Selection for increased muscling in Angus cattle did not increase the glycolytic potential or negatively impact pH decline, retail colour stability or mineral content

• Selection for muscling did not decrease the oxidative capacity of muscle.
• High muscled cattle exhibited myofibre hypertrophy in the SM and ST.
• Selection for greater muscling had no impact on pH decline or retail colour stability.
• High muscled cattle had more iron in the LT, but no difference in zinc or copper.

This study determined the impact of selection for greater muscling in Angus cattle on myofibre characteristics, muscle enzymatics, retail colour stability, pH decline and mineral content of the semimembranosus (SM), semitendinosus (ST) and longissimus thoracis (LT). Muscle from 10 low muscled (low) and 11 high muscled (high) steers were analysed. The high steers had myofibres 22% and 24% larger in cross-sectional area in the SM and ST (P < 0.05), and 8.6% less type IIX myofibres in the LT than the low steers (P < 0.05). The highs had 4.9% lower lactate dehydrogenase activity, 10.2% and 12.3% higher citrate synthase and isocitrate dehydrogenase activity than lows (P < 0.05). The highs had 27% more iron in the LT (P < 0.05). The results indicate that the oxidative capacity of muscle can be maintained in more muscular cattle with no detrimental effects to mineral content, pH decline or retail colour stability. Myofibre hypertrophy is one mechanism leading to greater muscle mass of these high muscled cattle.