Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026

Exploring the Longissimus Muscle: Unraveling its Correlation with Meat Quality in Bos indicus and Crossbred Bulls
Published on: July 12, 2024
Muscle fibre type and meat quality
R E Klont1, L Brocks, G Eikelenboom
1Institute for Animal Science and Health (ID-DLO), PO Box 65, Lelystad, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Muscle morphology and fibre type composition are briefly reviewed in relation to colour stability and tenderness in beef, and water holding capacity, colour and eating quality in pork. A large inter-muscle and inter-animal variation exists in meat quality, which is often related to metabolic and contractile properties as determined by their muscle fibre type distribution. Characteristics of different muscles may be modified in living animals by environmental conditions and genetic selection. Selection experiments based on biochemical and histochemical characteristics determined in biopsies or otherwise, and study of correlated selection responses, may lead to the development and applications of (new) muscle traits in future breeding programmes.
Related Concept Videos
Classification of Skeletal Muscle Fibers
Slow-Twitch Muscle Fibers
Slow oxidative, muscle fibers appear red due to large numbers of capillaries and high levels of...
Types of Skeletal Muscle Fibers
Fast-twitch fibers
Fast-twitch fibers, or Type II fibers, are designed for quick, powerful bursts of speed and strength. They reach peak tension within approximately 0.01 seconds following stimulation. Characterized by a large diameter and densely packed myofibrils, these fibers contain...
Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
Overview of Muscle Tissues
Elasticity
Elasticity is the ability of muscles to stretch and return to their original shape. This property is partly due to elastic fibers — macromolecules that run through the muscles. These fibers are firm and resilient,...
Classification of Skeletal Muscle Relaxants
Peripherally acting skeletal muscle relaxants interfere with the neurotransmission at the neuromuscular end plate to induce paralysis during...
Formation of Muscle Fibers from Myoblasts
Muscle progenitor cells (MPCs) are formed from the myotomes. MPCs express genes that encode the transcription factors Pax3 and Pax7. Along with Pax 3/7, other transcription factors...

