Carbohydrate metabolism in meat animals

Area of Science:

• Animal Physiology
• Biochemistry
• Meat Science

Background:

• Oxidative energy production dominates living animal muscles.
• Severe stress or post-mortem conditions lead to lactate and proton formation.
• Muscle pH regulation is crucial for animal welfare and meat quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the mechanisms regulating muscle pH in living animals and post-mortem.
• To understand the role of buffering capacity, respiration, and monocarboxylate transporters in pH homeostasis.
• To highlight the implications of muscle pH regulation for animal welfare and meat technology.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of physiological conditions in living vs. post-mortem muscle.
• Examination of energy production pathways and their limitations.
• Investigation of buffering systems and transport mechanisms for lactate and protons.

Main Results:

• Living muscles maintain pH through oxidative processes, buffering, respiration, and monocarboxylate transporters.
• Post-mortem, limited aerobic capacity causes significant lactate and proton accumulation, lowering pH.
• The buffering capacity alone delays, but does not prevent, the post-mortem pH decline.

Conclusions:

• Muscle pH regulation involves complex interplay of metabolic and transport processes.
• Understanding these mechanisms is vital for improving animal welfare and meat quality.
• Deviations from normal pH regulation impact both the living animal and the final meat product.