Meat Fatty Acid Research Articles

Nutritional Benefits from Fatty Acids in Organic and Grass-Fed Beef.

Livestock production is under increasing scrutiny as a component of the food supply chain with a large impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Amidst growing calls to reduce industrial ruminant production, there is room to consider differences in meat quality and nutritional benefits of organic and/or pasture-based management systems. Access to forage, whether fresh or conserved, is a key influencing factor for meat fatty acid profile, and there is increasing evidence that pasture access is particularly beneficial for meat’s nutritional quality. These composition differences ultimately impact nutrient supply to consumers of conventional, organic and grass-fed meat. For this review, predicted fatty acid supply from three consumption scenarios were modelled: i. average UK population National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) (<128 g/week) red meat consumption, ii. red meat consumption suggested by the UK National Health Service (NHS) (<490 g/week) and iii. red meat consumption suggested by the Eat Lancet Report (<98 g/week). The results indicate average consumers would receive more of the beneficial fatty acids for human health (especially the essential omega-3, alpha-linolenic acid) from pasture-fed beef, produced either organically or conventionally.

Fatty Acid Profiling in Kernels Coupled with Chemometric Analyses as a Feasible Strategy for the Discrimination of Different Walnuts

Walnuts have high oil content in their kernels, and they have attracted considerable attention in the food, beverage, nutrient, and health fields because of their delicious taste and potential health benefits. Fatty acid profiles of kernels vary depending on walnuts species, ontogenic variations, and planting environments. To determine the key indicators that can be used to distinguish different walnuts using chemometric analyses, the fatty acid compositions and contents of 72 walnut samples were measured and evaluated. Three fatty acids, oleic acid (21.66%), linoleic acid (56.40%), and linolenic acid (10.50%), were the most common fatty acid components in the kernels. Palmitic acid and linolenic acid in kernels were found to be indicators to rank the walnuts into five levels. Three groups were identified based on of several chemometrics. Oleic acid in kernels was typical fatty acid that could be used to distinguish three walnut groups based on the results of discriminant analysis, while oleic acid and linoleic acid were key differential fatty acids on the discrimination of each group based on the result of orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis. This study provides information on how to classify walnuts from different geographical locations based on kernel fatty acid profiling and provides an approach to identify possible adulterations in walnuts on the markets. Moreover, the results are potentially relevant to quality assessments of walnuts.

Changes on meat fatty acid profile, cholesterol and hepatic metabolism associated with antioxidants and canola oil supplementation for Nellore cattle

This study investigated the effect of canola oil supplementation associated with vitamin E and selenium on cholesterol and liver metabolism and meat fatty acid profile of Nellore cattle. Forty-eight Nellore bulls were randomly assessed to were randomly distributed in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement: two levels of oil in the diet (no inclusion and 3% canola oil, defined as NO and OIL, respectively) and two levels of antioxidants in the diet (no inclusion and 2.5 mg of Se/kg of dry matter (DM) + 500 UI of vitamin E/kg of DM, defined as NA and ANT, respectively). Blood samples were collected at the beginning (day 0) and at days 28, 56 and 84 of the finishing periods for selenium, total cholesterol and its fractions and triglycerides quantification. After slaughter, liver samples were obtained from each animal to analyze the activity of reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and TBARS (substances reactive to 2-thiobarbituric acid). Additionally, 5 g of Longissimus thoracis (LT) were collected for evaluation of cholesterol, ethereal extract and fatty acids profile. Serum selenium concentration has a quadratic increase by antioxidant treatments according to the days on feed. Animal fed ANT presented a better liver antioxidant status, improving the activity of GSSG, GSH-Px, decreasing GSH, TBARS values and decreased the cholesterol concentration in the LT. As well as, decreased cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in blood serum. Addition of 3% canola oil in diets for cattle improved fatty acid profile in meat and associated with antioxidants (selenium and vitamin E) increased antioxidants status and promoted reducing the cholesterol concentration in meat and serum. Supplementation with canola oil increased unsaturated, decreased saturated fat, increased the amount of n-3 and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) meat content, and improved the n6/n-3 ratio. As consequence, the supplementation with canola oil and antioxidants in Nellore cattle diet can be a potential strategy to provide meat for human consumption with better lipids content in beef meat, with higher n-3 and lower cholesterol, which might impact positively the meat consumers health.

Insect oils and chitosan in sheep feeding: Effects on in vitro ruminal biohydrogenation and fermentation

Oils derived from insect defatting may represent novel alternatives to expand the range of lipid supplements in ruminant feeding, both to increase the energy density of diets and to improve the fatty acid (FA) profile of milk and meat through modulation of ruminal biohydrogenation. Furthermore, insect chitosans might also modulate FA biohydrogenation, as indicated for chitosans from crustaceans. Thus, this work was conducted to assess the potential of different insect oils (as an alternative to soybean oil), insect chitosan and their combinations to modulate ruminal biohydrogenation. A second objective was to evaluate the effect of these products on ruminal fermentation, to make sure that they would not detrimentally affect diet utilization. The trial followed a 5 × 2 factorial design (10 treatments in total): (1 control, without added oil, + 4 oil supplements) × (absence or presence of chitosan), and was conducted in vitro using batch cultures of rumen microorganisms. The incubation substrate was supplemented with 0 or 20 g/kg DM of oils from soybean, black soldier fly, cricket or silkworm, whereas chitosan (from black soldier fly) was added at 0 or 30 g/kg DM. Four cannulated ewes were used as inocula donors and treatment effects on in vitro ruminal biohydrogenation and fermentation parameters (i.e., gas production, ammonia concentration, volatile FA production and molar proportions, and dry matter disappearance) were examined after 16 h of incubation. Insect oils modulated FA biohydrogenation, with effects that were directly linked to their degree of unsaturation. Results supported that the three insect oils may conveniently substitute soybean oil because they would not exert negative effects on ruminal fermentation. In order to promote the ruminal accumulation of bioactive FA (e.g., trans-11 18:1 and cis-9 trans-11 18:2), cricket oil would represent the most interesting alternative to soybean oil, because it increased the potentially health-promoting trans-11 18:1 without altering trans-10 18:1 concentration. However, the negligible effect of black soldier fly oil on unsaturated FA profile suggested a lower interest of this fat to improve milk or meat FA profile. Furthermore, the dietary addition of insect chitosan did not seem to favorably modify ruminal FA biohydrogenation or fermentation parameters.

Dietary Coleus amboinicus Lour. decreases ruminal methanogenesis and biohydrogenation, and improves meat quality and fatty acid composition in longissimus thoracis muscle of lambs

BackgroundMethane production and fatty acids (FA) biohydrogenation in the rumen are two main constraints in ruminant production causing environmental burden and reducing food product quality. Rumen functions can be modulated by the biologically active compounds (BACs) of plant origins as shown in several studies e.g. reduction in methane emission, modulation of FA composition with positive impact on the ruminant products. Coleus amboinicus Lour. (CAL) contains high concentration of polyphenols that may potentially reduce methane production and modulate ruminal biohydrogenation of unsaturated FA.This study aimed to investigate the effect of BAC of Coleus amboinicus Lour. (CAL) fed to growing lambs on ruminal methane production, biohydrogenation of unsaturated FA and meat characteristics. In this study, the in vitro experiment aiming at determining the most effective CAL dose for in vivo experiments was followed by two in vivo experiments in rumen-cannulated rams and growing lambs. Experiment 1 (RUSITEC) comprised of control and three experimental diets differing in CAL content (10%, 15%, and 20% of the total diet). The two in vivo experiments were conducted on six growing, rumen-cannulated lambs (Exp. 2) and 16 growing lambs (Exp. 3). Animals were assigned into the control (CON) and experimental (20% of CAL) groups. Several parameters were examined in vitro (pH, ammonia and VFA concentrations, protozoa, methanogens and select bacteria populations) and in vivo (methane production, digestibility, ruminal microorganism populations, meat quality, fatty acids profiles in rumen fluid and meat, transcript expression of 5 genes in meat).ResultsCAL lowered in vitro methane production by 51%. In the in vivo Exp. 3, CAL decreased methane production by 20% compared with the CON group, which corresponded to reduction of total methanogen counts by up to 28% in all experiments, notably Methanobacteriales. In Exp. 3, CAL increased or tended to increase populations of some rumen bacteria (Ruminococcus albus, Megasphaera elsdenii, Butyrivibrio proteoclasticus, and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens). Dietary CAL suppressed the Holotricha population, but increased or tended to increase Entodiniomorpha population in vivo. An increase in the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) proportion in the rumen of lambs was noted in response to the CAL diet, which was mainly attributable to the increase in C18:3 cis-9 cis-12 cis-15 (LNA) proportion. CAL reduced the mRNA expression of four out of five genes investigated in meat (fatty acid synthase, stearoyl-CoA desaturase, lipoprotein lipase, and fatty acid desaturase 1).ConclusionsSummarizing, polyphenols of CAL origin (20% in diet) mitigated ruminal methane production by inhibiting the methanogen communities. CAL supplementation also improved ruminal environment by modulating ruminal bacteria involved in fermentation and biohydrogenation of FA. Besides, CAL elevated the LNA concentration, which improved meat quality through increased deposition of n-3 PUFA.

Evaluation of dietary Perilla frutescens seed on performance and carcass quality in finishing castrated male Songliao black pigs.

ObjectivesThis study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of Perilla frutescens seed (PFS) on growth performance, blood profiles, meat quality and meat nutrient characteristics in finishing castrated male Songliao black pigs.MethodsA total of 80 castrated male Songliao black pigs with an average initial body weight (BW) of 84.1 ± 2.1 kg were used in a 75 days feeding trial. All pigs were randomly assigned into four dietary treatments: CON, basal diet; PFS3.0, basal diet + 3.0% of PFS; PFS6.0, basal diet + 6.0% of PFS and PFS9.0, basal diet + 9.0% of PFS.ResultsAs a result of this experiment, dietary supplementation of PFS improved the growth performance parameters, blood albumin and blood lipid parameters. Whereas, on FBW, average daily feed intake and average daily gain there showed a non‐dose‐dependent manner that pigs in PFS9.0 had lowest performance compared with other two PFS treatments. Furthermore, meat colour of yellowness, pH, cook meat rate, moisture, crude protein and crude fat were increased by PFS addition. However, lower growth performance was observed in PFS9.0 group. As well as, dietary inclusion of PFS also alters the meat amino acid composition and meat fatty acids composition. Particularly, umami amino acid contents and polyunsaturated fatty acid were all enhanced by PFS addition.ConclusionsIn summary, dietary supplementation of PFS have beneficial effects on the performance and meat quality and nutritional values in Songliao black pigs.

Physicochemical composition, fatty acid profile and sensory attributes of meat (longissimus lumborum muscle) from Nellore and Nellore-cross bulls.

This study aimed to compare the physicochemical characteristics, fatty acid composition, and sensory attributes of the meat from three genetic groups: Nellore (Nell), ½ Nellore × ½ Angus (NeAn), and ¼ Nellore × ¼ Angus × ½ Senepol (NASe). Longissimus lumborum muscle from 30 slaughtered bulls with a body weight of 549 ± 32.5kg was used. The water holding capacity was greater for the Nell and NeAn groups than for the NASe group. Meat samples from the NASe group exhibited a higher L* index than those from the NeAn group and lower a* and b* color indexes than those from the Nell group. The meat fatty acid profiles showed that the Nell group had higher concentrations of 12:0, 14:0, 18:1 t11, 14:1 c9, 16:1 c9, 18:1 c9, 18:1 c11, 18:2 c9, t11 (conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)), and 20:3 n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) than the NeAn and NASe groups. The total saturated (ΣSFA), unsaturated (ΣUFA), and monounsaturated (ΣMUFA) fatty acid concentrations were higher and the ΣPUFA:ΣSFA ratio was lower in the Nell group than in the NeAn group. The Δ9-desaturase C16 activity was significantly higher in the Nell and NASe groups than in the NeAn group. The atherogenicity index (AI) tended to be lower in the crossbreeds than in the Nell breed. The NASe group presented meat with better tenderness, juiciness, and overall acceptance than the Nell and NeAn groups and was therefore the best genetic group for beef production of the tested groups.

Effect of dietary buriti oil on the quality, fatty acid profile and sensorial attributes of lamb meat

Forty crossbred (Santa Ines × Dorper) male lambs were used to investigate the effect of dietary buriti oil (BOIL) intake on meat quality, fatty acid (FA) composition and sensory attributes. A completely randomized design with five BOIL intake levels (0, 12, 24, 36 and 48 g/kg DM) was used. Increasing dietary BOIL intake linearly reduced the DMI, slaughter weight, cooking loss, shear force, yellowness, 16:0, c9–18:1 FA concentrations, and the delta-9-desaturase activity index computed using c9–16:1 and 16:0 as product and substrate pair, cis-MUFA and ƩMUFA/ƩSFA ratio of lamb meat (P ≤ 0.05); however, increasing dietary BOIL intake quadratically increased the energy intake, lipid content and linearly increased the total FA intake, chroma, collagen, total BI, 18:0, 20:3n–6 concentration and sensory attributes of lamb meat (P ≤ 0.05), without affecting health indexes regarding fat consumption. BOIL addition at levels above 24 g/kg DM in lamb diet reduces growth, however, improves tenderness, flavor and “goat” aroma intensity and slightly changes meat FA levels, promoting better acceptance by panelists.

Evaluating productive performance, meat quality and oxidation products of Italian White breed rabbits under free-range and cage rearing system.

ObjectiveFree-range systems have been increasingly available to the consumer due to increased demand for more sustainable meat-products. In the current study, the effect of free-range (FR) and cage system (CS) was explored on growth performance, meat quality and oxidation products in Italian White breed rabbits during the growing-fattening phase (5 to 13 weeks of age).MethodsForty rabbits were randomly allotted to two treatment groups according to the rearing system, and each treatment group was replicated five times with four subjects in each replicate (20 rabbits per treatment-group). All rabbits fed the same diet as pelleted, and under FR system, no additional feeds were available to animals.ResultsRearing system had significant effect on rabbit growth performance, where CS group resulted in higher final body weight (p<0.045) and gain (p<0.029) and better feed efficiency (p<0.025) compared to FR rabbits. Most carcass traits were not affected by rearing system; however, a reduction of abdominal fat content (p<0.015) and meat lipids (p<0.034) was observed in FR rabbits. Rearing system had no effects on meat fatty acid profile, whereas meat from FR rabbits resulted less susceptible to lipid and protein oxidation compared to caged animals.ConclusionIn overall, FR system could be suggested as a substitute for conventional caged system because of FR system preserved rabbit meat from oxidation.

Feeding extruded linseed or soybean and hay free-choice to Rubia Gallega young heifers does not substantially alter health-enhancing fatty acids in meat

Context A common strategy to try and improve the fatty acid (FA) composition of meat and fat from cattle has been to feed protected oil or oilseeds. Aims Concentrate containing 4.5% fat from vegetable oil, extruded linseed or extruded soybean were fed free-choice with hay to Rubia Gallega heifers to examine the effects on meat (Longissimus thoracis (LT)) and subcutaneous fat (SCF) FAcompositions, and effects on meat and carcass quality. A secondary aim was to assess treatment effects on levels of specific desirable FAs in meat and fat. Methods Twenty-four 7-month-old Rubia Gallega heifers were assigned to three experimental diets: control concentrate (with palm oil) or concentrates containing either extruded linseed (LS) or extruded soybeans. Concentrates and hay were fed for 90 days before slaughter at an average age and weight of 300 days and 350 kg, respectively. Key results Minor treatment effects on animal performance, carcass traits and meat quality were noted. Relative to the control concentrate diet, feeding the linseed diet led to a slight increase in α-linolenic acid (18:3n-3) in SCF (P &lt; 0.001), no change in 18:3n-3 in LT, reduced n-6/n-3 ratios in both LT and SCF (LT, P &lt; 0.01; SCF, P &lt; 0.001), and avoided ∑(t6- to t10-)18:1 accumulation in either tissue (LT, P = 0.017; SCF, P &lt; 0.05). Conclusions Although FA improvements when feeding linseed could be viewed as positive for human health, quantitatively, feeding extruded oilseeds and hay free-choice were ineffective at creating rumen conditions needed to substantially enrich n-3 polyunsaturated FAs (PUFA) or desirable biohydrogenation intermediates in LT. Implications To produce high-quality Rubia Gallega meat with meaningful and consistent enrichments of polyunsaturated FAs and beneficial biohydrogenation products will require more efficient methods for ruminal protection of PUFA, and further investigations into the timing and amounts of PUFA-enriched concentrate feeding.

Serum Biochemical and Meat Fatty Acid Profiles of Different Chicken Genotypes

Serum biochemical and meat fatty acid profile of different chickens were studied. A total of 144 mixed sex matured chickens of Cosmopolitan (C), Improved Horro (H), Cosmopolitan♂*Improved Horro♀(CH), Improved Horro♂*Cosmopolitan♀ (HC), Indigenous (L) and Koekkoek (KK) were used to determine serum biochemical, of which 36 chickens were also used for fatty acid profile study. Completely randomized design in 6 × 2 factorial arrangements was set up. Serum biochemical and fatty acid profiles were determined by Roche/Hitachi cobas c 501 and gas liquid chromatography (GC) procedures, respectively. There were significant differences (P ≤ 0.001) in Total cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG), Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and High-density lipoprotein (HDL) among genotypes and between sexes. HDL was inversely related with TC, TG and LDL. Male had significantly higher (P ≤ 0.001) TC, TG, LDL but lower HDL than female. SFA, (Myristic, Pentadecanoic and Palmitic acids) had significantly (P α-linolenic acid significantly (P ≤ 0.01) varied between sexes. The serum biochemical differed across genotypes and between sexes. The difference in the number of carbons, double bond and position of the double bond could affect fatty acid profile among genotypes and between sexes. Chicken products with higher level TC, TG, LDL and SFA might affect human health problems. It could also be interesting topic for future studies.

Crude glycerin and waste sesame seed in the diets of growing lambs: impacts on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation, carcass characteristics, and meat fatty acid profile

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a combination of crude glycerin and waste sesame seed on the growth performance, rumen fermentation, carcass characteristics, and meat fatty acid profile of lambs. Twenty-four male Karayaka lambs with initial body weights of 26.5 ± 0.53 kg were randomly divided into four groups and raised in individual pens. For 70 days, lambs were fed ad libitum the one of four concentrates: concentrate without CG and WSS (control), concentrate with 10% CG (G), concentrate with 10% WSS (W), and concentrate with 5% CG and 5% WSS (GW). All diets consisted of 85% concentrate and 15% forage (wheat straw). The dietary treatments did not affect dry matter intake, average daily gain, or feed efficiency. The rumen parameters and carcass measurements did not differ among the treatments. Greater levels of linoleic acid, total polyunsaturated fatty acids, and total n-6 fatty acids (p < 0.001) and lesser levels of margaric acid (p = 0.008) were detected in the W diet compared to the other diets. Overall, a combination of CG and WSS did not effectively increase the beneficial fatty acid content of lamb meat. However, both byproducts can partially replace grains as alternative energy sources in lambs' concentrates up to 10% without affecting growth performance, ruminal fermentation, and carcass characteristics.

Administration of Selected Probiotic Mixture Improves Body Weight Gain and Meat Fatty Acid Composition of Creole Goats

Administration of Selected Probiotic Mixture Improves Body Weight Gain and Meat Fatty Acid Composition of Creole Goats

Effect of dietary cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L] walp) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seeds on growth performance, blood parameters and breast meat fatty acids in broiler chickens

The effects of dietary replacement of soybean meal (SBM) with two different protein sources (cowpea [CWP] and chickpea [CKP]) on growth performance (GP), blood parameters and breast meat fatty acids (FA) content were evaluated. A total of 780 one-d-old broiler chicks (Cobb 500) were allocated, over 2 growth phases (starter, 0–21 d; finisher, 22–42 d), to 5 dietary treatments as follow: (1) a corn-SBM basal diet as control; (2) 10% raw cowpea; (3) 20% raw cowpea; (4) 10% raw chickpea and (5) 20% raw chickpea. The results indicated that CWP and CKP diets conducted to similar GP (body weight, body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio) when compared to the SBM diet, but changes in the content of blood parameters were observed. Glucose and total cholesterol decreased significantly in birds fed CWP (p<.0001) and CKP (p<.001) diet. Also, the use of CWP and CKP had a significant effect on the content of breast muscle FA, especially for alfa-linolenic (p <.0001), eicosapentaenoic (p<.0001), docosapentaenoic (p=.034) and docosahexaenoic (p =.003), which were higher than those fed SBM diet. In addition, there was a significant interaction between the protein source and the inclusion level (S × L) for the majority of the FA’s. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that CWP and CKP seeds represent an interesting alternative protein sources, which can improve broilers performance, health status and breast fatty acids composition. Highlights Cowpea (CWP) and chickpea (CKP) can be used as replacement for soybean meal in broiler chickens diets, at inclusion levels up to 200 g/kg. Dietary use of CWP and CKP decreased plasma cholesterol and glucose concentration. Use of CWP and CKP in broilers diets positively modified breast meat fatty acids, especially α-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic or docosahexaenoic acids with potential benefits to human nutrition.

Effects of Thermally Oxidized Vegetable Oil on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics, Gut Morphology, Nutrients Utilization, Serum Cholesterol and Meat Fatty Acid Profile in Broilers

The impacts of dietary levels of oxidized vegetable (sunflower) oil on growth performance, gut morphology, nutrients utilization, serum cholesterol and meat fatty acid profile were evaluated in Ross 308 straight-run (n = 192) day-old broilers. The broilers were arbitrarily distributed among four dietary treatments including; FVO: fresh vegetable oil (1 mEq kg−1), LOO: low oxidized (20 mEq kg−1), MOO: moderately oxidized (40 mEq kg−1), and HOO: highly oxidized vegetable oil (60 mEq kg−1) with 5% inclusion containing six replicates. Results revealed that the broilers consuming MOO and HOO based diets showed reduced (p = 0.05) feed intake, body weight gain and carcass weight accompanied by a poorer feed conversion ratio than those consuming FVO. Villus height, villus height to crypt depth ratio, ileal digestibility of crude protein (p = 0.041), crude fat (p = 0.032) and poly unsaturated fatty acids (p = 0.001) in thigh muscles were decreased, whereas crypt depth (p = 0.001), serum cholesterol levels (p = 0.023) and short chain fatty acids (p = 0.001) were increased (p &lt; 0.001) by increasing dietary oxidation level. In conclusion, MOO and HOO exerted deleterious effects on growth, carcass weight, gut development and nutrients utilization. Low oxidized vegetable oil (20 mEq kg−1), however, with minimum negative effects can be used as a cost effective energy source in poultry diets.

Effect of Olive Cake and Cactus Cladodes Incorporation in Goat Kids' Diet on the Rumen Microbial Community Profile and Meat Fatty Acid Composition.

Simple SummaryThroughout the world, the ruminant diet is based on conventional feedstuffs, which their price constantly fluctuates, and their use presents a concurrence to human nutrition. The use of alternative feed resources seems to be a solution to reduce charges and diversify ruminants’ diet. Olive cake and cactus cladodes are two alternative feed resources that are recommended to be used in ruminant feed. However, their effect on the bacterial community of ruminants is not widely investigated. This study aims to evaluate the effect of olive cake and cactus cladodes on the ruminal microbial ecosystem and meat fatty acids of goat kids. The incorporation of these feedstuffs did not change the bacterial abundance and diversity. Goat kids’ rumen liquor seemed to be able to adapt to alternative feed resources incorporation. The introduction of olive cake and cactus cladodes slightly affect meat fatty acids without a negative effect. Thus, ruminants seem to have the ability to adapt to the alternative feed resources digestion, and their use as a feed could diversify feed and reduce feed cost.The olive cake (OC) and the cactus cladodes (CC) are two alternative feed resources widely available in the southern Mediterranean region that could be used in ruminants’ diet. Their impact on the rumen bacterial ecosystem is unknown. This work aims to evaluate their effects on the microbial community and meat fatty acids of goat’s kids. Forty-four goat kids were divided into four groups receiving diets with conventional concentrate, or 35% OC, or 30% CC, or 15% OC, and 15% CC. After 3 months, these animals were slaughtered, and the rumen liquor and longissimus dorsi and semimembranosus muscles samples were collected. Animals receiving a control diet had rumen liquor with high acidity than test groups (p < 0.001). Test rumen liquor was more adapted to digest efficiently their matching diet than control liquor (p < 0.05). These feedstuffs did not affect rumen bacteria abundance and alpha diversity (richness, evenness, and reciprocal Simpson indexes), and these results were confirmed by beta-diversity tests (NMDS plot, HOMOVA, PERMANOVA). The test diets slightly affected the individual fatty acids of meat (p < 0.05) without effect on fatty acids summaries, indexes, and ratios. Thus, these alternative feed resources could take place in goat kids’ diet to diversify their feed and to reduce feed costs.

Effect of flaxseed and flaxseed oil supplemented in caiman diet on meat fatty acids.

Increasing polyunsaturated or long-chain fatty acids in meat for human consumption improves both nutritional quality and consumer perception. The increase could occur through the addition of rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids (such as flaxseed or flaxseed oil) to the animal diet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplement with two presentations of flax (crushed seeds or oil) on the change of FA content in two cuts of caiman meat (tail and neck). We measured fatty profile in two different caiman meat cuts (neck and tail) from 30 animals (total length 96.7 ± 4.9cm, snout-vent length 47.8 ± 3cm, weight 4.2 ± 0.6kg), raised in individual enclosures, fed three a week for 50days with crushed chicken head and a dry food formulated for these reptiles in a 70/30 ratio (C, n = 10), control diet with 10% crushed flaxseed (FS, n = 10), and control diet with 10% flaxseed oil (FO, n = 10), while the remaining days animals were fed the control diet. Meats from animals fed both enrichment diet (FS and FO) showed an increase of C18:3n-3 and ΣUFA with respect to control diet. Although both enriched diets raised the levels of C18:3n-3, the neck showed higher values than the tail. We observed that the neck is more susceptible than the tail to be improved by FO, which could suggest that it is more beneficial to consume neck meat. In order to be implemented in caiman farms, flaxseed oil is more expensive than seed, but more effective, easier to manage, and is practical for application on caiman farms.

Effects of tannins supplementation to sheep diets on their performance, carcass parameters and meat fatty acid profile: A meta-analysis study

This study was carried to evaluate the effects of tannins supplementation to sheep diets on their performance, carcass parameters and meat fatty acid profile through meta-analysis. Seventy-four peer-reviewed publications with 183 treatment means were included in the data set. The effects of tannins as an additive in sheep diets were evaluated by examining the weighted mean difference (WMD) between tannins treatment (diets with tannins inclusion) and control treatment (diets with no tannins). Heterogeneity was explored by meta-regression and subgroup analysis performed for: genetic group; animal age; tannins supplementation period, experimental design; amount of condensed tannins and concentrate in diet. Based on our results, tannins should not be fed to lamb younger than 3 months of age due to their negative effect on carcass weight. Enteric methane emissions (CH4 g/kg DMI) reduced by 17.5 % with tannins supplementation. Tannins supplementation also altered N metabolism by increasing N intake (2.10 %), retained N (5.44 %) and fecal N excretion (2.99 %) and reducing urinary N excretion (9.7 %). Nevertheless, the effects of tannins feeding on N metabolism varied according to the experimental design used (rotative vs. continuos). Therefore, the use of rotative experimental design in studies carried to evaluate the response of sheep to tannins can result in responses with confounded error due to the possibility of having residual effects of treatments. Increased meat concentrations of fatty acid with human health benefits were reported with tannins supplementation. Concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA C20:5 ω-3; 26.63 %), docosapentaenoic (DPA C22:5 ω-3; 12.08 %), docosahexaenoic (DHA C22:6 ω-3; 10.59 %) and total omega-3 (14.01 %) were all higher in meat from sheep fed tannins compared to those fed control diet (diets with no tannins). Additionally, condensed tannins inclusion to sheep diets in amounts ranging from 20.0 to 25.0 g/kg of DM increased meat concentrations of arachidonic acid, EPA C20:5 ω-3, DPA C22:5 ω-3, DHA C22:6 ω-3, total PUFA, total omega-3 and total omega-6.

Evaluation of nuts morphology and composition of fatty acids in certain Iranian Pistacia vera L. (Anacardiaceae) cultivars

Fruits of various Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) cultivars are widely used in food industries for its inimitable color, taste and nutrient value. We elevated fruit morphology and kernel fatty acids composition of eleven Iranian cultivars of pistachio. Oils of kernels were extracted using cold press method, and composition of the oil fatty acids in the methyl ester form was detected using gas chromatography (GC). For morphological study, nine qualitative and quantitative traits were evaluated. The quantitative ones widely differed among the studied cultivars, and ANOVA test revealed the significant variations (p = 0.00) for all of them. Moreover, the qualitative traits varied among the cultivars. We characterized 11 fatty acid components representing about 99.56 to 100 % of the total oil composition. The principal fatty acids for all the cultivars were: oleic, linoleic and palmitic acids, while their amounts differed among the cultivars. In this regard, unsaturated fatty acids comprised the major oil part, 87.46 to 88.89 %. Oleic acid (53.11-70.99 %) and palmitic acid (9.09 to 10.55 %) were detected as the unsaturated and saturated fatty acids in all the evaluated cultivars. The quality index of oils were determined according to oleic/ linoleic acids ratio, which highly varied among the cultivars. According to UPGMA tree and PCO plot, we divided the investigated cultivars into four chemotypes, and each of them was characterized by the certain oil composition.

Effect of Dams and Suckling Lamb Feeding Systems on the Fatty Acid Composition of Suckling Lamb Meat.

Simple SummarySuckling lamb meat is one of the most relevant products of the Mediterranean traditional dairy sheep industry. Being lamb fed exclusively with maternal milk, meat quality is mainly affected by the mother’s milk composition and hence by the mother feeding during gestation and lactation. This paper summarizes the state of the art about the effect of the dam and suckling lamb feeding systems on lamb meat quality, with special attention to the lipid fraction considered beneficial to human health.The effects of the dams and suckling lamb feeding systems on the fatty acid (FA) profile of lamb meat are reviewed in this article. The suckling lamb can be considered a functional monogastric, and therefore, its meat FA composition is strongly influenced by the FA composition of maternal milk. The major source of variation for ewe milk FA composition is represented by pasture amount and type. In the traditional sheep breeding system of the Mediterranean area, the main lambing period occurs in late autumn–early winter, and ewes are able to exploit the seasonal availability of the natural pastures at their best. Therefore, lambs start suckling when maternal milk concentrations of vaccenic, rumenic, and n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated FA in maternal milk are the highest. When maternal diet is mainly based on hay and concentrates, the use of vegetable oils can be considered a good strategy to improve the meat FA profile of suckling lambs.