Summary
Some wild antelopes are fast sprinters and more resistant to fatigue than others. This study therefore investigated two wild antelope species to better understand their reported performance capability. Muscle samples collected post mortem from the Vastus lateralis and Longissimus lumborum of fallow deer (Dama dama) and springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) were analysed for myosin heavy chain isoform content, citrate synthase (CS), 3-hydroxyacyl Co A dehydrogenase, phopshofructokinase, lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase activities. Cross-sectional areas, fibre type and oxidative capacities of each fibre type were determined in the Vastus lateralis only. The predominant fibre type in both muscle groups and species were type IIX (>50%), with springbok having more type IIX fibres than fallow deer (P < 0.05). Overall cross-sectional area was not different between the two species. The metabolic pathway analyses showed high glycolytic and oxidative capacities for both species, but springbok had significantly higher CS activities than fallow deer. Large variation and overlap in oxidative capacities existed within and between the fibre types. Some type IIX fibres presented with similar oxidative capacities as that from type I and IIA fibres. The data suggest that springbok and fallow deer could sprint at >90 km h-1 and 46 km h-1, respectively, partly from having large type IIX fibre contents and high glycolytic capacities. The high oxidative capacities also suggest animals that could withstand fatigue for long periods of time.
