Identification of age-related biomarkers for meat quality in Kangle chickens using multi-omics

As a complex biological trait, meat quality is regulated by multiple factors. This study aimed to systematically characterize the meat quality of Kangle chickens at three ages (D154, D182 and D365) using transcriptomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics. Breast meat from D365 chickens exhibited significantly higher intramuscular fat (IMF) and 24 h and 48 h drip loss than that from D154 and D182 chickens (P < 0.05). Transcriptomic analysis revealed that, compared with downregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the D154 and D182 groups, those in the D365 group were notably enriched in oxidative phosphorylation associated pathways. Metabolomic profiling showed that the D365 group had the lowest relative abundance of most meat quality-related amino acids, nucleotides, and lipid metabolites, whereas triacylglycerols accounted for the highest proportion among its upregulated lipids. In total, 21 metabolites and 10 DEGs were identified as key factors influencing IMF and pH. Collectively, these findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying age-related metabolic changes in Kangle chickens.