Caspase activity in post mortem muscle and its relation to cattle handling practices

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Biochemistry
• Meat Science

Background:

• Animal handling before slaughter significantly affects muscle metabolism and meat quality.
• Defects like dark cutting beef result in substantial economic losses for the meat industry.
• Understanding post-mortem muscle changes is crucial for improving meat production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess apoptosis onset in post-mortem muscle of Spanish bovine breeds.
• To investigate the influence of production systems and transport/lairage conditions on muscle biochemistry.
• To reveal biochemical characteristics related to meat quality defects.

Main Methods:

• Determined initiator caspase 9 and executioner caspases 3/7 activity.
• Analyzed Longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle samples at 2, 8, and 24 hours post mortem.
• Compared bovine breeds (Asturiana de los Valles, Retinta, Rubia Gallega) under different management and transport conditions.

Main Results:

• Breed and transport/lairage conditions were key factors influencing caspase activity over post-mortem time.
• Rubia Gallega breed exhibited a distinct response compared to Asturiana de los Valles and Retinta breeds.
• Apoptosis cascade activation via caspase 9, followed by caspases 3/7, is postulated under stress.

Conclusions:

• Assessing post-mortem muscle apoptosis is a novel method to study animal handling effects.
• This approach can reveal impacts on muscle metabolism, cell death, and meat quality traits.
• Findings contribute to understanding and mitigating meat quality issues in beef production.