# Effects of Age on Slaughter Performance and Meat Quality of Shanbei White Cashmere Goat and Optimization of Slaughter Strategies

## TL;DR

This study examines how age affects the growth and meat quality of Shanbei white cashmere goats and identifies molecular mechanisms to help optimize slaughter strategies.

## Contribution

The study identifies age-related differences in growth and meat quality and their underlying gene-metabolite regulatory network in Shanbei white cashmere goats.

## Key findings

- 12-month-old goats showed better growth performance and higher meat yields compared to 6-month-olds.
- 6-month-old goats had tenderer and juicier meat, with 138 DEGs and 158 DEMs identified as contributing factors.
- A gene-metabolite regulatory network was constructed to explain age-dependent meat quality differences.

## Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the impact of age on growth performance and meat quality in Shanbei white cashmere (SWC) goats and the mechanism of action. The study measured the growth and meat quality of 6- and 12-month-old male goats and analyzed the expression of genes and metabolites in their muscles. The results showed that 12-month-old goats grew faster and had higher meat yields, while 6-month-old goats had tenderer and juicier meat. The study also identified the key genes and metabolites affecting these differences and their interaction modes. These age-related differences can be used to select the appropriate slaughter age according to production needs. This study’s findings can serve as a reference for goat breeders to help them optimize breeding and better meet consumer demands for different quality meats.

To clarify the age-related differences in growth performance, meat quality, and the underlying molecular mechanisms of Shanbei white cashmere (SWC) goats, the slaughter performance and meat quality of 6-month-old (S group) and 12-month-old (T group) male goats were analyzed. This was combined with muscle transcriptome and untargeted metabolome analyses. The results showed that the T group had better growth performance, while the S group had superior meat quality. A total of 138 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 158 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were identified, which are enriched in multiple pathways, and a meat quality-related gene–metabolite regulatory network was constructed. This study reveals the molecular mechanisms of age-dependent differences, providing theoretical support for goat breeding and slaughter strategy optimization.