This study aimed to investigate the flavor formation and meat quality differences among different beef cuts in Chinese Wagyu cattle. The metabolites and gene expression profiles of chuck, neck, rump, tenderloin, and longissimus lumborum cuts were analyzed. The results revealed that a total of 240 volatile organic compounds and 779 lipid molecules were detected among the beef cuts, with hydrocarbons (accounting for 29.71%) and triglycerides (representing 41.21%) emerging as the most prominent compounds, respectively. The sensory-directed analysis highlighted the significance of sweet and fruity aroma compounds, which contributed to the distinct aroma profiles among different beef cuts. Additionally, a total of 60 key lipid molecular markers, including FA(18:1), PC(40:5), TG(18:0_16:1_18:1), and TG(36:0_18:1), etc., were identified as playing crucial roles in the generation of essential lipid compounds across five different beef cuts. Integrative analysis of multi-omics data pinpointed a cluster of differentially expressed genes (e.g., DLD, ACADM, PCCA, SCD), which were involved in the regulation of valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation pathways and lipid metabolism. Taken together, this study has identified key metabolites and candidate genes influencing meat quality across different beef cuts, providing a valuable resource for the molecular breeding of high-quality traits in beef cattle.

Various bovine species have been domesticated and bred for thousands of years, and they provide adequate animal-derived products, including meat, milk, and leather, to meet human requirements. Despite the review studies on economic traits in cattle, the genetic basis of traits has only been partially explained by phenotype and pedigree breeding methods, due to the complexity of genomic regulation during animal development and growth. With the advent of next-generation sequencing technology, genomics projects, such as the 1000 Bull Genomes Project, Functional Annotation of Animal Genomes project, and Bovine Pangenome Consortium, have advanced bovine genomic research. These large-scale genomics projects gave us a comprehensive concept, technology, and public resources. In this review, we summarize the genomics research progress of the main bovine species during the past decade, including cattle (Bos taurus), yak (Bos grunniens), water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), zebu (Bos indicus), and gayal (Bos frontalis). We mainly discuss the development of genome sequencing and functional annotation, focusing on how genomic analysis reveals genetic variation and its impact on phenotypes in several bovine species.

To fill the gap in systematic data on mineral contents and their dietary contributions in four mainstream dairy products (sterilized, pasteurized, fermented, modified milk) from Henan Province, China, this study aimed to characterize the mineral profiles [magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), copper (Cu)] and clarify the mineral nutritional disparities between domestic and imported sterilized milk. A total of 150 samples were analysed via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results revealed significant mineral content differences across dairy types: fermented milk had significantly lower Mg and Zn than sterilized and pasteurized milk (p < 0.05). Imported sterilized milk exhibited higher Mg (160.10 ± 31.88 mg/kg) than domestic counterparts (147.41 ± 32.47 mg/kg, p < 0.05). In terms of mineral intake contribution rates (defined as the percentage of mineral intake from dairy products relative to the Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI), unit: %), the rates are ranked in descending order as follows: Se (11.68–25.32%) > Mg (11.11–20.76%) > Zn (5.88–16.33%) > Cu (0.62–1.81%) > Fe (0.25–1.00%). This study elucidates the mineral profiles of Henan’s dairy products, supporting residents’ dairy choices and optimisation of dairy processing technologies.

The F-box only protein (FBXO) family plays a critical role in protein ubiquitination, but the absence of research on the FBXO family in cattle (Bos taurus) persists. In this study, 38 FBXO family members in cattle were identified and analyzed for the first time. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated evolutionary conservation of FBXO members across Bovinae and model species, suggesting conserved biological functions. Using transcriptomic data, three muscle-specific FBXO genes (FBXO31, FBXO32, FBXO40) were identified. Importantly, silencing these genes in bovine skeletal muscle satellite cells affected the expression of genes involved in cell proliferation and differentiation. Furthermore, EdU staining and CCK8 assays revealed that silencing FBXO32 and FBXO40 accelerated cell proliferation. These findings indicate that these FBXO genes may influence myogenesis. Collectively, the present study identified and analyzed the FBXO family members in cattle and revealed their potential effects on cattle muscle development, offering new insights for improving beef yield and quality.

Lactation performance is a pivotal economic trait in sheep production, yet its underlying epigenetic regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. In the present study, we integrated ATAC-seq and RNA-seq to compare chromatin accessibility landscapes and transcriptomic in mammary gland tissues from Sewa sheep (SWS) and East Friesian sheep (EFS). Histological characterization revealed that SWS exhibited significantly smaller mammary acini area, smaller lipid droplet area, and reduced lipid droplet diameter compared to EFS. ATAC-seq analysis identified 15,902 differentially accessible regions (DARs) between the two breeds, with motif enrichment analysis uncovering key transcription factors potentially governing lactation traits. RNA-seq analysis revealed 1,163 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were involved in lactation regulation. Integrated analysis identified 441 overlapping genes, and enriched in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis (e.g., PGAM1, ENO1) and pyruvate metabolism (e.g., ACACA, ACSS1, ACYP1). Collectively, our study provides new insights into the epigenetic regulatory mechanisms underlying lactation performance differences in sheep.