![Sample our Environment & Agriculture journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5934/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Environment-Agriculture.jpg"})
Abstract
Collagen concentration and solubility were examined in the semimembranosus and biceps femoris muscles of Romney lambs from the Hight line, a line selected for nine generations on the basis of high body weight at 1 year old. Lambs from the Control (CON) and high body weight (HBW) lines were slaughtered at five ages (0, 42, 70, 274, 365 days). In the semimembranosus muscle, there was no evidence of concentration or solubility differences between the lines at any age, but there was a subtle sex by age interaction, possibly because of increased collagen synthesis in males at puberty. In the biceps femoris muscle, collagen concentration was 14% higher in the HBW line, but there was no difference in solubility. The semimembranosus muscle was shear-tested after cooking to give an objective measure of tenderness. Selection line did not affect shear force. With the semimembranosus muscle, collagen solubility was a better predictor of shear force than collagen concentration, confirming previous work on this muscle. Although the biceps femoris muscle was not shear-tested, it is argued that the higher collagen concentration in the HBW line would cause only a minimal decrease in tenderness. The concentration and the solubility of collagen in the semimembranosus muscle were significant predictors of the same characteristics in the biceps femoris muscle, a finding that could be useful in a breeding programme.
