Effect of muscle fiber characteristics on meat quality in fast- and slow-growing ducks

This study evaluated the effects of muscle fiber characteristics on meat quality traits in 45 female fast- and slow-growing ducks. Three duck breeds at typical market ages were selected and slaughtered, including fast-growing ducks (Cherry Valley duck) and slow-growing ducks (Small-sized Beijing duck and Liancheng White duck). M. pectoralis major (PM), m. soleus (SOL), m. gastrocnemius (GAS) and m. extensor digitorum longus (EDL) were used to assess muscle fiber characteristics as well as meat quality properties. The results showed that the fiber compositions in PM, GAS, and EDL muscles only consisted of fast-twitch fibers irrespective of the breeds, while a low percentage of slow-twitch fibers were observed in slow-growing ducks (17.03% and 29.14%). The significant clear differences of fiber diameter, fiber density and fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) was observed among three duck breeds. Small-sized Beijing ducks had the highest diameter and cross-sectional fiber area coupled with a dramatically lowest fiber density when compared to other 2 breeds both in breast and leg muscles. In addition, the meat quality traits such as moisture content, release water, and intramuscular fat content were significantly affected by the breeds. Slow-growing ducks, especially Liancheng White ducks, exhibited higher release water, intramuscular fat content, as well as lower moisture content (P < 0.05) compared to the fast-growing ducks. The lower pH24 h value and shear force tended to be present in breast of Liancheng White ducks (P < 0.05). The higher protein content and collagen content were detected in breast of Liancheng White ducks and the leg muscle of Small-sized Beijing ducks (P < 0.05), respectively. Finally, the correlation coefficients between muscle fiber characteristics and meat quality showed that the diameter, density and CSA of fibers had a moderate or significant correlation with pH, shear force value, moisture content, and protein content of meat in fast-growing ducks. In slow-growing ducks, muscle fiber characteristics had a moderate or significant correlation with pH, shear force value, release water, protein content, and intramuscular fat content of meat. These results indicated that muscle fiber characteristics is a useful parameter to explain in parts the variation of meat quality including pH, shear force value, and protein content of meat, both in slow-growing ducks and fast-growing ducks.