Dietary perennial ryegrass improves meat quality through the gut-muscle axis in geese by regulating the ECM receptor complex/TGF-β signaling

Authors

• Zeshan Zulfiqar, Henan Agriculture University
• Muhammad Arslan Asif, Henan Agriculture University
• Yingao Li, Henan Agriculture University
• Layla Al-Mitib, University of Arkansas, FayettevilleFollow
• Han Yao, Henan Agriculture University
• Aftab Shaukat, South China Agricultural University
• Xiaoyan Zhu, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou
• Zhichang Wang, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou
• Hao Sun, Henan Agriculture University
• Yalei Cui, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-2025

Keywords

Perennial ryegrass, Gut microbiota, SCFAs, Meat quality, Geese

Abstract

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) is a nutrient-rich forage with potential benefits for livestock. However, its effects on muscle growth and meat quality in waterfowl remain unclear. This study evaluated the impact of ryegrass (GD) on goose meat quality, gut microbiota, and related metabolic pathways. Geese fed GD exhibited reduced body weight and abdominal fat and enhanced meat quality as indicated by increased muscle fiber density, reduced shear force, cooking loss and improved water-holding capacity (p < 0.05). Myogenic genes expression (PGC-1 alpha and MyHC-I/IIa) increased, whereas the expression of negative regulators (MSTN, and MURF-1) decreased. GD supplementation promoted antioxidant defenses in the serum, liver, and muscle, characterized by higher Nrf2 and HO-1 levels, and reduced lipid peroxidation markers (MDA, and TBARS). The GD group demonstrated healthier lipid profiles, elevated levels of essential amino acids, and favorable fatty acid composition, associated with upregulation of lipolytic and amino acid transporters. Gut microbiota diversity improved with an increase in beneficial genera and short-chain fatty acids. Furthermore, extracellular matrix (ECM) and its genes were upregulated, and TGF-beta signaling was inhibited. These results support the use of perennial ryegrass as a functional forage for improving goose meat quality and metabolic health through modulation of the gut-muscle axis.

Comments

Web of Science

Elsevier

Citation

Zeshan Zulfiqar, Muhammad Arslan Asif, Yingao Li, Layla Al-Mitib, Han Yao, Aftab Shaukat, Xiaoyan Zhu, Zhichang Wang, Hao Sun, Yalei Cui, Boshuai Liu, Yinghua Shi, Dietary perennial ryegrass improves meat quality through the gut–muscle axis in geese by regulating the ECM receptor complex/TGF-β signaling, Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, Volume 148, Part 1, 2025, 108247, ISSN 0889-1575, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2025.108247.

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