Muscle Characteristics, Meat Tenderness and Nutritional Qualities Traits of Borgou, Lagunaire and Zebu Fulani Bulls Raised on Natural Pasture in Benin

Abstract

peer reviewedThis study was carried out to evaluate muscle characteristics, meat ten derness and nutritional qualities of Benin indigenous cattle raised on natural pasture. Thus, 10 Zebu Fulani, 10 Borgou and 5 Lagunaire were slaughtered at 5 years old and their Longissimus thoracis muscle samples were collected for analyses. Lactate dehydrogenase activity of Zebu Fulani was higher (p0.05). As for isocitrate dehydrogenase, citrate synthase, cytochrome oxidase and phosphofructokinase, no significant difference was observed between the three breeds (p>0.05). By contrast, the total collagen content of Borgou (5.2 mg OH-proline/mg dry matter) was higher (p0.05) while the Zebu Fulani had the highest values (p<0.05). The ratio n-6 to n-3 fatty acids obtained in the Zebu was the lower. In general, according to the fatty acids profile, Borgou and Lagunaire bulls’ meat is better than that of Zebu for heart diseas