patterns between the AC2 and CN groups. These findings suggest that dietary acorns at 300 g/kg improve pork quality by inducing the conversion of myofiber types and regulating glycolysis.

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