China Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine ›› 2025, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (1): 147-157.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2025.01.013

• Nutritionand Feed • Previous Articles    

Effect of Melatonin on Antioxidant,Meat Quality and Shelf Life of Mutton

XU Shiheng, FAN Wenpeng, RUAN Yuqiao, Zulibina Ainiwaer, MA Xiaocui, LUO Qiyu, XU Tongxiang, WANG Caidie   

  1. Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Herbivore Nutrition for Meat & Milk, College of Animal Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
  • Received:2024-04-08 Published:2024-12-30

Abstract: 【Objective】 This experiment was aimed to study the effect of melatonin (MT) on the antioxidant capacity and quality of mutton,and investigate whether or not MT could improve the quality of mutton and extend shelf life in vitro. 【Method】 Five-month-old Hu sheep with similar body weight (36.23 kg±0.31 kg) were selected,and the longissimus dorsi muscle was collected and randomly divided into four groups.The mutton in control group was soaked in distilled water,and the mutton in experiment groups Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ were soaked in the solution containing 3,6 and 9 ng/mL MT,respectively.After 30 min,it was drained and stored in a self-sealing bag at 4 ℃.The MT content was measured on the first day of the experiment.The antioxidant capacity and meat quality were measured on the 1st,4th,7th,10th and 13th days of the experiment.The total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N) content in mutton was measured at 12,36,84,132,180 and 228 h of the experiment. 【Result】 Compared with control group,the MT contents of mutton in groups Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ were extremely significantly increased (P<0.01).On the 1st,4th and 7th days of the experiment,the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) of mutton in group Ⅲ was significantly increased (P<0.05),the malondialdehyde (MDA) contents of mutton in groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ were extremely significantly decreased (P<0.01).On the 7th,10th and 13th days of the experiment,pH of mutton in groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ was significantly decreased (P<0.05),the drip loss of mutton in group Ⅰ was extremely significantly decreased (P<0.01),the shelf life of mutton in groups Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ was extended by 9.11,12.89 and 14.91 h,respectively. 【Conclusion】 MT could improve the antioxidant capacity and quality of mutton in vitro to a certain degree,and extend the shelf life of mutton.In summary,this study recommended 3 ng/mL as the optimal concentration of MT.

Key words: melatonin; antioxidant; shelf life; meat quality

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