Effect of feeding regimen on meat quality, MyHC isoforms, AMPK, and PGC-1α genes expression in the biceps femoris muscle of Mongolia sheep

Abstract

The effects of two feeding regimens on meat quality, myosin heavy chain (MyHC) types, and key factors regulating muscle fiber type (AMP-activated protein kinase [AMPK] and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-coactivator-1α [PGC-1α]) in the biceps femoris muscle of Mongolia sheep were investigated. A total of 20 Mongolia sheep were weaning for 90 days and divided into two groups (pasture group (P) and confinement group (C)) at 10.36 ± 0.35 kg of weaning weight. After weaning, sheep were pasture fed or confinement fed for 9 months. The results showed that live weights, carcass weight, intramuscular fat (IMF), and Warner–Bratzler shear force (WBSF) in P group were significantly lower (p