Transcriptome-metabolome reveals the molecular changes in meat production and quality in the hybrid populations of Sichuan white goose.

Hybrid breeding has proven to enhance meat quality and is extensively utilized in goose breeding. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of research investigating the molecular mechanisms that underlie the meat quality of hybrid geese. In this study, we employed the Sichuan White Goose as the maternal line for hybridization with the Zhedong White Goose and Tianfu Meat Goose P3 line. We assessed the growth and slaughter meat quality performance of 10-wk-old hybrid offspring in comparison to Sichuan white goose purebred offspring. The results indicate that hybrid geese have significantly improved performance in growth and slaughter meat quality. Furthermore, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the chest muscles of hybrid offspring through transcriptomics and metabolomics to unravel the effects of hybrid breeding on growth and meat quality. A total of 673 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and 93 differentially expressed metabolites were identified. The joint analysis highlighted the significant enrichment of DEGs AMPD1, AMPD3, RRM2, ENTPD3, and the metabolite UMP in the nucleotide metabolism pathway. These findings underscore the crucial role of these genetic and metabolic factors in regulating muscle growth and meat quality in hybrid populations.