Muscle fibre characteristics, enzyme activity and meat colour of wild boar (Sus scrofa s. L.) muscle with 2n = 36 compared to those of phenotypically similar crossbreeds (2n = 37 and 2n = 38)

• Wild boar karyotype affect muscle fibre type and meat colour.
• Part of the meat colour of wild boar could be explained due to the fibre type.
• Animals 2n = 38, which are karyotypically closer to pig, have higher growth rates.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate European wild boar (Sus scrofa s. L.) of chromosomal number 2n = 36 in comparison with phenotypically similar crossbreeds (2n = 37 and 2n = 38) with respect to the muscle fibre characteristics and enzyme activity as well as meat colour in the longissimus dorsi (LD) and semimembranosus (SM) muscles. Differences in the proportion of IIA fibre in the LD muscle between karyotypes 2n = 37 and 2n = 38 were found. The 2n = 36 group showed a lower muscle fibre cross-section area than the 2n = 38 karyotype. The meat colour of the 2n = 36 karyotype group was redder than 2n = 37 and 2n = 38. The muscle fibre cross-section area might explain the differences in colour of the meat of wild boar.