The effect of the production system on the proteomics profiles of the Longissimus thoracis muscle in Arouquesa cattle.

Arouquesa cattle breed is an autochthonous Portuguese breed produced under a traditional mountain system that need improvement without affecting beef quality. The aim of this work is to compare the proteomics profiles of the Longissimus thoracis muscle from Arouquesa animals produced under different production systems. Sixty weaners were produced under the following systems: traditional (TF) and traditional with starter feed supplementation (TF + S1) with weaning and slaughtering at 9 months, the S1 + S2 (weaning at 5 months and grower supplement until slaughter) and two rearing periods with finishing supplementation (TF + S3 and S3). Upon slaughter, samples of L. thoracis were taken and analyzed using a shotgun proteomics workflow. Several putative markers of beef quality for the Arouquesa breed were identified: VIM, FSCN1, SERPINH1, ALDH1A1, NDUFB5, ANXA1, PDK4, CEMIP2, NDUFB9, PDLIM1, OXCT1, MYH4. These proteins are involved in actin binding, skeletal muscle development and in the mitochondrial respiratory chain and they can influence mostly meat tenderness and color. We identified specific proteins for each group related to different metabolisms involved in several aspects that affect meat quality parameters. Our results demonstrate the link between production practices and putative meat characteristics, which have the potential to improve the traceability of certified products. SIGNIFICANCE: Arouquesa breed is produced in a sustainable system using natural resources and contributing to the economy of low-populated rural regions in Northern Portugal. Besides their economic relevance, producing autochthonous breeds can counter rural depopulation and maintain local heritage. Additionally, consumer awareness about product quality is increasing and PDO products contribute to satisfying this demand. However, it is necessary to increase production so that it is possible to sell these products outside the production region. To ensure robust traceability and that PDO label characteristics are maintained despite increasing production yield, product analysis is of paramount importance. For this reason, proteomic approaches can provide insight into how production changes will affect beef quality and generate putative biomarkers of certified production systems.

Effect of coconut processing by-product graded feeding on carcass traits and meat quality of lambs.

The inclusion of by-product coconut mesocarp skins (CMS) in diets was evaluated in feedlot lambs. The objective of this study was to evaluate CMS levels effects on carcass traits and meat quality of lambs. Thirty-five male lambs with an initial body weight of 16.9 ± 2.93 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design with five CMS levels in total dry matter (0; 4.8; 9.6; 14.4 and 19.2%) and fed during 71 d until slaughter. High levels of CMS decreased the intake of dry matter and negatively affected the performance of lambs. Fat and protein contents of Longissimus lumborum muscle (P < 0.05) and the saturated fatty acid (FA) decreased (P < 0.001) whereas polyunsaturated FA increased (P < 0.01) with the inclusion of CMS. The ratio t10/t11-18:1 increased with the inclusion of CMS (P < 0.001). The instrumental color descriptors were unaffected by CMS levels. According to the effects on the investigated meat quality traits we recommend up to 4.8% CMS in diets of confined lambs.

Enrichment of Brain n-3 Docosapentaenoic Acid (DPA) and Retinal n-3 Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) in Lambs Fed Nannochloropsis oceanica Microalga.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) have special physiological functions in both brain and retinal tissues that are related to the modulation of inflammatory processes and direct effects on neuronal membrane fluidity, impacting mental and visual health. Among them, the long-chain (LC) n-3 PUFAs, as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are of special importance. Scarce data are available about the fatty acid (FA) composition of the ruminant brain in response to dietary intervention. However, we decided to examine the brain and retina FA composition of lambs supplemented with an EPA-rich microalga feed for 21 days, as it is known that despite the extensive biohydrogenation of dietary PUFAs in the rumen, ruminants can selectively accumulate some n-3 LC-PUFAs in their brain and retinal tissues. Twenty-eight male lambs were fed a control diet, or the same diet further supplemented with Nannochloropsis sp. microalga. Their brains and retina were collected for FA characterization. Overall, the brain FA profile remained unchanged, with little alteration in omega-3 docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) enhancement in both the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Retinal tissues were particularly responsive to the dietary intervention, with a 4.5-fold enhancement of EPA in the freeze-dried-fed lambs compared with the control lambs. We conclude that retinal tissues are sensitive to short-term n-3 PUFA supplementation in lambs.

Forage based diet as an alternative to a high concentrate diet for finishing young bulls - Effects on growth performance, greenhouse gas emissions and meat quality.

Two groups of 8 individually housed young crossbred-bulls, in the finishing period, were used to test the effect of a Total Mixed Ration diet with high forage content (54% DM), low starch content (14% DM), supplemented with sunflower seeds (10% DM) (HFS) on growth performance, carcass and meat quality, fatty acid profile and carbon footprint, with reference to a conventional concentrate-based (90% DM) (Control) diet. The experiment lasted 64 days before slaughter. During the experiment, feed intake was monitored daily and live weight every 14 days. Individual CH4 emissions were assessed at 16-days intervals, using a GreenFeed for Large Animal unit. Feed intake and feed conversion ratio were higher for HFS diet, but average daily weight gain and feeding costs were similar for the two diets. Dressing percentage was reduced with HFS diet. The HFS increased redness, yellowness and Chroma of subcutaneous fat, but did not compromise commercial value of the carcasses. Meat colour, shear force, or sensory parameters were not affected by diet. The HFS diet allowed a healthier FA profile, due to the higher proportions of 18:3n-3, t11-18:1 and c9,t11-18:2 and the lower proportion of t10-18:1. The HFS diet did not reduce the carbon footprint in the finishing period of young bulls, due to increased digestive CH4 emissions. The results of this experiment showed that the HFS diet can be an alternative to the conventional diets used in finishing young-bulls. Although it may result in a slight reduction in animal performance, it has a strong impact on reducing dependence on inputs from outside the farm.

Fatty Acid Composition of M. Biceps Femoris of Edible Dormouse (Glis glis L.).

This study aimed to investigate the fatty acid (FA) composition of edible dormouse m. biceps femoris in both sexes. More than 20 FA were identified in the muscle, with the 18:1cis-9 (oleic acid) being the most abundant in both sexes, comprising more than 50% of total FA in muscle. The most dominated FA were monounsaturated (MUFA), followed by saturated FA (SFA) and polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), reaching 54.8%, 25.43% and 19.8% of total FA, respectively. Sums of PUFA and n-3 PUFA tended (p > 0.05) to be higher in males than in females. There were no significant differences between sexes on the FA composition. Nevertheless, the 18:2n-6 tended to differ between sexes (p = 0.063). Several long-chain PUFA (LC-PUFA) were detected in dormouse muscle, with the 20:4 n-6 (arachidonic acid, AA) and the 22:6 n-3 (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA) being the most abundant in both sexes. The relatively high stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) indexes and the large concentration of 18:1cis-9 in dormouse muscle tissues might point to a low mobilization of the SCD products. Furthermore, finding the unusual FA 20:3 ∆5,∆11,∆14, suggests feeding on leaf and wood lipids of Coniferophytes. We demonstrated sexual size monomorphism in edible dormouse. The literature regarding the composition of dormouse meat is scarce and no studies reported the FA composition of muscle, thus, this work can contribute to increasing the knowledge on edible dormouse physiology and nutritional traits.

Pulsed Light Application for Campylobacter Control on Poultry Meat and Its Effect on Colour and Volatile Profile.

Campylobacter on poultry meat needs to be controlled to reduce the risk of infection caused by the consumption of chicken meat. Pulsed light (PL) application on poultry meat was studied to control Campylobacter spp. The effect of this technology was evaluated regarding poultry meat colour and volatile compound changes. Two breast sample groups were prepared: inoculated with Campylobacter (107 bacteria of Campylobacter jejuni strains) and not inoculated. Samples were submitted to PL, five pulses/s of 300 ms, 1 Hz, and 1 J/cm2 in the apparatus, PL Tecum unit (Claranor). A response surface experimental design was applied regarding the factors of voltage (1828 to 3000 W) and distance to the source UV lamp (2.6 to 5.4 cm). The binomial factorial treatment (voltage and distance) with PL induced different energy doses (fluence J/cm2) received by samples, 2.82 to 9.67 J/cm2. Poultry meat pulsed light treated had a significant decrease of Enterobacteriaceae counts. The treatments applied were unable to reduce 1 log Campylobacter cfu/g of poultry meat. The poultry meat PL treated became slightly light, redder, and yellower than those not treated. PL can decrease the proportion of aldehydes on total volatiles in meat, particularly on those associated with chicken-like, chicken skin-like, and sweet odour notes in fresh poultry meat. Further studies of PL with higher energy doses will be necessary to confirm if there are Campylobacter reductions and about poultry meat treated under storage to evaluate if volatile compounds can affect the flavour of PL-treated meat samples.

Partial replacement of soybean meal with Chlorella vulgaris in broiler diets influences performance and improves breast meat quality and fatty acid composition.

Alternative feed ingredients, such as microalgae, may be more sustainable in comparison to conventional feedstuffs that need large amounts of arable land and are often imported. This study evaluates the effects of Chlorella vulgaris various inclusion levels in the diet of broiler chickens on performance, carcass yield, organ measurements, breast meat quality, fatty acids profile, and antioxidant capacity. A total of two hundred forty 5 d old male Ross 308 broilers were randomly allotted to 4 groups (6 replicates of 10 birds each). Each group received either a control diet or a diet where soybean meal was replaced with 10% (CV10%), 15% (CV15%), or 20% C. vulgaris for 40 d. Performance parameters, carcass and meat traits were evaluated. Compared to the control group, birds supplemented with C. vulgaris (15% and 20%) had lower body weight, weight gain, and feed intake (P < 0.0001), whereas no differences were observed between the control and CV10% groups (P > 0.05). Feed conversion ratio did not differ between control and CV groups. Diets containing C. vulgaris significantly increased ileal digesta viscosity, weight and size of several gastrointestinal compartments, as well as breast muscle yield (P < 0.0001). Incorporation of C. vulgaris resulted in yellower breast muscle (P < 0.0001), with significantly increased chlorophyll a (P < 0.05), chlorophyll b, and total carotenoids contents (P < 0.0001). Inclusion of C. vulgaris decreased bacterial count in meat samples in comparison to controls (P < 0.0001). A 20% C. vulgaris inclusion resulted in higher water holding capacity (P < 0.05) and lower cooking loss (P < 0.05). As dietary C. vulgaris increased, concentrations of DHA + EPA (P < 0.05) and n-3 PUFA (P < 0.0001) increased in breast meat, while the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio decreased (P < 0.0001). Sensory analysis showed that breast meat from the CV10% group had the highest acceptance score. Overall, dietary concentrations of C. vulgaris of up to 20% improve breast meat quality, whereas 10% of C. vulgaris inclusion is recommended.

Effects of partial substitution of grain by agroindustrial byproducts and sunflower seed supplementation in beef haylage-based finisher diets on growth, in vitro methane production and carcass and meat quality.

Thirty-two bulls were assigned to four total mixed biodiverse haylage-based diets to evaluate the effects of partial substitution of grains by agroindustrial byproducts, sunflower seeds (SS) supplementation and haylage level on growth, in vitro methane production and carcass and meat quality. Dietary treatments included a grain-based diet with 30% grain and haylage:concentrate ratio (H:C) of 60:40 (DM basis) (MCe); a by-product-based diet where 50% of the grain was substituted for by-products (H:C, 60:40) (MBp); a byproducts diet with 10% sunflower seed and 90% (DM) MBp (H:C, 54:46) (MBpSS); and a byproducts, SS diet with increased haylage (H:C, 67.5:32.5) (HBpSS). Dry matter intake and growth rate were lower in HBpSS, but feed conversion ratio was unaffected by diet. In vitro methane emissions were reduced by SS. Meat colour and shear force were similar among diets. Lipid oxidation in cooked meat was reduced and fatty acid composition was improved with SS. Biodiverse haylage-based diets may be a viable option for finishing bulls.

Effects of feeding rumen-protected linseed fat to postpartum dairy cows on plasma n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations and metabolic and reproductive parameters.

High-yielding dairy cows experience a negative energy balance and inflammatory status during the transition period. Fat supplementation increases diet energy density, and plasma n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have been proposed to improve immune function. This study tested the hypothesis that dietary supplementation with a rumen-protected and n-3 PUFA-enriched fat could ameliorate both the energetic deficit and immune status of postpartum high-yielding dairy cows, improving overall health and reproductive efficiency. At 11 d in milk (DIM), cows were randomly allocated to groups (1) n-3 PUFA (n = 29), supplemented with encapsulated linseed oil supplying additional up to 64 g/d (mean 25 ± 4 g/d) of α-linolenic acid (ALA), or (2) control (n = 31), supplemented with hydrogenated palm oil without ALA content. Fat supplements of the n-3 PUFA and control groups were available through an automated, off-parlor feeding system, and intake depended on the cow's feeding behavior. Plasma ALA concentrations were higher in n-3 PUFA than control cows, following a linear relation with supplement ingestion, resulting in a lower n-6/n-3 ratio in plasma. Metabolic parameters (body condition score and glucose and ß-hydroxybutyric acid blood concentrations) were unaffected, but milk yield improved with increased intake of fat supplements. Plasma total adiponectin concentrations were negatively correlated with ingestion of n-3 PUFA-enriched fat supplement, following a linear relation with intake. Conception rate to first AI increased with higher intake of both fats, but a decrease of calving-to-conception interval occurred only in n-3 PUFA cows. Postpartum ovarian activity and endometrial inflammatory status at 45 DIM were unaffected. In conclusion, this study evinced a positive linear relation between rumen-protected linseed fat intake and plasma n-3 PUFA concentrations, which modulated adiponectin expression and improved reproductive parameters.

Technological Feasibility of Couscous-Algae-Supplemented Formulae: Process Description, Nutritional Properties and In Vitro Digestibility.

The aim of this work was to develop functional couscous in a traditional Tunisian manner (hand rolling), enriched in algae biomass (6% w/w). Four Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) biomasses and one mixture of C. vulgaris and two macroalgae biomasses (Ulva rigida and Fucus vesiculosus) were used. The C. vulgaris strain was subjected to random mutagenesis and different culture conditions (Allmicroalgae), resulting in different pigmentations and biochemical compositions. Couscous samples were characterized in terms of nutritional properties, oscillatory rheology properties and digestibility. All biomasses provided a significant supplementation of nutrients and excellent acceptance. The enrichment resulted in lower firmness, higher viscoelastic functions (G' and G″) and a significant improvement in the cooking quality. Major differences between couscous samples with different microalgae were observed in protein and mineral contents, fully meeting Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006 requirements for health claims made on foodstuffs. The amount of digested proteins was also higher in algae-containing samples. The fatty acid profile of the enriched couscous varied in a biomass-specific way, with a marked increase in linolenic acid (18:3 ω3) and a decrease in the ω6/ω3 ratio. Sensory analysis revealed that microalgae-containing products could compete with conventional goods with an added advantage, that is, having an ameliorated nutritional value using algae as a "trendy" and sustainable ingredient.

Freeze-dried Nannochloropsis oceanica biomass protects eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) from metabolization in the rumen of lambs.

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) from freeze-dried biomass of Nannochloropsis oceanica microalgae resists ruminal biohydrogenation in vitro, but in vivo demonstration is needed. Therefore, the present study was designed to test the rumen protective effects of N. oceanica in lambs. Twenty-eight lambs were assigned to one of four diets: Control (C); and C diets supplemented with: 1.2% Nannochloropsis sp. oil (O); 12.3% spray-dried N. oceanica (SD); or 9.2% N. oceanica (FD), to achieve 3 g EPA /kg dry matter. Lambs were slaughtered after 3 weeks and digestive contents and ruminal wall samples were collected. EPA concentration in the rumen of lambs fed FD was about 50% higher than lambs fed SD or O diets. Nevertheless, the high levels of EPA in cecum and faeces of animals fed N. oceanica biomass, independently of the drying method, suggests that EPA was not completely released and absorbed in the small intestine. Furthermore, supplementation with EPA sources also affected the ruminal biohydrogenation of C18 fatty acids, mitigating the shift from the t10 biohydrogenation pathways to the t11 pathways compared to the Control diet. Overall, our results demonstrate that FD N. oceanica biomass is a natural rumen-protected source of EPA to ruminants.

Trans-10 18:1 in ruminant meats: A review.

Trans (t) fatty acids (TFA) from partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (i.e., industrial trans) have been phased out of foods in many countries due to their promotion of cardiovascular disease. This leaves ruminant-derived foods as the main source of TFA. Unlike industrial TFA where catalytic hydrogenation yields a broad distribution of isomers, ruminant TFA are enzymatically derived and can result in enrichment of specific isomers. Comparisons between industrial and ruminant TFA have often exonerated ruminant TFA due to their lack or at times positive effects on health. At extremes, however, ruminant-sourced foods can have either high levels of t10- or t11-18:1, and when considering enriched sources, t10-18:1 has properties similar to industrial TFA, whereas t11-18:1 can be converted to an isomer of conjugated linoleic acid (cis(c)9,t11-conjugated linoleic acid), both of which have potential positive health effects. Increased t10-18:1 in meat-producing ruminants has not been associated with negative effects on live animal production or meat quality. As such, reducing t10-18:1 has not been of immediate concern to ruminant meat producers, as there have been no economic consequences for its enrichment; nevertheless at high levels, it can compromise the nutritional quality of beef and lamb. In anticipation that regulations regarding TFA may focus more on t10-18:1 in beef and lamb, the present review will cover its production, analysis, biological effects, strategies for manipulation, and regulatory policy.

Effects of Increasing Doses of Condensed Tannins Extract from Cistus ladanifer L. on In Vitro Ruminal Fermentation and Biohydrogenation.

Cistus ladanifer (rockrose) is a perennial shrub quite abundant in the Mediterranean region, and it is a rich source in secondary compounds such as condensed tannins (CTs). Condensed tannins from C. ladanifer were able to change the ruminal biohydrogenation (BH), increasing the t11-18:1 and c9,t11-18:2 production. However, the adequate conditions of the C. ladanifer CTs used to optimize the production of t11-18:1 and c9,t11-18:2 is not yet known. Thus, we tested the effect of increasing the doses of C. ladanifer CT extract (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 g/kg dry matter (DM)) on in vitro rumen BH. Five in vitro batch incubations replicates were conducted using an oil supplemented high-concentrate substrate, incubated for 24 h with 6 mL of buffered ruminal fluid. Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and long chain fatty acids (FA) were analyzed at 0 h and 24 h, and BH of c9-18:1, c9, c12-18:2 and c9, c12, c15-18:3, and BH products yield were computed. Increasing doses of C. ladanifer CTs led to a moderate linear decrease (p < 0.001) of the VFA production (a reduction of 27% with the highest dose compared to control). The disappearance of c9-18:1 and c9,c12-18:2 as well as the production of t11-18:1 and c9, t11:18:2 was not affected by increasing doses of C. ladanifer CTs, and only the disappearance of c9, c12, c15-18:3 suffered a mild linear decrease (a reduction of 24% with the highest dose compared to control). Nevertheless, increasing the C. ladanifer CT dose led to a strong depression of microbial odd and branched fatty acids and of dimethyl acetals production (less than 65% with the highest dose compared to control), which indicates that microbial growth was more inhibited than fermentative and biohydrogenation activities, in a possible adaptative response of microbial population to stress induced to CTs and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The ability of C. ladanifer to modulate the ruminal BH was not verified in the current in vitro experimental conditions, emphasizing the inconsistent BH response to CTs and highlighting the need to continue seeking the optimal conditions for using CTs to improve the fatty acid profile of ruminant fat.

Discrimination of Meat Produced by Bos taurus and Bos indicus Finished under an Intensive or Extensive System.

Meat obtained under commercial conditions shows considerable variability, mostly due to genetic background and production system. In this study, meat physicochemical properties and fatty acid profiles were analysed to investigate the feasibility of using them as tools to discriminate between meats produced by different genetic groups and finishing systems. Samples of the Longissimus thoracis were collected from 160 commercial bulls of the B. taurus (n = 75) and B. indicus (n = 85) groups, finished either on pasture (n = 46) or with grain supplementation (n = 114) and analysed by standard procedures. Data were analysed by discriminant analysis using a stepwise procedure, to select the meat characteristics that better contribute to discriminate the various groups. Our results indicate that fatty acid profiles of meat had better discriminating ability than physicochemical properties, especially to identify meat from animals finished on grain or pasture. The overall discrimination of meat from different genetic groups was achieved with a slightly lower reliability. Nonetheless, our results show that reliability of allocation to genetic group can be improved if prior information on finishing system is considered. These results are of high importance because they can be incorporated as tools to assess the authenticity of beef, particularly in meat certification programs.

The application of omics in ruminant production: a review in the tropical and sub-tropical animal production context.

The demand for animal products (e.g. dairy and beef) in tropical regions is expected to increase in parallel with the public demand for sustainable practices, due to factors such as population growth and climate change. The necessity to increase animal production output must be achieved with better management and production technologies. For this to happen, novel research methodologies, animal selection and postgenomic tools play a pivotal role. Indeed, improving breeder selection programs, the quality of meat and dairy products as well as animal health will contribute to higher sustainability and productivity. This would surely benefit regions where resource quality and quantity are increasingly unstable, and research is still very incipient, which is the case of many regions in the tropics. The purpose of this review is to demonstrate how omics-based approaches play a major role in animal science, particularly concerning ruminant production systems and research associated to the tropics and developing countries. SIGNIFICANCE: Environmental conditions in the tropics make livestock production harder, compared to temperate regions. Due to global warming, the sustainability of livestock production will become increasingly problematic. The use of novel omics technologies could generate useful information to understand adaptation mechanisms of resilient breeds and/or species. The application of omics to tropical animal production is still residual in the currently available literature. With this review, we aim to summarize the most notable results in the field whilst encouraging further research to deal with the future challenges that animal production in the tropics will need to face.

Effects of a high-fibre and low-starch diet in growth performance, carcass and meat quality of young Alentejana breed bulls.

Growth performance, carcass and meat quality of 16 Alentejana bulls fed for 90 days with a conventional cereal-based (Control) or a high-fibre and low-starch (HFLS) diet were studied. The HFLS diet included 20% alfalfa hay, 4.8% soybean oil, 6% soybean hulls, 6% dehydrated citrus and 6% sugar beet pulps in substitution of grain. Ryegrass hay was offered to a maximum of 20% of total intake in both diets. Bulls were individually housed, weighed every 14 days, and feed intake was registered daily. Average daily weight gain, dry matter intake, carcass and most meat quality traits were not affected by the diet (P > .05). Feeding an HFLS diet, therefore, can improve beef fatty acid profiles without negatively impacting animal performance or meat quality.

Fatty Acid Content and Composition of the Morphological Fractions of Cistus Ladanifer L. and Its Seasonal Variation.

Cistus ladanifer L. is a shrub from Cistaceae family, widespread in Mediterranean countries. Fatty acids (FA) have multiple roles in plants and are involved in adaption mechanisms to environmental conditions. This work evaluated the FA content and composition of each morphological fraction of C. ladanifer (leaves, stems, flower buds, flowers and seed heads) throughout a full year. Cistus ladanifer plants were collected in southern Portugal, during four consecutive seasons (18 plants/season), and the different morphological plant fractions (leaves, stems, flower buds, flowers and seed heads) were separated. Cistus ladanifer morphological fractions showed distinct FA compositions, being possible to discriminate three groups-the leaves that showed to be dominated by saturated FA (main 20:0) and contain branched-chain FA (iso-19:0 and iso-21:0); the stems that are composed mainly by SFA (main 22:0); and the reproductive organs that showed higher contents of polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) and the 16:0 as the main SFA. The FA composition of leaves changed over seasons, with replacement of the PUFA by monounsaturated FA and branched-chain FA during hot seasons. Regarding the other C. ladanifer morphological fractions, the FA composition was more stable over seasons, suggesting that leaves are more prone to adaptations to environmental changes.

A comparison between the quality of eggs from indigenous chicken breeds and that from commercial layers.

There is an increased interest in animal products from more sustainable farming practices, which may include using local breeds. In addition, maintaining biodiversity is important, and naturally, indigenous breeds of chickens are well adapted to the local environmental conditions. In the current study, 286 eggs from 4 Portuguese breeds of chickens (Branca, Amarela, Pedrês Portuguesa, and Preta Lusitânica) and from a commercial hybrid laying hen were used. Chemical and physical characteristics of the eggs and the egg components such as weights, Haugh units, yolk color, albumen protein content, yolk fatty acid content, and mineral content in the albumen and yolk were analyzed. The Branca breed produced eggs with a lighter brown shell color and lower Haugh unit values than the remaining native breeds (P < 0.05). The commercial hens produced eggs that were found to be more rounded shape than the ideal and with a darker colored shell and yolk than eggs from the 4 local breeds. In addition, the commercial hens also produced heavier eggs but with lower Haugh units than the Amarela, Pedrês Portuguesa, and Preta Lusitânica breeds (P < 0.05). The range of saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, and total polyunsaturated fatty acids between eggs from the 4 breeds was small and not significantly different. No differences were found in the percentage of albumen protein between breeds. Albumen and yolk ash content was not different between breeds. The overall analysis indicated that eggs from these native genotypes match the quality of a commercial product in many characteristics. In markets where eggs from local breeds are available, consumers are purchasing a high-quality product while aiding in the expansion of local genetic resources and investing in local farmers.

Increasing the α-tocopherol content and lipid oxidative stability of meat through dietary Cistus ladanifer L. in lamb fed increasing levels of polyunsaturated fatty acid rich vegetable oils.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the dietary inclusion of Cistus ladanifer L. and vegetable oils on intramuscular fat composition, muscle antioxidant status and lipid oxidative stability, and explore the mechanism by which dietary Cistus ladanifer limits the lipid oxidation. Lambs were assigned 9 diets, corresponding to 3 levels of Cistus ladanifer (50, 100 and 200 g/kg DM) and 3 levels of oil (0, 40 and 80 g/kg DM). Oil supplementation increased highly peroxidizable fatty acid content and the peroxidizability index (P < .05). Muscle phenolic content, reducing ability and radical scavenging ability were not affected by Cistus ladanifer (P > .05). The highest level of Cistus ladanifer enhanced muscle resistance to lipid oxidation (P = .006) and increased α-tocopherol content (P = .005), reducing meat lipid oxidation over 7 days of storage (P < .001). Results showed that Cistus ladanifer has a protective effect against lipid oxidation through increasing α-tocopherol concentration in the muscle.

Effects of alfalfa particle size and starch content in diets on feeding behaviour, intake, rumen parameters, animal performance and meat quality of growing lambs.

Thirty-two crossbred Merino branco male lambs were randomly allocated to eight diets, combining two forms of alfalfa presentation (chopped or ground), with four barley grain levels (0%, 11.2%, 21.3% and 33% dry matter (DM)), balanced by low starch agro-industrial by-products (LSBP). The diets were supplemented with 6% soybean oil and included 40% of alfalfa in DM. The lambs were individually housed and the trial lasted six weeks. Intake of DM, average daily weight gain (ADG) and carcass weight were higher with ground alfalfa (P < 0.01). Replacing barley grain by LSBP reduced linearly DM intake and ADG (P < 0.001) but increased meat tenderness (P = 0.046). Regardless of the treatments, meat showed a healthy biohydrogenation fatty acid (FA) profile, with high proportions of t11-18:1, c9,t11-18:2 and a t10-18:1/t11-18:1 ratio clearly below 1. The reduction of barley in diet had a moderate positive impact on meat FA composition, decreasing t10-18:1, which was enhanced by the increase of forage particle size.