Traceability of animal meals in Japanese quail eggs using the technique of 13C e 15N* stable isotopes

C Mori,Jc Denadai,Sk Kakimoto,C Ducatti,Cc Pizzolante

doi:10.1590/s1516-635x2013000100010

Abstract

The objective of this study was to trace the inclusion of bovine meat and bone meal (BMBM) in the diet of Japanese quails by analyzing eggs and egg fractions (yolk and albumen) by the technique of carbon-13 (13C) and nitrogen-15 (15N) stable isotopes. In the trial, 120 Japanese quails were distributed in six treatments with four replicates of five birds each. The following treatments were applied: feed based on corn and soybean meal, containing graded BMBM inclusions (0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5%). After 42 days, 20 eggs per treatment were randomly collected for three consecutive days. Ten eggs were used for yolk and albumen sample collection, and ten for total egg sample collection. It was possible to detect the dietary inclusion of 1% BMBM in the egg and its fractions. Therefore, the technique of isotopes 13C and 15N is able of tracing since 1% inclusion level of BMBM in the diet of Japanese quails in eggs and their fractions.

Highlights

The stable isotope technique has been increasingly applied in agricultural, ecological, and physiological research, and has shown to be a reliable method to study processes related to nutrient digestion, absorption, and metabolism in humans and animals, as well as to identify the origin and quality of animal and vegetable products (González-Martin et al 2001; Gonzáles-Martin et al, 1999; Piasentier et al, 2003)
The objective of this study was to trace the inclusion of bovine meat and bone meal (BMBM) in the diet of Japanese quails by analyzing eggs and egg fractions by the technique of carbon-13 (13C) and nitrogen-15 (15N) stable isotopes
The following treatments were applied: T0 - control feed based on corn and soybean meal with no inclusion of bovine meat and bone meal (BMBM); T1 - 1% BMBM inclusion; T2 - 2% BMBM inclusion; T3 - 3% BMBM inclusion; T4 - 4% BMBM inclusion; and T5 - 5% BMBM inclusion

Summary

Introduction

The increasing demands for food quality and safety has forced farmers and agribusinesses to change their production systems in order supply to their customers products that are reliably and provenly safe.Global food incidents, such as BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encefalopathy) or “mad cow disease”, dioxin contamination, allergens, genetically modified organisms, pesticide and heavy metal contamination, and avian fly have scared consumers, who demand safe food supply.During the last decades, the stable isotope technique has been increasingly applied in agricultural, ecological, and physiological research, and has shown to be a reliable method to study processes related to nutrient digestion, absorption, and metabolism in humans and animals, as well as to identify the origin and quality of animal and vegetable products (González-Martin et al 2001; Gonzáles-Martin et al, 1999; Piasentier et al, 2003).Denadai et al (2005), using the double isotope axis (δ13C and δ15N), analyzed eggs produced in two farms of the region of Bastos, São Paulo, Brazil. The increasing demands for food quality and safety has forced farmers and agribusinesses to change their production systems in order supply to their customers products that are reliably and provenly safe. Global food incidents, such as BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encefalopathy) or “mad cow disease”, dioxin contamination, allergens, genetically modified organisms, pesticide and heavy metal contamination, and avian fly have scared consumers, who demand safe food supply. One of the farmers informed that layers were fed only vegetable feedstuffs, whereas the other, said animal ingredients were used. The authors found different isotope patterns, and suggested the possibility of tracing the inclusion of animal meals in layer diets in the final product (eggs)

Objectives

Methods

Results