Pasture grazing system improves meat quality via restructuring geese microbiota community

This study explored the growth performance, muscle metabolites, and cecal microbial enzymes related to differential metabolite deposition in Wanxi white geese. A total of 180 Wanxi white geese were randomly divided into two feeding groups, such as in-house feeding (IHF) and artificial pasture grazing group (AGF). Our study found that the AGF system increased the growth performance and nutritional composition of goose meat. Using untargeted GC-TOF-MS metabolomics, nonessential, flavor, sweet, and bitter amino acids (AAs) and LC-MS/MS metabolomics, myristic, stearic, γ-linolenic, and α-linolenic acids were increased in the AGF group compared to the IHF group. The 16S rRNA sequencing revealed the enrichment of beneficial bacteria in the AGF group compared to the IHF group. Using Tax4Fun databases, the three main KEGG pathways, including alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism; linoleic acid metabolism; and alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, were upregulated in the AGF group compared to the IHF group. The correlation analysis of gut microbial enzymes with differential metabolites targeting KEGG pathways reflects the crucial role of enzymes in AA and fatty acid (FA) deposition in geese meat. In conclusion, the AGF system increased the meat quality through restructuring gut microbiota, which could be a better option for healthier goose meat production. • Pasture supplementation improved the growth performance and organ index in geese. • GC-TOF-MS metabolomics showed enrichment of NEAAs, flavor, sweet, and bitter AAs in AGF group. • LC-MS/MS metabolomics showed higher abundance of γ-linolenic and α-linolenic acid in AGF group. • The 16S rRNA sequencing revealed higher richness of AA and FA-producing bacteria in AGF group. • Gut microbial enzymes relationship with metabolites in KEGG pathways revealed meat flavor and taste in AGF group.