Comparison of muscle lipidomes between cattle-yak, yak, and cattle using UPLC–MS/MS

The quantitative comparisons of longissimus thoracis lipidomes among cattle-yak, yak, and cattle were carried out, and differentially abundant lipids (DALs) related to post-mortem physiology and meat quality were examined and discussed. Multivariate statistical analyses showed that the muscle lipidomes of cattle-yak, yak, and cattle were significantly different. Quantitative analysis results showed that there were 108 (cattle-yak vs. cattle), 106 (cattle-yak vs. yak), and 77 (yak vs. cattle) DALs between different muscles. Phospholipids containing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids were more abundant in the muscles of plateau cattle (cattle-yak and yak) than plain cattle (cattle), which is a bonus for the nutritional value of plateau cattle meat. Long-chain acylcarnitines accumulated in yak muscle, suggesting different levels of fatty acid β-oxidation and a potential influence on the post-mortem physiology of yak meat. The results show that the muscle lipid profiles of cattle-yak, yak, and cattle were significantly different, and could clearly distinguish by the OPLS-DA analysis. DALs reveal the difference in energy metabolism and lipid nutrition quality between plateau cattle (cattle-yak and yak) muscles and cattle muscle.