Alfalfa leaf meal as a new protein feedstuff improves meat quality by modulating lipid metabolism and antioxidant capacity of finishing pigs

• Published in: Food Chemistry: X 2023-10, Vol.19, p.100815-100815, Article 100815
• Main Authors: Guo, Ming, Wang, Zhichang, Gao, Zimin, Ma, Jixiang, Huangfu, Weikang, Niu, Jiakuan, Liu, Boshuai, Li, Defeng, Zhu, Xiaoyan, Sun, Hao, Ma, Sen, Shi, Yinghua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alfalfa leaf meal; Antioxidant capacity; Finishing pigs; Lipid metabolism; Meat quality
• ISSN: 2590-1575; 2590-1575
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2023.100815

[Display omitted] •ALM as a new protein feedstuff can be used in finishing pigs’ diet to replace SBM.•ALM improves meat quality by increasing meat quality related parameters and IMF.•ALM regulates amino acid and fatty acid metabolism profiles of LD.•ALM elevates the antioxidant capacity of finishing pigs.•ALM improves meat quality by regulates lipid metabolism and antioxidant capacity. The effects of alfalfa leaf meal (ALM) on the meat quality of finishing pigs are largely unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of ALM diet on meat quality by replacing 0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% of soybean meal in the diet of finishing pigs, respectively. The findings showed that 25% ALM diet increased the IMF, cooked meat rate, a* and antioxidant capacity of longissimus dorsi (LD), improved amino acid composition, increased MUFA content, and increased LD lipid synthesis and mRNA expression of antioxidation-related genes. At the same time, ALM diet altered serum lipid metabolism (TG, FFA). Correlation analysis showed that antioxidant capacity was positively correlated with meat quality. In addition, metabolomic analysis of LD showed that the main metabolites of 25% ALM diet altered stachydrine and l-carnitine were associated with meat quality and antioxidant capacity. In conclusion, ALM replacing 25% soybean meal diet can improve the meat quality of pigs.