宰后肉品pH值变化与嫩度的关系

肉品成熟、嫩化经历了复杂的生物化学变化,已有大量试验研究肉品嫩度变异与生物化学特征的关系,期望通过早期生化特征预测肉品最终嫩度.pH值是判定肉品品质的一个重要指标,它的变化与肉品最终嫩度的关系引起了肉品科学工作者的极大兴趣.文章对宰后肉品pH值变化与嫩度的关系综述如下.     

鸡宰后屠体pH值影响因素及其变化规律的研究

选用北京油鸡、罗曼褐壳蛋鸡为试验材料,在相同条件下进行饲养,分别于8、16和20周龄进行屠宰,并在不同宰后时间(15 min、1 h、4 h、8 h、12 h、24 h和48 h)进行pH值测定。结果表明:肌肉部位、宰后时间、性别及周龄等因素是影响宰后pH值的较为重要的因素,而品种对宰后pH值影响较小。在宰后1 h内,腿肌和胸肌的pH值迅速下降,到12 h时pH达到最低值,然后缓慢上升,并且腿肉pH值的下降速率和上升速率一定程度地高于胸肌。     

宰后畜禽肌肉组织生化变化及其对肉质的影响

近年来,随着人们生活水平的提高,对畜禽肉的品质要求愈来愈高,这就要求肉品工作者不断深入地研究影响肉品质量的因素,提高肉品的质量.     

不同能量蛋白水平对淘汰荷斯坦奶牛生产性能和血液生化指标的影响

本文探讨不同能量蛋白水平对淘汰荷斯坦奶牛生产性能的影响。试验采用单因素随机区组设计,选择体重相近的健康淘汰荷斯坦奶牛32头,随机分成4组,每组8头。研究结果表明:随着日粮能量蛋白水平的增加,试验牛的日增重线性提高,由1.07 kg/d提高到1.40 kg/d,提高30.84%(P<0.05);料重比由10.36降低到7.86,相对提高31.80%(P<0.05);血液中谷草转氨酶、甲状腺素比较差异显著(P<0.05),其他指标均差异不显著(P>0.05);经济效益最高达1.99元,最低为1.56元,相对多收入0.43元。因此,在淘汰荷斯坦奶牛的育肥中,建议:前期产奶净能6.75 MJ/kg,粗蛋白13.50%(DM);后期产奶净能7.00 MJ/kg,粗蛋白13.50%(DM)。     

苜蓿青贮和燕麦青贮长度对奶牛采食量、产奶性能、采食行为和瘤胃发酵的影响

选用16头泌乳中期荷斯坦奶牛(其中4头带有瘤胃瘘管)研究苜蓿青贮料和燕麦青贮料刈割长度(短为6mm,长为19 mm)的不同效果。试验采用4×4拉丁方设计,处理采用2×2排列。试验期为21 d,其中包括14 d适应期和7 d采样期。奶牛全混合日粮组成为(DM基础):42%大麦为基础的能量补充料,10%蛋白质补充料,24%长或短的苜蓿青贮料和24%长或短的燕麦青贮料。瘤胃pH持续测定,瘤胃液相流通速率用带有瘤胃瘘管的牛进行测定。采食行为用录像方式进行测定,采食日粮类型通过连续称量8头牛食糟中日粮来确定。降低苜蓿青贮料和燕麦青贮料的长度降低了日粮几何长度,分别从14.2~10.9 mm和13.4~10.4 mm。降低苜蓿长度不影响奶牛采食量,但减少燕麦青贮长度增加了奶牛干物质采食量(19.4~21.2 kg/d)。降低苜蓿青贮和燕麦青贮对奶牛产奶性能、瘤胃发酵、采食行为、日粮类型和血液代谢产物均不产生影响。所有日粮的平均产奶量、乳脂肪和乳蛋白含量分别为36.1 kg/d、3.00%和3.16%。较低的乳脂率表明日粮易引起奶牛的亚急性瘤胃酸中毒。这一点同时被瘤胃pH证实,所有日粮瘤胃pH每天低于5.6超过122 min。尽管日粮中中性洗涤纤维含量足够多,但物料颗料大小及较长时间的咀嚼都会影响长物料的作用,因此也会发生瘤胃亚急性酸毒症。     

不同饲喂方式对猪背最长肌钙蛋白酶抑制蛋白和钙蛋白酶基因表达及剪切力的影响

为研究不同饲喂方式对猪背最长肌钙蛋白酶抑制蛋白(calpastatin)和μ-钙蛋白酶(μ-calpain)mRNA丰度,以及对肌肉剪切力的影响,54头约60 kg的杜×长×大三元杂交去势公猪被随机分为3个组,每组3个重复,每个重复6头猪.第1组为对照组,自由采食;第2组为补偿生长组,前20 d限饲30%,后20 d自由采食;第3组为限饲组,全期限饲30%.所有猪饲养40 d后屠宰取样,用实时定量PCR测定猪背最长肌中calpastatin和μ-calpain mRNA相对丰度.结果表明,背最长肌calpastatin和μ-calpain mRNA相对丰度在自由采食组和补偿生长组间差异不显著(P>0.05);在补偿生长组和限饲组问差异显著(P<0.05);在自由采食组和限饲组间差异极显著(P<0.01).背最长肌剪切力与calpastatin表达量显著正相关,相关系数为0.505 9.背最长肌剪切力与μ-calpain相对丰度显著负相关,相关系数为-0.475 7.背最长肌中calpastatin mRNA相对丰度与μ-calpain mRNA相对丰度负相关,相关系数为-0.055 9.结果表明补偿生长和限饲均可以增强calpastatin和μ-calpain基因在转录水平的调控.     

品种、体重和营养对猪背最长肌肌纤维组织学特性的影响

选用荣昌(RC)猪和杜×长×大(DLY)杂交猪为试验对象,研究猪背最长肌肌纤维直径和密度的发育性变化及品种与营养影响特点。结果表明:2个品种猪的背最长肌肌纤维直径和密度的发育规律较为类似,肌纤维直径随体重增加呈线性增长,而肌纤维密度则随体重增加呈乘幂方程式降低。相关分析表明,肌纤维密度与直径均存在极显著负相关(P≤0.003)。背最长肌肌纤维直径和密度在20～50kg阶段品种间差异不显著(P≥0.099),但在80kg,RC猪的肌纤维直径显著低于DLY猪(P=0.0043),而RC猪的肌纤维密度则显著高于DLY猪(P=0.0049)。饲粮营养水平对2个品种猪背最长肌的肌纤维直径和密度均无显著影响。以上结果提示,2个品种猪的背最长肌肌纤维的生长规律较为类似,但不同品种的肌纤维直径存在差异,主要表现在80kg,RC猪显著低于DLY猪,可能与其优良肉质有关。     

不同饲喂方式对生长猪背最长肌中钙蛋白酶抑制蛋白表达量以及肉嫩度的影响

为研究不同饲喂方式对猪背最长肌钙蛋白酶抑制蛋白(calpastatin)表达量以及肉嫩度的影响,选用54头约60kg的三元杂交生长肥育猪,随机分为3个处理,每个处理3个重复,每个重复6头猪,分别按照自由采食组(对照)、限饲组(30%)、补偿生长组(前20d限饲30%后20d自由采食)进行不同的饲养。试验结果表明:自由组、补偿生长组、限饲组的肌纤维剪切力和钙蛋白酶抑制蛋白表达量依次显著升高,且随着钙蛋白酶抑制蛋白表达量的增多,剪切力值有上升的趋势。     

早期断奶对藏西北绒山羊背最长肌氨基酸和脂肪酸含量的影响

[目的] 研究早期断奶对藏西北绒山羊背最长肌中氨基酸和脂肪酸含量的影响。[方法] 将18只健康羔羊按照体重相近原则随机分为试验组和对照组,试验组在28日龄（D28）实施早期断奶,对照组在60日龄（D60）自然断奶,羔羊断奶后饲喂相同的代乳料至75日龄;从两组随机选取5只羔羊进行屠宰采样,对其背最长肌中氨基酸和脂肪酸指标进行测定分析。[结果] 在藏西北绒山羊背最长肌中检测出17种氨基酸,包括赖氨酸、亮氨酸等7种必需氨基酸,天冬氨酸、精氨酸等10种非必需氨基酸。两组断奶羔羊肉中总氨基酸含量、必需氨基酸含量、非必需氨基酸含量均无显著差异（P>0.05）,28日龄断奶组羔羊肉中EAA/TAA、EAA/NEAA比值显著（P<0.05）高于60日龄断奶羔羊。共检测出29种饱和脂肪酸、不饱和脂肪酸,以棕榈酸和油酸含量最高,早期断奶对羔羊肉中饱和脂肪酸含量、单不饱和脂肪酸含量以及多不饱和脂肪酸含量影响不显著（P>0.05）。[结论] 藏西北绒山羊羔羊肉中所含氨基酸和脂肪酸种类多、含量丰富,实施早期断奶、及早补充颗粒料对肉中脂肪酸和氨基酸含量无影响,且可提高EAA/TAA、EAA/NEAA比值,使其更符合FAO/WHO氨基酸评分模式;该试验可为藏西北绒山羊羔羊实施早期断奶、提高母羊的繁殖率提供参考。     

饲粮蛋白质水平对猪背最长肌calpainl含量、嫩度及血液激素水平的影响

为研究饲粮蛋白质水平对猪背最长肌calpain1表达的影响及其与肌肉嫩度的关系,选用54头约50kg的LY(长×大)二元杂交去势公猪,随机分为3个处理,每个处理3个重复,每个重复6头猪,分别饲喂10%、18%、26%3种蛋白质水平的饲粮,各饲粮能量及氨基酸模式保持一致,饲养76 d后屠宰取样,测定猪背最长肌中calpain1的相对含量、背最长肌的嫩度及血浆中的主要激素水平.结果表明,calpain1的相对含量和剪切力值均随蛋白质水平的升高而升高,但两者之间相关性不显著(P>0.05).血浆中皮质醇、甲状腺素(T<,4>)的含量随蛋白质水平的升高而减少(P=0.211,P=0.039),胰岛素的含量随蛋白质水平的升高而增加(P=0.103).Calpain1可能参与了血液中主要激素对蛋白质降解的调控过程.     

Effects of heifer finishing implants on beef carcass traits and longissimus tenderness

Effects of finishing implants on heifer carcass characteristics and LM Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) were investigated using commercially fed Continental x British heifers (n = 500). Heifers were blocked by initial BW (block 1, BW > or = 340 kg; block 2, BW < 340 kg) and assigned randomly to 12 treatments that utilized 0, 1, or 2 finishing implants to deliver cumulative dosages of trenbolone acetate (TBA) and estradiol 17-beta (E2) ranging from 0 to 400 mg of TBA and 0 to 40 mg of E2 during the finishing period. Heifers in blocks 1 and 2 were slaughtered after 135 and 149 d on feed, respectively. At these endpoints, the treatment groups did not differ (P > 0.05) in adjusted fat thickness or predicted percentage of empty body fat. Compared with a nonimplanted control, implanting heifers once during finishing increased (P = 0.025) HCW by an average of 7.9 kg without affecting the mean marbling score, the percentage of carcasses grading Choice and Prime, or LM WBSF values. Compared with the use of 1 implant, the use of 2 finishing implants resulted in an additional increase (P = 0.008) in HCW of 6.0 kg. Reimplanting also increased (P < 0.001) LM area, reduced (P = 0.024) the percentage of KPH, and improved (P = 0.004) mean yield grade. However, reimplanted heifers produced a lower (P = 0.044) percentage of carcasses grading Choice and Prime and LM steaks with greater (P < 0.05) WBSF values at all postmortem aging times compared with heifers that were implanted once. Among heifers receiving 2 implants, mean 14-d LM WBSF increased linearly (P < 0.05) as the cumulative, combined dosage of E2 plus TBA increased. Heifers implanted with a combination of E2 plus TBA had larger (P = 0.046) LM areas, lower (P = 0.004) mean marbling scores, and greater LM WBSF values after 3 d (P = 0.001), 7 d (P = 0.001), 14 d (P = 0.003), and 21 d (P = 0.045) of postmortem aging than did heifers implanted with TBA alone. Heifers that received combination implants containing both E2 and TBA also produced fewer (P = 0.005) carcasses with marbling scores of modest or greater compared with heifers that received single-ingredient implants containing TBA alone. Implant treatment effects on LM WBSF gradually diminished as the length of the postmortem aging period increased. Postmortem aging periods of 14 to 28 d were effective for mitigating the detrimental effects of mild or moderately aggressive heifer implant programs on the predicted consumer acceptability of LM steaks.     

Effects of extended postmortem aging and intramuscular location on protein degradation,muscle fiber morphometrics,and tenderness of beef longissimus lumborum and semitendinosus steaks

The objective of this study was to determine effects of extended aging and intramuscular location on Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), muscle fiber cross-sectional area (CSA), and protein degradation of semitendinosus (ST) and longissimus lumborum (LL) steaks. Left ST and LL were removed from 40 carcasses at 6 d postmortem. The ST was fabricated into five locations (LOC), with LOC 1 being most proximal and LOC 5 being most distal. The posterior LL was fabricated into 3 LOC, with LOC 1 being most anterior. Vacuum sealed ST steaks were aged 7, 14, 28, 56, or 112 d postmortem, while LL steaks were aged 7, 28, or 112 d postmortem at 2 ± 1 °C. A steak from each LOC was assigned to WBSF or laboratory analyses. There were no Day of Aging (DOA) × LOC interactions for all dependent variables (P > 0.06). There were DOA effects for ST and LL WBSF values and degraded 38-kDa desmin (DES; P < 0.01). Day-7 ST-steak WBSF value was greater than all other days (P < 0.01) and day-14 steaks had greater WBSF value than remaining days (P < 0.05). Day-28 ST-steak WBSF values were greater than day 56 and 112 (P < 0.01), which did not differ (P = 0.53). In the LL, day-7 steaks had greater WBSF values than the other two timepoints (P < 0.01) and day-28 steaks had greater (P < 0.01) WBSF values than day-112 steaks. Degraded ST 38-kDa DES content was less on day 7 and 14 compared to all other days (P < 0.03), but did not differ (P = 0.79) from each other. Days 28 and 56 38-kDa DES content was less than day 112 (P < 0.01), but did not differ (P = 0.34) from each other. Degraded LL 38-kDa DES content was less on day 7 than day 28 and 112 (P < 0.02), which did not differ (P = 0.67). There were LOC effects for only ST WBSF and muscle fiber CSA (P < 0.05). Semitendinosus steak LOC 1 and 2 had greater WBSF values than all other locations (P < 0.01), but did not differ (P = 0.32) from each other. Semitendinosus steak LOC 3 and 5 had greater WBSF values than LOC 4 (P < 0.01), but did not differ (P = 0.85) from each other. The CSA of all ST fiber types were largest in LOC 1 compared to all other fiber types (P < 0.01). The CSA of all LOC 2 and 3 fiber types was greater than LOC 4 and 5 (P < 0.01), but were not different from each other (P > 0.81), and LOC 4 had greater CSA than LOC 5 (P < 0.01). Steak aging WBSF value improvements seemed proteolysis catalyzed, while the ST intramuscular tenderness gradient was more likely due to muscle fiber CSA.     

Effects of sequential implanting and ractopamine hydrochloride supplementation on carcass characteristics and longissimus muscle tenderness of calf-fed steers and heifers

A 4 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (4 growth-enhancement treatments × 2 sex classes) was used to quantify effects of initial implanting (I-implant, d 0), terminal implanting (T-implant, d 63), and feeding ractopamine hydrochloride [RAC, 200 mg/(animal/d)] for the last 28 d on feed on carcass characteristics and LM shear force (WBSF) of calf-fed steers (n = 159) and heifers (n = 132). Growth-enhancement treatments included the following: TRT1, T-implant only; TRT2, I-implant and RAC; TRT3, I-implant and T-implant; TRT4, I-implant, T-implant, and RAC. Growth responses (BW and ADG) were measured in 3 segments of the finishing period: 1) d 0 to 63, 2) d 63 to 28 d before slaughter, and 3) final 28 d. Cattle were slaughtered after 152, 166, or 180 d of finishing; carcass data were collected after a 48-h chill; and LM WBSF was measured at 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 d postmortem. A priori contrasts were constructed to test effects associated with use vs. exclusion of growth enhancement in each segment of the finishing period. The interaction between sex class and treatment was not significant (P > 0.05) for any trait tested, indicating that the 4 treatments elicited similar effects in both sexes. Initial implanting improved (P < 0.001) ADG from d 0 to 63 by 11.5%, terminal implanting improved (P < 0.001) ADG from d 63 to 28 d before slaughter by 15%, and supplementing twice-implanted cattle with RAC enhanced ADG during the final 28 d of finishing by 12%. Effects of I-implant, T-implant, and RAC resulted in LM area increases of 3 cm(2) (P = 0.015), 6 cm(2) (P < 0.001), and 3 cm(2) (P = 0.011), respectively, and HCW responses of 11 kg (P = 0.011), 16 kg (P = 0.001), and 6 kg (P = 0.195), respectively. Initial implanting resulted in a 20-point reduction (P = 0.097) in marbling, and T-implant reduced marbling by 25 points (P = 0.04), whereas marbling score was unaffected (P = 0.236) by RAC supplementation. Cattle that received only 1 implant (TRT1 and TRT2) produced carcasses with greater (P = 0.026) mean marbling scores and greater (P = 0.01) rates of conformity to beef carcass marketing specifications for HCW, quality grade, yield grade, and LM area than did cattle that were implanted twice (TRT3 and TRT4). Values for LM WBSF were not affected (P > 0.05) by initial or terminal implanting; however, RAC supplementation increased (P = 0.007) mean LM WBSF by 0.23 kg, which translated into a reduction (P = 0.007) in predicted consumer acceptance of LM steaks.     

Effects of high-temperature conditioning on enzymatic activity and tenderness of Bos indicus longissimus muscle

We studied the effects of high-temperature conditioning (HTC) on beef longissimus (LM) and semitendinosus muscles. Eleven 5/8 Sahiwal x Angus, Hereford or Angus x Hereford crosses (seven heifers and four steers) were slaughtered. Alternate carcass sides were held at 22 +/- 3 degrees C for 6 h, then chilled at -1 degree C for 18 h. The opposite, control (C) sides were chilled at -1 degree C for 24 h. Samples were removed only from the LM at various times to determine calcium-dependent protease (CDP) and CDP inhibitor (INH) activity, cathepsins B and B + L activity, shear-force, sensory panel traits, myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI) and sarcomere length. Results were analyzed by least squares procedures; our model included fixed effects of temperature, sex and their interaction. The LM temperature remained higher (P less than .01) for the HTC treatment at 3, 6, 9 and 12 h postmortem. In addition, HTC increased the rate of pH decline which resulted in pH differences (P less than .01) at 6, 9 and 12 h. At d 1, LM steaks had lower (P less than .05) shear forces (8.3 vs 9.6 kg) from HTC than C carcasses. At d 14, LM shear forces tended (P = .13) to be lower for HTC (6.9 kg) than for C (7.7 kg) carcasses. At, 3, 7 and 14 d, MFI for LM were greater (P less than .07) for the HTC steaks. However, by 6 h postmortem, INH activity had decreased (P less than .10) 35% in HTC samples, but no change had occurred in C samples (P less than .10).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Use of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and vitamin E to improve tenderness of beef from the longissimus dorsi of heifers

The objective of this trial was to determine whether a single bolus of 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) (25-OH D(3)), vitamin E, or a combination of the 2 would improve the tenderness of steaks from the LM of beef heifers. Forty-eight Angus crossbred heifers were allotted randomly to 8 pens. Six heifers were in each pen, and there were 2 pens per treatment. The 4 treatments included control (no 25-OH D(3) or vitamin E); 25-OH D(3) (500 mg of 25-OH D(3) administered as a one-time oral bolus 7 d before slaughter); vitamin E (1,000 IU of vitamin E administered daily as a top-dress for 104 d before slaughter); or combination (500 mg of 25-OH D(3) administered as a one-time oral bolus 7 d before slaughter and 1,000 IU of vitamin E administered daily as a top-dress for 104 d before slaughter). Blood samples were obtained on the day that heifers were allotted to treatments, on the day 25-OH D(3) was administered, and on the day before slaughter. Plasma calcium concentration was increased when 25-OH D(3) was administered with or without vitamin E (P < 0.007). In LM, calcium concentration tended to increase (P = 0.10) when 25-OH D(3) was administered alone but not when 25-OH D(3) was administered with vitamin E. Concentrations of 25-OH D(3) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) in plasma were increased when 25-OH D(3) was administered with or without vitamin E (P < 0.001). Steaks from heifers treated with 25-OH D(3) or vitamin E, but not both, tended to have lower Warner-Bratzler shear force than steaks in the control group at 14 d postmortem (P = 0.08). Postmortem protein degradation as measured by Western blot of the 30-kDa degradation product of troponin-T was increased with all treatments after 3 d postmortem (P 相似文献   

Impact of the hydrodyne process on tenderness, microbial load, and sensory characteristics of pork longissimus muscle.

Paired, boneless pork loin muscles were obtained from 76 market hogs to evaluate tenderness, meat quality characteristics, sensory attributes, and microbial characterization of pork muscle exposed to the Hydrodyne Process (H) compared with untreated control (C) loin. A subset of 16 paired loins was randomly selected for use in sensory evaluation and microbial characterization. Loins were vacuum packaged and immersed in a heat shrink tank prior to the H treatment. The Hydrodyne treatment exposed the loin to the pressure equivalent of a 150-g explosive, generating a pressure distribution of approximately 703 kg/cm2 at the surface of the samples. Meat quality assessments taken following treatment included subjective color, firmness/wetness, marbling scores (1 to 5 scale), Minolta reflectance and color readings, drip loss, and lipid content. The P-value for statistical significance for main effects and interactions was set at <.05 in all analyses. Administration of H resulted in a 17% improvement in Warner-Bratzler shear force (2.69 vs. 3.24 kg), with the shear force similar at two end-point cooking times (11 and 16 min) corresponding to approximately 75 and 83 degrees C, respectively. No differences between H and C were observed for color score, firmness score, Minolta L, Minolta Y, or drip loss on uncooked samples. The H loins had lower marbling scores (P<.05) and intramuscular lipid (P<.05) content than the paired C loin. Sensory evaluation on the randomly selected (n = 16) paired loins samples showed no improvement in Warner-Bratzler shear force. Sensory panelists were also unable to detect a difference between H and C loins for both initial and sustained tenderness scores. No differences between H and C loins were found for pork flavor, off-flavor, cohesiveness, or number of chews before swallowing, but H loins had a significantly lower juiciness score and more cooking loss than C loins. Microbial analysis results showed no differences in coliform bacteria counts, aerobic plate counts, and no detectable levels of Escherichia coli bacteria in any loins. The findings support the ability of the Hydrodyne procedure to improve tenderness without impacting other muscle quality attributes of pork.     

A region on bovine chromosome 15 influences beef longissimus tenderness in steers.

A genome scan was conducted using 196 microsatellite DNA markers spanning 29 autosomal bovine chromosomes and Warner-Bratzler shear force collected at d 2 and 14 postmortem on steaks from the longissimus muscle of 294 progeny from one Brahman x Hereford bull mated to Bos taurus cows to identify QTL for beef tenderness. One QTL was identified and located 28 cM (95% confidence interval is 17 to 40 cM) from the most centromeric marker on BTA15. The QTL interacted significantly with slaughter group. The difference in shear force of steaks aged 14 d postmortem between progeny with the Brahman paternally inherited allele vs those with Hereford was 1.19 phenotypic standard deviations (explained 26% of phenotypic variance) for one slaughter group and was not significant for three other slaughter groups. Apparently, unknown environmental factors present for three of the four slaughter groups were capable of masking the effect of this QTL. The sensitivity of the QTL effect to environmental factors may complicate utilization of markers for genetic improvement. Future research to elucidate the cause of the QTL x slaughter group interaction may lead to improved strategies for controlling variation in meat tenderness via marker-assisted selection, postmortem processing, or live animal management.     

The halothane gene, energy metabolism, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, and glycolysis in postmortem pig longissimus dorsi muscle

The presence of the halothane gene results in PSE meat. However, the exact mechanisms linking the halothane gene and the incidence of PSE meat remain unclear. We hypothesize that the presence of the halothane gene accelerates energy consumption in postmortem muscle, which activates adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), leading to enhanced glycolysis and PSE meat. To test our hypothesis, energy status, AMPK activity, and glycolysis in the postmortem LM of the halothane gene carrier and halothane-negative pigs were compared. The results showed that the presence of the halothane gene accelerated energy depletion in postmortem muscle immediately after exsanguination, leading to rapid and early depletion of ATP, as shown by an increase in the (adenosine monophosphate + inosine monophosphate):ATP ratio in postmortem LM. In addition, an early AMPK activation was observed in LM from halothane carriers. The fructose-2,6-diphosphate concentration in postmortem LM was well correlated with AMPK activation. To be a potent stimulator of phosphofructose kinase, the increase in fructose-2,6-diphosphate is expected to activate phosphofructose kinase, a key enzyme controlling glycolysis, leading to enhanced glycolysis and early accumulation of lactic acid. In summary, this study showed that the presence of the halothane gene induced early energy depletion, which could be a primary reason causing AMPK activation, leading to accelerated glycolysis and an increased incidence of PSE meat. However, AMPK might also be activated by other mechanisms besides energy depletion, which warrants further studies.