biostudies-literaturePothireddy NICAR-National Meat Research Institute452https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12896845biostudies-literatureUnknown16(3)Sheep's meat production and quality are influenced by genetic and physiological factors that affect muscle development, growth, and fat deposition metabolism. However, the breed-specific transcriptional landscapes driving these traits in Indian sheep breeds, especially in Nellore (meat-type) and Deccani (wool-meat type) breeds are remain unexplored. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the differences in muscle growth and fat deposition between Nellore and Deccani breeds by integrating transcriptomic profiling, carcass characteristics, and histological analysis of longissimus dorsi muscle and liver tissues. Carcass assessment revealed higher Hot Carcass Weight (HCW), Cold Carcass Weight (CCW), Hot Carcass Yield (HCY) and Cold Carcass Yield (CCY), and larger myofibrillar cross-sectionAnimals : an open access journal from MDPITranscriptomic Exploration of Muscle Development and Fat Deposition Trait Diversity in Selected Indian Sheep Breeds: Implications for Meat Quality and Yield.PMC12896845Not ApplicableKanneboyina SSPothireddy NIndiradevi KGanesan ABaswa Reddy PVishnuraj MRVijaya Rachel KNagaraja PCBarbuddhe SBfalseTranscriptomic Exploration of Muscle Development and Fat Deposition Trait Diversity in Selected Indian Sheep Breeds: Implications for Meat Quality and Yield.Sheep's meat production and quality are influenced by genetic and physiological factors that affect muscle development, growth, and fat deposition metabolism. However, the breed-specific transcriptional landscapes driving these traits in Indian sheep breeds, especially in Nellore (meat-type) and Deccani (wool-meat type) breeds are remain unexplored. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the differences in muscle growth and fat deposition between Nellore and Deccani breeds by integrating transcriptomic profiling, carcass characteristics, and histological analysis of longissimus dorsi muscle and liver tissues. Carcass assessment revealed higher Hot Carcass Weight (HCW), Cold Carcass Weight (CCW), Hot Carcass Yield (HCY) and Cold Carcass Yield (CCY), and larger myofibrillar cross-section2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Feb2026-07-07T03:14:05.153Z2026-07-07T03:08:46.538ZS-EPMC128968454168143310.3390/ani16030452