{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,23]],"date-time":"2026-10-23T20:55:02Z","timestamp":1792788902015,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"19","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]],"date-time":"2026-09-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790640000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100004479","name":"Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province, China","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["20232BAB205065"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["20232BAB205065"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100004479","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"Science and Technology Planning Project of Ji\u2019an City","award":["2024H-090202"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2024H-090202"]}]},{"name":"Key Project Under the Key R&D Program of Jiangxi Provincial Department of Science and Technology","award":["20261BCF320006"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["20261BCF320006"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/00t30yz20","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"crossref"}]},{"award":["20261BCF320006"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["20261BCF320006"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/00t30yz20","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Preslaughter nutritional strategies that preserve energy reserves in transported beef cattle may help maintain normal post-mortem muscle metabolism and meat quality. \u03b2-alanine, a carnosine precursor, enhances glucose metabolism and glycogen reserves. This study evaluated the effects of rumen-protected \u03b2-alanine (RP-\u03b2-Ala) on meat quality, hepatic gluconeogenesis-related indices, and muscle energy metabolism in long-distance transported cattle. Thirty-six healthy 18-month-old Simmental crossbred bulls (627 \u00b1 41 kg) were randomly assigned diets containing 0 (control) or 96 g\/head\/d RP-\u03b2-Ala. After 28 days of feeding, serum was sampled from six bulls per group. Following a 2-day rest (RP-\u03b2-Ala supplementation continued), these twelve bulls were transported, slaughtered, and sampled. Transport significantly increased serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK). The transport \u00d7 RP-\u03b2-Ala interaction significantly affected serum superoxide dismutase (SOD). Post-slaughter tissue indices were analyzed solely for the effect of RP-\u03b2-Ala supplementation, as all slaughtered bulls underwent transportation. Compared to controls, the RP-\u03b2-Ala group exhibited significantly higher muscle pH45 min and an accelerated pH decline rate within 24 h post-mortem in both M. longissimus dorsi (LD) and M. semitendinosus (ST) muscles. In LD muscle, hardness, shear force, gumminess, and chewiness significantly decreased, while ATP content and HK, PFK, PK, and LDH activities significantly increased. In ST muscle, lactate content and GP, HK, PFK, and LDH activities significantly increased. In the liver, glucose, lactate, ATP, and ADP contents significantly increased, alongside enhanced G-6-Pase and pyruvate carboxylase (PC) activities. Dietary RP-\u03b2-Ala supplementation may regulate energy metabolism in transported cattle by enhancing muscle glycolytic activity and indices associated with hepatic gluconeogenic capacity, thereby improving selected meat-quality traits.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani16193074","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]],"date-time":"2026-09-29T16:33:12Z","timestamp":1790699592000},"page":"3074","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Effects of Rumen-Protected \u03b2-Alanine on Hepatic Gluconeogenesis-Related Indices and Muscle Energy Metabolism in Transported Cattle"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Boya","family":"Fu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety Innovation Team, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"methodology","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"writing-original-draft","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"data-curation","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"given":"Yitian","family":"Zang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety Innovation Team, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"validation","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"visualization","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"given":"Haoxiang","family":"Xu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Life Science, Nanchang Normal University, Nanchang 330032, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"supervision","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"formal-analysis","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"given":"Daci","family":"Fu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety Innovation Team, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"software","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"data-curation","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"given":"Guwei","family":"Lu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety Innovation Team, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"data-curation","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"investigation","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"given":"Kang","family":"Mao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety Innovation Team, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"conceptualization","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"supervision","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9921-2094","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Qinghua","family":"Qiu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety Innovation Team, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"resources","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"validation","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"given":"Xianghui","family":"Zhao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety Innovation Team, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"investigation","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"validation","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"formal-analysis","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"given":"Mingren","family":"Qu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety Innovation Team, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"supervision","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"conceptualization","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"given":"Kehui","family":"Ouyang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety Innovation Team, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"writing-review-editing","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"conceptualization","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"funding-acquisition","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5309-0295","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yanjiao","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety Innovation Team, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"writing-review-editing","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"conceptualization","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"funding-acquisition","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"supervision","vocabulary":"credit"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"400","DOI":"10.1111\/1541-4337.12258","article-title":"Causes and contributing factors to \u201cdark cutting\u201d meat: Current trends and future directions: A review","volume":"16","author":"Ponnampalam","year":"2017","journal-title":"Compr. Rev. Food Sci. Food Saf."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dias, F.M.G.N., Silva, F.V.E., Silva, A.G.M.E., Ara\u00fajo, J.C., Rosa, G.J.D.M., and Ferraz, J.B.S. (2025). Risk factors associated with bruises in beef cattle carcasses. Animals, 15.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani15172608"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"238","DOI":"10.1186\/s40168-023-01682-z","article-title":"Revealing the developmental characterization of rumen microbiome and its host in newly received cattle during receiving period contributes to formulating precise nutritional strategies","volume":"11","author":"Li","year":"2023","journal-title":"Microbiome"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107954","DOI":"10.1016\/j.meatsci.2019.107954","article-title":"Association between meat color of DFD beef and other quality attributes","volume":"161","author":"Ijaz","year":"2020","journal-title":"Meat Sci."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"222","DOI":"10.1016\/j.redox.2018.07.009","article-title":"Exercise and beta-alanine supplementation on carnosine-acrolein adduct in skeletal muscle","volume":"18","author":"Carvalho","year":"2018","journal-title":"Redox Biol."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.1007\/s00726-011-1200-z","article-title":"Effects of beta-alanine supplementation on exercise performance: A meta-analysis","volume":"43","author":"Hobson","year":"2012","journal-title":"Amino Acids"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"658","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2016-096396","article-title":"Beta-alanine supplementation to improve exercise capacity and performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"51","author":"Saunders","year":"2017","journal-title":"Br. J. Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"204","DOI":"10.1152\/japplphysiol.01033.2013","article-title":"Muscle carnosine loading by beta-alanine supplementation is more pronounced in trained vs. untrained muscles","volume":"116","author":"Bex","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Appl. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"221","DOI":"10.47278\/journal.ijvs\/2021.093","article-title":"Histidine-dipeptides in relation to diabetes and obesity","volume":"11","author":"Gaafar","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. J. Vet. Sci."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.1007\/BF00376439","article-title":"Carnosine and anserine concentrations in the quadriceps femoris muscle of healthy humans","volume":"64","author":"Mannion","year":"1992","journal-title":"Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. Occup. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"75","DOI":"10.3390\/nu2010075","article-title":"Effects of beta-alanine on muscle carnosine and exercise performance: A review of the current literature","volume":"2","author":"Culbertson","year":"2010","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kubota, S., Promkhun, K., Sinpru, P., Suwanvichanee, C., Molee, W., and Molee, A. (2021). RNA profiles of the Korat chicken breast muscle with increased carnosine content produced through dietary supplementation with beta-alanine or L-histidine. Animals, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani11092596"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1834","DOI":"10.5713\/ab.24.0012","article-title":"Effect of precursor amino acids for carnosine synthesis on breast fiber microstructures and myofiber differentiation-related gene expression in slow-growing chicken","volume":"37","author":"Riou","year":"2024","journal-title":"Anim. Biosci."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"418","DOI":"10.1016\/j.aninu.2024.02.006","article-title":"Impact of dietary supplementation with beta-alanine on the rumen microbial crude protein supply, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen retention in beef steers elucidated through sequencing the rumen bacterial community","volume":"17","author":"Hu","year":"2024","journal-title":"Anim. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"50","DOI":"10.1016\/j.aninu.2025.05.001","article-title":"\u03b2-Alanine decreases plasma taurine but improves nitrogen utilization efficiency in beef steers","volume":"22","author":"Zhang","year":"2025","journal-title":"Anim. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2033","DOI":"10.3382\/ps.2009-00128","article-title":"Transport stress in broilers: I. Blood metabolism, glycolytic potential, and meat quality","volume":"88","author":"Zhang","year":"2009","journal-title":"Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.1016\/S0309-1740(85)80004-8","article-title":"Pork of low technological quality with a normal rate of muscle pH fall in the immediate post-mortem period: The case of the Hampshire breed","volume":"13","author":"Monin","year":"1985","journal-title":"Meat Sci."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1764","DOI":"10.5713\/ajas.17.0090","article-title":"Effects of dietary energy sources on early postmortem muscle metabolism of finishing pigs","volume":"30","author":"Li","year":"2017","journal-title":"Asian-Australas. J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"347","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tvjl.2005.06.007","article-title":"Transport stress in Southern chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica) and its modulation by acepromazine","volume":"172","author":"Marco","year":"2006","journal-title":"Vet. J."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mao, K., Lu, G., Li, Y., Zang, Y., Zhao, X., Qiu, Q., Qu, M., and Ouyang, K. (2022). Effects of rumen-protected creatine pyruvate on blood biochemical parameters and rumen fluid characteristics in transported beef cattle. BMC Vet. Res., 18.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12917-021-03134-y"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wang, R., Wang, M., Wang, J., Wang, P., Ou, J., Tang, W., Sun, G., Wang, Q., Cheng, X., and Huang, Y. (2025). Transport stress alters serum biochemistry and gut microbiota in Tibetan sheep (Ovis aries): A 30-day recovery assessment. BMC Microbiol., 25.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12866-025-04464-9"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"34","DOI":"10.20463\/jenb.2016.06.20.2.5","article-title":"Characterization of the metabolic effect of beta-alanine on markers of oxidative metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle","volume":"20","author":"Schnuck","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Exerc. Nutr. Biochem."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9164","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2020-19729","article-title":"Blood parameters of young calves at abattoirs are related to distance transported and farm of origin","volume":"104","author":"Roadknight","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2800","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2022-22367","article-title":"A randomized controlled trial investigating the effect of transport duration and age at transport on surplus dairy calves: Part II. Impact on hematological variables","volume":"106","author":"Goetz","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Devant, M., and Marti, S. (2020). Strategies for feeding unweaned dairy beef cattle to improve their health. Animals, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani10101908"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"188","DOI":"10.3177\/jnsv.60.188","article-title":"Combined supplementation of carbohydrate, alanine, and proline is effective in maintaining blood glucose and increasing endurance performance during long-term exercise in mice","volume":"60","author":"Nogusa","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Nutr. Sci. Vitaminol."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1656","DOI":"10.5713\/ajas.19.0804","article-title":"Effect of stress during slaughter on carcass characteristics and meat quality in tropical beef cattle","volume":"33","author":"Murillo","year":"2020","journal-title":"Asian-Australas. J. Anim."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"158","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rvsc.2021.02.018","article-title":"Effect of pre-slaughter fasting duration on physiology, carcass and meat quality in beef cattle finished on pastures or feedlot","volume":"136","author":"Clariget","year":"2021","journal-title":"Res. Vet. Sci."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Perim, P., Marticorena, F.M., Ribeiro, F., Barreto, G., Gobbi, N., Kerksick, C., Dolan, E., and Saunders, B. (2019). Can the skeletal muscle carnosine response to beta-alanine supplementation be optimized?. Front. Nutr., 6.","DOI":"10.3389\/fnut.2019.00135"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ijaz, M., Li, X., Hou, C., Hussain, Z., and Zhang, D. (2024). Role of heat-shock proteins in the determination of postmortem metabolism and meat quality development of DFD meat. Foods, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/foods13182965"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"108247","DOI":"10.1016\/j.meatsci.2020.108247","article-title":"A preliminary investigation of the contribution of different tenderness factors to beef loin, tri-tip and heel tenderness","volume":"170","author":"Chun","year":"2020","journal-title":"Meat Sci."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"14","DOI":"10.1186\/1476-4598-13-14","article-title":"Beta-alanine suppresses malignant breast epithelial cell aggressiveness through alterations in metabolism and cellular acidity in vitro","volume":"13","author":"Vaughan","year":"2014","journal-title":"Mol. Cancer"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"400","DOI":"10.1016\/j.meatsci.2012.05.002","article-title":"The effects of skeletal separation and moisture enhancement for improving the eating quality of cull cow beef","volume":"92","author":"Streiter","year":"2012","journal-title":"Meat Sci."},{"key":"ref_34","first-page":"125","article-title":"Meat quality and transport stress of cattle","volume":"110","author":"Honkavaara","year":"2003","journal-title":"Dtsch. Tierarztl. Wochenschr."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Briggs, R.K., Legako, J.F., Broadway, P.R., Carroll, J.A., Burdick Sanchez, N.C., Ineck, N.E., Smith, Z.K., Ramanathan, R., and Thornton, K.J. (2024). Effects of premortem stress on protein expression, steak color, oxidation, and myofibrillar fragmentation index in the longissimus lumborum. Animals, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani14152170"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bonilla, D.A., Kreider, R.B., Stout, J.R., Forero, D.A., Kerksick, C.M., Roberts, M.D., and Rawson, E.S. (2021). Metabolic basis of creatine in health and disease: A bioinformatics-assisted review. Nutrients, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu13041238"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"32037","DOI":"10.1038\/srep32037","article-title":"Skeletal muscle ATP synthesis and cellular H+ handling measured by localized 31P-MRS during exercise and recovery","volume":"6","author":"Fiedler","year":"2016","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1640","DOI":"10.1017\/S1751731113001171","article-title":"Precursors for liver gluconeogenesis in periparturient dairy cows","volume":"7","author":"Larsen","year":"2013","journal-title":"Animal"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5199","DOI":"10.1016\/S0021-9258(19)44957-0","article-title":"Metabolic pathways in Tetrahymena. Estimation of rates of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, glyoxylate cycle, lipid synthesis, and related pathways by use of multiple labeled substrates","volume":"247","author":"Connett","year":"1972","journal-title":"J. Biol. Chem."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"53","DOI":"10.1152\/physiolgenomics.00108.2001","article-title":"Cloning and characterization of bovine cytosolic and mitochondrial PEPCK during transition to lactation","volume":"11","author":"Agca","year":"2002","journal-title":"Physiol. Genom."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"33609","DOI":"10.1074\/jbc.R300019200","article-title":"Tissue-specific ablation of the GLUT4 glucose transporter or the insulin receptor challenges assumptions about insulin action and glucose homeostasis","volume":"278","author":"Minokoshi","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Biol. Chem."}],"container-title":["Animals"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/16\/19\/3074\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]],"date-time":"2026-09-29T16:38:23Z","timestamp":1790699903000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/16\/19\/3074"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]]},"references-count":41,"journal-issue":{"issue":"19","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]}},"alternative-id":["ani16193074"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ani16193074","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-2615"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-2615","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]]}}}