Meat with Highest Glycogen and Myoglobin Content (Repeat)

Glycogen content & myoglobin content are highest in:

Correct Answer: Horse Meat

Horse meat contains the highest levels of both glycogen and myoglobin among all meat animals.

Why Horse Meat Has Highest Myoglobin?

• Myoglobin is the oxygen-storage haem protein in muscle. Highly active/working muscles require more oxygen → more myoglobin.
• Horses are performance athletes — high aerobic capacity → very high myoglobin → very dark red meat.
• Horse meat is sometimes sold fraudulently mixed with beef (as in the European horse meat scandal, 2013) because of its similar appearance.

Why Horse Meat Has Highest Glycogen?

• Horses store large glycogen reserves in muscle for sustained performance (prolonged athletic effort).
• High muscle glycogen means horse meat can undergo more extensive post-mortem glycolysis → affects ultimate pH.

Related Facts about Horse

• Iodine number of horse fat = 75–80 (highest among all animal fats)
• Linoleic acid content is highest in horse fat
• Eating horse flesh = Hippophagy