# Breed-Dependent Divergence in Breast Muscle Fatty Acid Composition Between White King and Tarim Pigeons

## TL;DR

This study compares the fatty acid composition of breast muscles in two pigeon breeds, revealing breed-specific differences that could impact meat quality and breeding strategies.

## Contribution

The study identifies breed-dependent divergence in fatty acid profiles of pigeons under identical conditions, offering insights for meat quality and genetic research.

## Key findings

- Tarim pigeons had higher levels of palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids compared to White King pigeons.
- Principal component analysis showed clear separation between the two breeds based on fatty acid composition.
- Differential fatty acids were linked to pathways related to fatty acid biosynthesis, elongation, and degradation.

## Abstract

Pigeons are an important poultry species used for meat production, and understanding their fatty acid composition is valuable for improving meat quality and supporting breeding research. In this study, we compared the breast muscle fatty acid profiles of two representative breeds—the high-yield White King pigeon and the local Tarim pigeon—raised under identical feeding and management conditions. Tarim pigeons showed higher levels of several fatty acids, including palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids, whereas White King pigeons exhibited relatively lower overall fatty acid content. These results reflect intrinsic breed-associated differences in fatty acid composition and provide a reference for future studies on nutritional characteristics, genetic background, and breed evaluation of different pigeon populations.

Fatty acid composition of skeletal muscle is an important determinant of meat quality in poultry. In this study, we compared the breast muscle fatty acid profiles of White King (BW, n = 25) and Tarim (TM, n = 23) pigeons using targeted fatty acid quantification under identical feeding and management conditions. Sixteen differential fatty acids were identified, with TM pigeons exhibiting significantly higher levels of palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0), oleic (C18:1n9c), and linoleic (C18:2n6c) acids (p < 0.001). Principal component analysis revealed clear separation between breeds, reflecting distinct fatty acid composition patterns. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes annotation indicated that differential fatty acids were associated with pathways related to fatty acid biosynthesis, elongation, and degradation. Together, these results describe breed-specific differences in breast muscle fatty acid composition and provide a descriptive biochemical reference for understanding variation in meat quality-related traits among pigeon breeds.