Comparative Study on Meat Quality Characteristics of Suffolk × Hu and Southdown × Hu and Hu Sheep
[Objective]The meat quality characteristics of two-way hybrid sheep Suffolk × Hu(SH)and Southdown× Hu(NH)and Hu sheep were studied to provide basic data and theoretical support for the breeding of new varieties of'Zhonghuan Mutton sheep'and the development of high-quality mutton products.[Method]Selecting Hu sheep as the maternal parent,5 SH and 5 NH sheep were bred through laparoscopic artificial insemination using frozen semen from White Suffolk and Southdown sheep.5 purebred Hu sheep were used as the control group.The slaughtering performance and meat quality(longissimus dorsi muscle,biceps femoris and arm triceps)of F1 generation in NH,SH and HH sheep were compared and analyzed.[Result]The live body weight and carcass weight of NH and SH sheep were increased by 19.92%,12.90%and 24.20%and 15.55%compared with Hu sheep,respectively,and there was a significant difference between NH and Hu sheep(P<0.05).The fat content and energy level of NH sheep were significantly lower than those of Hu sheep(P<0.05).The contents of ash and moisture in NH sheep were significantly higher than those in SH and Hu sheep(P<0.05).The carbohydrate content in SH sheep was extremely significantly higher than that in NH and Hu sheep(P<0.01).The contents of potassium,phosphorus,magnesium and zinc were the highest in NH sheep,the sodium content was the highest in SH sheep,and the niacin content was the highest in Hu sheep.The compositions of fatty acids and amino acids were the same,and the total fatty acid content in NH sheep was the highest,which was extremely significantly higher than that in SH and Hu sheep(P<0.01).The saturated fatty acid(SFA)content in NH sheep was significantly higher than that in Hu sheep(P<0.05).The monounsaturated fatty acid(MUFA)content in NH sheep was extremely significantly higher than that in Hu and SH sheep(P<0.01).The polyunsaturated fatty acid(PUFA)content in NH sheep was extremely significantly higher than that in SH sheep(P<0.01).The content of essential amino acid(EAA)was in the order of NH>SH>Hu sheep,and the content of EAA in Hu sheep was extremely significantly lower than that of NH and SH sheep(P<0.01).The value of EAA/total amino acid(TAA)was 38.95%-39.65%,and the value of EAA/non-essential amino acid(NEAA)was 63.79%-65.70%among three sheep.Except valine and methionine+cystine,the scores of other amino acids were higher than the recommended values of FAO/WHO.[Conclusion]F1 generation of NH and SH sheep had fast growth rate,good slaughter performance,rich content of amino acids,fatty acids and several major minerals in muscle,which was more in line with the characteristics of high protein and low fat,and more in line with people's demand for meat quality.They could be scaled up locally.