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This study aimed to evaluate the effect of hazelnut skin by-product supplementation on lamb meat quality characteristics and plasma and muscle proteomes. Twenty-two Valle del Belice male lambs were divided into two experimental groups: control (C), fed a maize-barley diet and hazelnut (H), fed hazelnut skin by-product as maize partial replacer in the concentrate diet. The meat of lambs fed hazelnut skin showed greater values of lightness, redness, yellowness, and chroma color parameters together with the highest myofibril fragmentation index. Two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry applied on plasma proteome identified 20 protein spots corresponding to 18 unique gene names to be differently expressed due to hazelnut skin by-product substitution. For the early post-mortem muscle, 23 protein spots (42 unique gene names) were significantly up-regulated due to hazelnut skin by-product supplementation. Four proteins these being APOA1, PHB, ACTG1 and ALB, were found to be common to the two proteomes suggesting that these proteins could be candidate biomarkers to monitor in vita and post-mortem lamb meat quality traits. This study evidenced the main mechanisms involved in the supplementation of hazelnut skin by-product in lambs' diet and confirmed the possibility of using plasma proteome as a non-invasive way to predict lamb meat quality. SIGNIFICANCE: Maximizing the use of agro-industrial by-products as replacers of traditional feedstuff for improving animal products is one of the important challenges to preserving natural resources and guaranteeing environmental sustainability. Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) skin, obtained as a results of hazelnut roasting, represents a valuable by-products due to its high content in unsaturated fatty acids, tannins, and vitamins. Thus, including hazelnut skin by-product in small ruminant nutrition could reduce the costs of animal feedings for farmers as well as improve meat nutritional and sensorial characteristics. Additionally, monitoring the meat quality characteristics with fast, accurate, and non-invasive tools to find, before slaughter, animals with desired quality characteristics is of growing interest in the last years. In this regard, the objectives of this study were to assess i) the effect of hazelnut skin supplementation on lamb meat quality characteristics and plasma and muscle proteomes, and ii) whether analyzing plasma proteome by using a gel-based proteomic approach could effectively offer a more readily available option for determining lamb meat quality. Taken together, the proteomic approach applied to plasma and muscle proteomes, allowed us to reveal the pathways and the potential candidate plasma biomarkers to predict lamb meat production in the pre-slaughter phase.

Extensive farming systems are characterized by seasons with different diet quality along the year, as pasture availability is strictly depending on climatic conditions. A number of problems for cattle may occur in each season. Tannins are natural polyphenolic compounds that can be integrated in cows’ diet to overcome these seasonal problems, but little is known about their effect on milk quality according to the season. This study was designed to assess the effects of 150 g/head × day of tannin extract supplementation on proximate composition, urea, colour, cheesemaking aptitude, antioxidant capacity, and fatty acid (FA) profile of cow milk, measured during the wet season (WS) and the dry season (DS) of Mediterranean climate. In WS, dietary tannins had marginal effect on milk quality. Conversely, in DS, the milk from cows eating tannins showed 10% lower urea and slight improvement in antioxidant capacity, measured with FRAP and TEAC assays. Also, tannin extract supplementation in DS reduced branched-chain FA concentration, C18:1 t10 to C18:1 t11 ratio and rumenic to linoleic acid ratio. Tannins effect on rumen metabolism was enhanced in the season in which green herbage was not available, probably because of the low protein content, and high acid detergent fibre and lignin contents in diet. Thus, the integration of tannin in the diet should be adapted to the season. This could have practical implications for a more conscious use of tannin-rich extracts, and other tannin sources such as agro-industrial by-products and forages.

This study investigated the effect of two supplementation levels of zinc glycinate (ZnGly) on performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of growing-finishing pigs. Thirty pigs (bodyweight: 61 ± 4.0 kg) were assigned to three treatments and fed ad libitum for 56 days a diet supplemented with 0 (control), 45 (Zn45), or 100 mg/kg (Zn100) of ZnGly. The highest ZnGly supplementation lowered the average daily gain (P = 0.031); while, cold carcass weight did not differ between treatments. Both ZnGly levels reduced carcass chill loss (P 0.001). Micromineral content, color stability, and fatty acid profile of meat were not altered by ZnGly. Superoxide dismutase activity was lowered by Zn45 compared to control (P = 0.007); while, catalase activity was enhanced by Zn100 (P = 0.003). Although ZnGly supplementation did not influence lipid oxidation in raw meat and in meat homogenates incubated with pro-oxidant catalysts, Zn45 limited lipid oxidation in cooked meat (P = 0.037). Our results demonstrated that supplementing pigs with 45 mg/kg of ZnGly could improve the oxidative stability of pork subjected to strong pro-oxidant conditions, but this effect needs to be further elucidated.

Fatty acids and oxidative stability were determined in meat from lambs fed a diet containing 15% dehydrated alfalfa (CON, n = 8) or cardoon meal (CMD, n = 7). Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of a phenolic-rich cardoon meal extract (1.32 GAE mg/ml) was examined in muscle homogenates (0, 0.5, 1, 5% v/w) subjected to iron/ascorbate-induced oxidation. Feeding CMD did not affect lamb performances and carcass traits but reduced (P

Hazelnut peel (HNP), a by-product from the chocolate industry, is considered to be a suitable ingredient to be included in the diet of ruminants. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of feeding dairy ewes with a diet containing HNP on ripened cheese quality, including fatty acid (FA) profile, cholesterol, and tocopherol content, as well as stability during storage under commercial conditions. In total, 10 experimental cheeses were produced with bulk milk obtained from ewes fed a commercial concentrate (C group, n = 5) or a concentrate containing 36% HNP in dry matter (HNP group, n = 5). After 40 days of aging, each cheese was sub-sampled into three slices: one was analyzed immediately (C0 and HNP0), and the other two were refrigerated and analyzed after seven days (C7 and HNP7) and 14 days (C14 and HNP14), respectively. Compared to C, HNP cheese had more than twice as many tocopherols and mono-unsaturated FA and respectively 38% and 24% less of cholesterol and saturated FA. Tocopherols and cholesterol levels remained rather stable up to 14 days of storage regardless of the experimental group, suggesting no cholesterol oxidation. Therefore, the inclusion of HNP in ewe diets could be a valid resource to produce cheese with a healthier lipid profile and higher tocopherols content.

Background Concentrate supplementation of a grass silage-based ration is a typical practice employed for indoor winter finishing of beef cattle in many temperate countries. Plant by-products, such as dried corn gluten feed (CGF), can be used to replace conventional feedstuffs in a concentrate supplement to enhance the sustainability of ruminant production systems and to improve meat quality. This study examined the chemical composition, fatty acid profile, oxidative stability and sensory attributes of beef (longissimus thoracis muscle) from steers offered grass silage and concentrate supplements containing varying levels (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%) of CGF substituted for barley / soybean meal. Results Feeding 50%CGF decreased the protein content and increased intramuscular fat in comparison with 25%CGF. Total phenol content and iron-reducing antioxidant power followed the order: 0%CGF > 50%CGF and 25%CGF > 0%CGF = 50%CGF, respectively. Compared to 0%CGF, 25%CGF and 75%CGF decreased C14:0 and increased C22:2n-6, C20:5n-3 and total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids whereas 75%CGF increased conjugated linoleic acids and C18:3n-3. Diet did not affect the oxidative stability and sensory attributes of beef patties. Conclusion The inclusion of up to 75%CGF in a supplementary concentrate for steers increased the proportion of health-promoting unsaturated fatty acids without negatively influencing the shelf-life and eating quality of longissimus thoracis muscle. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Cardoon meal is a by-product of oil extraction from the seeds of Cynara cardunculus and can serve as a novel alternative feedstuff for ruminants. This study examined the rumen fermentation, biohydrogenation of fatty acids (FA) and microbial community in lambs fed a concentrate diet containing 15% dehydrated lucerne (CON, n = 8) or cardoon meal (CMD, n = 7) for 75 days pre-slaughter. Diets did not influence rumen fermentation characteristics and the abundance of bacteria, methanogens, fungi, or protozoa. Rumen digesta in CMD-fed lambs displayed a higher concentration of total saturated FA and lower total odd- and branched-chain FA and monounsaturated FA. Feeding CMD decreased total trans-18:1 isomer and the ratio of trans-10 to trans-11 C18:1, known as the “trans-10 shift”. Amplicon sequencing indicated that the rumen bacterial community in CMD-fed lambs had lower diversity and a higher relative phyla abundance of Proteobacteria at the expense of Bacteroidetes and Fibrobacteres. At the genus level, CMD mediated specific shifts from Prevotella, Alloprevotella, Solobacterium and Fibrobacter to Ruminobacter, suggesting that these genera may play important roles in biohydrogenation. Overall, these results demonstrate that cardoon meal can be used as a feedstuff for ruminants without negatively affecting rumen fermentation and microbiota but its impact on biohydrogenation may influence the FA composition in meat or milk.

Five groups of lambs (n = 9 each) were used to test the effect of plant extracts rich in hydrolysable (HT) or condensed tannin (CT) on animal performance, fatty acid composition of rumen content, liver and meat. The control group (CO) received a concentrate-based diet without tannins supplementation. The other groups received the same diet as the control lambs plus 4% chestnut (CH) and tara (TA) extracts as a source of HT and mimosa (MI) and gambier (GA) extracts as a source of CT. One-way ANOVA was used to assess the overall effect of dietary treatments, tannins supplementation (CO vs. CH+TA+MI+GA) and the effect of tannin type (HT vs. CT: CH+TA vs. MI+GA) on animal performance, rumen content, liver and intramuscular FA. Dietary CH negatively affected animal performance. The rumen content of the different groups showed similar levels of 18:3 c9c12c15, 18:2 c9c12, 18:2 c9t11, 18:1 t11 and 18:0, whereas 18:1 t10 was greater in CO. Also, 18:1 t10 tended to be lower in the rumen of HT than CT-fed lambs. These data were partially confirmed in liver and meat, where CO showed a greater percentage of individual trans 18:1 fatty acids in comparison with tannins-fed groups. Our findings challenge some accepted generalizations on the use of tannins in ruminant diets as they were ineffective to favour the accumulation of dietary PUFA or healthy fatty acids of biohydrogenation origin in the rumen content and lamb meat, but suggest a generalized influence on BH rather than on specific steps.

International audience; The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of dietary tannins on cow cheese quality in 2 different grazing seasons in the Mediterranean. Two experiments were performed on 14 dairy cows reared in an extensive system. The first experiment took place in the wet season (WS), and the second experiment took place in the dry season (DS). In the WS and DS experiments, cows freely grazed green pasture or dry stubbles, respectively, and the diet was supplemented with pelleted concentrate and hay. In both experiments, the cows were divided into 2 balanced groups: a control group and a group (TAN) receiving 150 g of tannin extract/head per day. After 23 d of dietary treatment, individual milk was collected, processed into individual cheeses, and aged 25 d. Milk was analyzed for chemical composition, color parameters, and cheesemaking aptitude (laboratory cheese yield and milk coagulation properties). Cheese was analyzed for chemical composition, proteolysis, color parameters, rheological parameters, fatty acid profile, and odor-active volatile compounds. Data from the WS and DS experiments were statistically analyzed separately with an analysis of covariance model. In the WS experiment, dietary tannin supplementation had no effect on milk and cheese parameters except for a reduced concentration of 2-heptanone in cheese. In the DS experiment, TAN milk showed lower urea N, and TAN cheese had lower C18:1 trans-10 concentration and n-6:n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio compared with the control group. These differences are likely due to the effect of tannins on rumen N metabolism and fatty acid biohydrogenation. Dietary tannins may differently affect the quality of cheese from Mediterranean grazing cows according to the grazing season. Indeed, tannin bioactivity on rumen metabolism seems to be enhanced during the dry season, when diet is low in protein and rich in acid detergent fiber and lignin. The supplementation dose used in this study (1% of estimated dry matter intake) had no detrimental effects on cheese yield or cheesemaking parameters. Also, it is unlikely that sensorial characteristics would be affected by this kind of dietary tannin supplementation.

Thirty-six steers were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments fed ad libitum grass silage and concentrate supplements containing either barley/soybean meal (CON), 80% DM corn (CDGS)- or 80% DM wheat (WDGS)-dried distillers' grains with solubles for 124 days pre-slaughter. Chemical and fatty acid composition, shelf-life, and eating quality of longissimus thoracis muscle were determined. Dietary CDGS and WDGS increased the proportion of conjugated linoleic acids (P < 0.05) and tended to increase C18:3n-3 (P = 0.075) and total polyunsaturated fatty acids (P = 0.060) relative to the CON. Feeding diets containing distillers' grains reduced the lipid and colour stability of fresh beef patties stored in modified atmosphere packs (MAP), with CDGS exhibiting an intermediate effect between CON and WDGS. Diet did not negatively influence the texture profile parameters and eating quality attributes of beef stored in MAP. The inclusion of CDGS or WDGS in supplementary concentrates may improve the fatty acid profile but decreased the shelf-life of beef.

This study investigated the effect of including whole pomegranate by-product in lamb diet on meat oxidative stability. Seventeen lambs were assigned to two experimental treatments and fed a cereal-based concentrate (CON) or the same concentrate where 200 g/kg DM of cereals were replaced by whole pomegranate by-product (WPB). Meat from WPB-fed lambs had a greater concentration of vitamin E (a- and .-tocopherols), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), highly peroxidizable PUFA and a higher peroxidability index (P < 0.05). Feeding WPB limited the formation of metmyoglobin (P = 0.05) and reduced lipid oxidation (TBARS values) after 7 days of storage for raw meat (P = 0.024) or 4 days for cooked meat (P = 0.006). Feeding WPB increased meat antioxidant capacity (ORAC assay) in the lipophilic fraction (P = 0.017), but not in the hydrophilic. These results suggest that vitamin E in the pomegranate by-product contributed to the higher antioxidant capacity of meat from the WPB-fed lambs.

Sixteen Nero Siciliano pigs were used to investigate the effect of dietary tomato processing waste on meat quality. During 86 days one group (CON, n = 8) received a pelleted conventional diet, while another group (TOM, n = 8) received the same diet in which tomato waste replaced 15% of corn. The dietary treatment did not affect growth performances. The TOM diet reduced intramuscular fat, SFA and MUFA content, while increasing the n-6:n-3 ratio in meat (P .05). The TOM diet increased the concentration of PUFA, PUFA n-3, PUFA n-6 and the n-6:n-3 ratio (P .01). The instrumental colour descriptors of backfat were unaffected by diet. The TOM diet increased deposition of retinol in meat (P .001) but did not affect oxidative stability parameters measured in fresh meat and meat homogenates with pro-oxidant catalysts. Concluding, tomato pomace fed to pigs at higher levels compared to previous reports had no adverse effects on the investigated meat quality traits.

This work investigated the effects of feeding ensiled bergamot pulp to pigs on meat and salami quality. Eighteen pigs were assigned to two experimental treatments and fed a cereal-based concentrate diet (control) or the same diet in which ensiled bergamot pulp replaced 15% dry matter of the diet fed (BP). The BP treatment increased α-linolenic acid (+250%; P 0.05), docosapentaenoic acid (+62%; P 0.05), docosahexaenoic acid (+43%; P 0.05) and consequently n-3 PUFA (+15%; P 0.01) in meat. In salami, the content of α-linolenic acid, total PUFA and n-3 PUFA increased (+320%, +25% and + 258%, respectively) by feeding the BP diet (P 0.001). The inclusion of bergamot pulp in the diet did not alter the oxidative stability in raw and cooked meat and colour descriptors. In salami, TBARS values were lower after 5 days of storage (P 0.001) in BP group (1.54 vs 2.96). Finally, dietary supplementation with ensiled bergamot pulp to pigs improved the nutritional value of meat and meat products.

The effect of dried tomato pomace (DTP) was tested on lamb performances, meat fatty acids and oxidative stability. For 36 days, one group of lambs (n = 7; CON) was fed a commercial concentrate, while the other group (n = 7; DTP) received DTP in addition to CON diet. The administration of DTP reduced (P .05) concentrate intake, with no effect on animal performances. The DTP treatment tended to increase total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; P = .075), PUFA n-6 (P = .071), α-linolenic acid (P = .096) and increased linoleic acid (P .05), γ-tocopherol (P .001) and retinol (P .001) in meat. In raw meat, DTP treatment increased L* (P = .059), b* (P .05), C* (P = .052) and H* (P .05) values compared to CON, while lipid oxidation was not affected. In meat homogenates incubated with pro-oxidants, DTP tended to reduce 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS; P = .088). Therefore, DTP supplementation decreased the consumption of commercial concentrate without detrimental effects on animal performances and meat quality traits.

Pomegranate pulp, a by-product of the pomegranate juice industry, contains a remarkable quantity of bioactive compounds that can favorably affect ruminant metabolism and milk quality. The present paper investigated the effect of dietary pomegranate pulp on milk yield and quality during late lactation in grazing ewes. Twenty Comisana ewes (150 &plusmn, 10 days in milk) were subdivided into control (CTRL) and pomegranate (PP) groups. The CTRL group received a corn-barley based concentrate, while the PP group received a concentrate containing 64.8% pomegranate pulp. Dietary treatment did not affect milk yield. CTRL milk had a greater percentage of &beta, casein and total casein, while &alpha, s1-casein percentage tended to be greater in the PP group. The PP milk showed a lower percentage of 14:0, 16:0, but a greater percentage of vaccenic, rumenic, and &alpha, linolenic acid. Punicic acid was detected only in the PP milk. Total antioxidant capacity (ORAC) was greater in the CTRL milk as compared with the hydrophilic ORAC. Dietary pomegranate pulp increased milk health quality with no detrimental effects on milk yield. Therefore, pomegranate pulp could represent a strategy for improving milk quality and reducing feeding cost during a less profitable phases such as late lactation. Also, dietary pomegranate pulp, as an alternative to traditional feedstuffs, may lower feed-to-food competition in livestock production.

The opportunity of replacing expensive feedstuffs with agro-industrial by-products in the diet of food producing animals is raising increasing interest while addressing global concern for the scarcity of natural resources and environmental impact of livestock farming. Hazelnut peels, rich in fiber and vitamins and characterized by a high concentration of fats, is considered a suitable ingredient to be included in the diet of ruminants. The aim of this research was to assess the effect of dietary hazelnut peels on the chemical and sensory properties of sheep cheese during refrigerated storage. To this purpose, 20 Comisana lactating ewes were randomly assigned to two experimental groups, control (C) and hazelnut peels (HP), balanced for parity, milk yield and body weight. Bulk milk collected from the 2 groups was used to produce 5 Pecorino cheeses for each group. After 40 d of aging, each cheese of each experimental group was divided into 3 pieces: 1 piece was sampled for analyses (C0, HP0) and 2 were wrapped in PVC film, simulating the condition of pre-wrapped products, and analyzed after 7 (C7, HP7) and 14 days of storage (C14, HP14) at 8°C with 80% moisture. The cheeses were analyzed for chemical and fatty acid composition, sensory analysis, odor active compounds and SmartNose. As expected, HP cheeses presented a higher lipid content compared to C, a lower content in SFA and PUFA, and a greater content in MUFA. A triangle test revealed a clear distinction between the 2 groups (α = 0.01) The sensory profile showed a significant effect on holes (P < 0.05) and a marginal production of off-flavors linked to spicy and acid attributes for HP cheeses The volatile profile of C and HP cheese samples showed a good similarity, partially explained by the short ripening time and the absence of 2-nonanone in HP7, suggesting a higher antioxidant protection grade of this cheese compared to the others. These results were confirmed by Smart Nose analysis. Further studies on vitamin content should be conducted in order to investigate the interactions between the presence of antioxidant volatile compounds and the oxidative stability of ewe cheese.

Ruminant meat production is associated with a large environmental cost compared to other livestock products. Feed production, transport, and utilisation play a major role in global food security and greenhouse gas emissions from livestock production. Replacement of edible feed crops with human-inedible biomass in animal diets is a potential strategy that could reduce food-feed competition and mitigate the environmental impacts of livestock. Globally, plant by-products (PBP) represent an important human-inedible feed resource for livestock production. These waste streams can be obtained from agro-industrial processes such as distillery and biofuel production, oilseed processing, fruit and vegetable processing, sugar production, root and tuber processing, and herb, spice and tree processing. The microbial population in the forestomach (rumen) of ruminants allow PBP to be used effectively compared to monogastric livestock. Assessing and improving the utilisation of PBP may enhance the environmental sustainability of ruminant meat production without compromising the quality attributes and consumer acceptability of meat. Some PBP contain a considerable amount of residual bioactive compounds such as vitamins, unsaturated fatty acids, and phytochemicals. Feeding innovations based on the utilisation of bioactive-rich PBP may reduce enteric methane and nitrogen emissions in ruminants while improving the nutritional composition and shelf-life quality of meat and meat products. This review examines the dual-impact of dietary PBP on environmental sustainability and meat quality attributes in ruminant production. In addition, the paper highlights the implications of this alternative feeding strategy on meat safety and the strategic interventions pertinent to its practical application for ruminant meat production.

11 páginas, 5 tablas, 2 figuras., This work investigated the effects of feeding whole pomegranate byproduct (WPB) to lambs on ruminal, liver, and intramuscular fatty acids (FA). Seventeen lambs, divided into two groups, were fed for 36 days with a cereal-based concentrate diet (CON) or with a concentrate diet containing 200 g/kg DM of WPB to partially replace barley and corn (WPB). The dietary treatment did not affect the final body and carcass weight, the dry matter intake, or the average daily gain. However, total polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), linolenic, rumenic (RA), and vaccenic (VA) acid were increased in liver (+15%, +32%, +344%, and +118%, respectively) and muscle (+46%, +38%, +169%, and +89%, respectively) of WPB lambs (P < 0.05). Punicic acid and three isomers of conjugated linolenic acid were detected exclusively in the rumen and tissues of WPB-lambs. The C18:1 t10/t11 ratio in rumen digesta or in tissues was reduced by feeding WPB (?791%, ?690%, and ?456%, respectively, in rumen, liver and muscle; P < 0.001), suggesting that the WPB prevented the t10-shift rumen biohydrogenation pathway. In conclusion, the inclusion of WPB into a concentrate-based diet can be a strategy to improve the FA composition of meat, without effects on the animal performances., This research was conducted under the 2-year collaborative research program (2016-2018) officially established between the Departments Di3A (University of Catania) and DSA3 (University of Perugia). The authors gratefully acknowledge Nuovo Molino di Assisi for providing the ingredients included in the experimental feeds, Mr. Giovanni Migni for assistance in the preparation of the concentrates and Dr. Paolo Lattaioli for the chemical composition analyses of the feedstuffs.

14 páginas, 6 tablas., This study was funded by the Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-University of León, Spain) and the University of Perugia (Department DSA3; project “Ricerca di Base – 2015”). P. G. Toral benefits from a ‘Ramón y Cajal’ research contract (MINECO-European Regional Development Fund).

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary inclusion of hazelnut skin (HS) on growth performances and fatty acid metabolism of lambs. Twenty-two lambs were assigned to 2 treatments and fed ad libitum for 56 days: a maize-barley based diet (CON group) or a diet containing 150 g/kg on a dry matter (DM) basis of HS to replace maize (HS group). After slaughter, samples of muscle, rumen and abomasum digesta were collected and analyzed for fatty acid composition. The dietary inclusion of HS did not affect the DM intake, final body weight, carcass weight and average daily gain (P > 0.05), whereas feed conversion ratio was increased by HS diet (P = 0.014). Ruminal fluid pH, ammonia and total volatile fatty acids were not affected by the dietary inclusion of HS (P > 0.05), while HS diet increased the molar proportion of butyrate and reduced the proportion of valerate (P 0.1). In conclusion, these results suggest that HS could replace 150 g/kg DM of maize without affecting animal performances and increasing the muscle concentration of PUFA and vaccenic acid.

This work investigated the effects of feeding silage mixtures of a plant containing polyphenol oxidase (PPO; red clover [; RC]), a plant containing tannins (sainfoin [; SF]), and a grass species not containing these compounds (timothy [; T]) on ruminal and intramuscular (i.m.) fatty acids of lambs. Forty 4-mo-old castrated male Romane lambs, divided into 5 groups, received 1 of the following silages: 1) T (100%), 2) a binary mixture of timothy and tannin-containing sainfoin ( cv. Perly; 50:50 [T-SF]), 3) a binary mixture of timothy and PPO-containing red clover ( cv. Mervius; 50:50 [T-RC]), 4) a ternary mixture of timothy, sainfoin, and red clover containing both tannins and PPO (50:25:25, respectively [T-SF-RC]), and 5) a binary mixture of tannin-containing sainfoin and PPO-containing red clover (50:50 [SF-RC]). In the rumen digesta, the partial or total replacement of T with forage legumes was associated with greater concentrations of PUFA ( < 0.001) and 1esser concentrations of MUFA ( < 0.001). The inclusion of forage legumes in the silage favored the accumulation of 18:3 -3 ( < 0.001), with the greatest concentrations being observed in SF-RC. This latter diet also led to the greatest percentage of 18:2 -6 ( < 0.001). Forage legumes decreased the -11 18:1 to 30% of T in rumen digesta ( < 0.001). Forage legumes decreased the total concentration of branched-chain fatty acids in the rumen digesta (on average, -28%; < 0.001), this effect being less marked (-17%; = 0.014) in T-RC in comparison with T. The dietary treatment tended to affect the proportion of MUFA ( = 0.081) and of PUFA ( = 0.079) in the i.m. fat of the LM, respectively, at the highest and lowest numerical value in the T group. The sum of -3 fatty acids was less in the T and T-SF groups compared with the mixture of legumes without T (SF-RC; < 0.001 and < 0.008, respectively). The latter group had also a lesser -6-to--3 ratio than the T-SF group ( = 0.01). -11 18:1 was greater ( < 0.03) in lambs given T as the sole silage in comparison with lambs given T-RC, T-SF-RC, and SF-RC. Rumenic acid (-9 -11 CLA) was detected at a greater percentage in the LM from the animals fed the T silage compared with animals fed the T-SF-RC treatment ( = 0.004). Contrarily, -9 -12 -15 18:3 was found at a greater concentration in the muscle from lambs in the SF-RC treatment compared with lambs in the other treatments ( < 0.001). Furthermore, the T-RC group showed a greater proportion of α-linolenic acid than the T group ( = 0.03). In conclusion, the effects of the 2 active compounds (PPO and tannins) appear to be similar and additive. Moreover, a silage composed of a mixture of RC and SF is an excellent forage for growing lambs in terms of i.m. fatty acid composition.

16 páginas, 5 figuras., Tannins are a large, diverse and complex group of phenolic compounds that may be detrimental, innocuous or beneficial to animal nutrition and health depending on a number of factors (e.g., type, amount ingested, consumer animal species or the basal diet). The ability of tannins to modulate ruminal biohydrogenation and, consequently, the fatty acid (FA) composition of milk and meat is a relatively recent finding that has attracted interest among ruminant nutritionists. In this review, we take a close look at the effects of tannins on the broadest possible range of FA, including less abundant compounds that have previously received little attention. Tannins are able to improve the concentrations of potentially beneficial FA, such as 18:3n-3, 18:2n-6, trans-11 18:1 and conjugated linoleic and linolenic acids, both in milk and meat, which may contribute to meeting consumer demand for health-promoting foods. These positive responses to tannins can be explained by their modulatory action on specific biohydrogenation steps and pathways. Thus, higher contents of dietary polyunsaturated FA in ruminant-derived products, as well as increased or decreased accumulation of other biohydrogenation intermediates (e.g., cis and trans 18:3, 18:2 and 18:1 isomers) and changes in lipids of bacterial origin (odd- and branched-chain FA and dimethylacetals), are somewhat common findings when the effects of tannins are examined. In contrast, de novo synthesized FA are less frequently affected by these plant secondary metabolites, which also applies to other FA (e.g., trans-10 18:1) that might be detrimental to animal performance (i.e., milk fat synthesis) and perhaps to human health. However, further studies are required to unravel the reasons for certain erratic responses to tannins. This paper reviews the roles of tannin chemical and structural diversity, dosage, interaction with other dietary ingredients, differences among ruminant species and variations over time in the reaction of rumen microbiota in the influences of these phenolic compounds on milk and meat FA profiles., P. G. Toral benefited from a Ramón y Cajal research contract from the MINECO (RYC-2015-17230), co-funded by the European Social Fund.

This study investigated the quality composition, oxidative stability and sensory attributes of beef (longissimus thoracis, LT) from steers offered grass silage and a concentrate supplement in which barley was replaced by 40% and 80% (as-fed basis) of dried citrus pulp (DCP). Dietary treatment did not influence the antioxidant status (α-tocopherol and total phenolic contents) and activities of LT (radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power and iron chelating activity). Feeding DCP significantly increased the proportion of conjugated linoleic acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids in beef. Lipid and colour stability of fresh beef patties stored in modified atmosphere packs (MAP) were unaffected by dietary treatment but feeding 40% DCP reduced (P .05) lipid oxidation in aerobically-stored cooked beef patties. Beef patties stored in MAP for up to 7 days were assessed by sensory panellists to be juicier for those fed 40% DCP compared to 0% and 80% DCP. Results indicated that substitution of barley with DCP improved the fatty acid profiles of beef without negatively influencing the eating quality of beef.

Little information is available on the effects of different sources of tannins on ruminant product quality. Nowadays several tannin-rich extracts, produced from different plants, are available and contain tannins belonging to different chemical groups, but most of these have not been used so far as feed supplements. The present study aimed at comparing the effects of feeding three tannin extracts (one containing condensed tannins and two containing hydrolysable tannins) to lambs on growth performances and meat oxidative stability. Comisana male lambs were divided into four groups (n=9 each) and were fed for 75 days: a concentrate-based diet (CON), or CON supplemented with 4% tannin extracts from either mimosa (MI; Acacia mearnsii, De Wild; condensed tannins), chestnut (CH; Castanea sativa, Mill; hydrolysable ellagitannins) or tara (TA; Cesalpinia spinosa, (Molina) Kuntze; hydrolysable gallotannins). Only CH reduced growth rate, final weight, carcass weight and feed intake (P0.05). The TA diet increased (P

This study characterised the response of ruminal fermentation and the rumen microbiome in lambs fed commercial vegetal sources of hydrolysable tannins (HT) and condensed tannins (CT). Forty-four lambs (19.56 ± 2.06 kg) were randomly assigned to either a concentrate diet (CON, n = 8) or CON supplemented with 4% of two HT [chestnut (Castanea sativa, HT-c) and tara (Caesalpinia spinosa, HT-t)] and CT [mimosa (Acacia negra, CT-m) and gambier (Uncaria gambir, CT-g)] extracts (all, n = 9) for 75 days pre-slaughter. Tannin supplementation did not influence ruminal fermentation traits. Quantitative PCR demonstrated that tannins did not affect the absolute abundance of ruminal bacteria or fungi. However, CT-m (-12.8%) and CT-g (-11.5%) significantly reduced the abundance of methanogens, while HT-t (-20.7%) and CT-g (-20.8%) inhibited protozoal abundance. Ribosomal amplicon sequencing revealed that tannins caused changes in the phylogenetic structure of the bacterial and methanogen communities. Tannins inhibited the fibrolytic bacterium, Fibrobacter and tended to suppress the methanogen genus, Methanosphaera. Results demonstrated that both HT and CT sources could impact the ruminal microbiome when supplemented at 4% inclusion level. HT-t, CT-m and CT-g extracts displayed specific antimicrobial activity against methanogens and protozoa without compromising ruminal fermentation in a long-term feeding trial.

In the present study, we have hypothesized that replacing barley with high proportions of dried citrus pulp in a concentrate-based diet for lambs could increase the intake of unsaturated fatty acids and could reduce the rate of the ruminal biohydrogenation of PUFA, with a consequent improvement of the intramuscular fatty acid composition. To test this hypothesis, 26 Comisana lambs were divided into 3 groups and for 56 d were fed a barley-based concentrate diet (CON; 8 lambs) or 2 diets in which barley was replaced with 24% (CIT24; 9 lambs) or 35% (CIT35; 9 lambs) dried citrus pulp. An overall improvement of the fatty acid composition of LM from lambs fed citrus pulp-containing diets was found. The PUFA/SFA ratio was lower (P < 0.05) in the LM from lambs in the CON group compared with both the CIT24 and CIT35 groups. The thrombogenic index was lower (P < 0.05) in meat from lambs fed the CIT35 diet compared with those fed the CON diet. The CIT35 diet increased the proportion of C20:5 n-3 in the LM (P < 0.05), whereas the CIT24 diet enhanced that of C22:6 -3 (P < 0.05) compared with the CON diet. Some of these results might be explained considering that feeding the CIT24 and CIT35 diets increased the intake of total fatty acids (P < 0.05) and of C18:3 n-3 (P < 0.01) compared with feeding the CON treatment. On the other hand, phenolic compounds present in citrus pulp could have inhibited the ruminal biohydrogenation of PUFA. This is supported by the fact that regardless of the level of inclusion in the diet, citrus pulp increased the proportion of rumenic acid (P < 0.001) in LM compared with the CON diet. The plasma from lambs fed both CIT24 and CIT35 diets had a greater percentage of vaccenic acid (VA; < 0.001) compared with that from lambs fed the CON diet, and the CIT35 diet increased the proportion of rumenic acid in plasma compared with the CON treatment (P < 0.05). In the ruminal fluid, stearic acid (SA) tended to decrease, and the sum of CLA tended to increase (P = 0.09) with increasing level of citrus pulp in the diets. Furthermore, the SA/(SA + VA) ratio tended to be lower (P = 0.10) in the ruminal fluid from lambs fed the CIT35 diet compared with that of the CON group. In conclusion, our results support the hypothesis that replacing barley with citrus pulp in the diet of growing lambs improves intramuscular fatty acid composition and underline the need for specific studies to clarify the mechanisms by which feeding citrus pulp affects the fatty acid metabolism in ruminants.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary whole dried citrus pulp (DCP) on the antioxidant status of lamb tissues. In total, 17 lambs were divided into two groups and fed for 56 days: a barley-based concentrate diet (CON - eight animals), or a concentrate-based diet including 35% DCP to partially replace barley (CIT - nine animals). The CIT diet contained a double concentration of phenolic compounds than the CON diet (7.9 v. 4.0 g/kg dry matter (DM), respectively), but had no effect (P>0.05) on the overall antioxidant capacity of the hydrophilic fraction of blood plasma, liver and muscle. The CIT diet contained clearly more α-tocopherol than the CON diet (45.7 v. 10.3 mg/kg DM), which could explain the higher concentration of α-tocopherol in liver, plasma and muscle (P

Lambs were assigned to four groups of seven and treated as follows for 12 days: control group (BP) was fed beet pulp; group T (tannin remedy) received the BP diet including 80 g/kg of quebracho extract; group S (saponin remedy) received the BP diet including 15 g/kg of quillaja extract; and group C had a free choice between T and S remedies. Lipid oxidation was lower in meat from S lambs compared to T lambs (P

A total of sixteen lambs were divided into two groups and fed two different diets. Of these, eight lambs were fed a control diet (C) and eight lambs were fed the C diet supplemented with quebracho tannins (C+T). The objective of the present study was to assess whether dietary quebracho tannins can improve the antioxidant capacity of lamb liver and plasma and if such improvement is due to a direct transfer of phenolic compounds or their metabolites, to the animal tissues. Feed, liver and plasma samples were purified by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and analysed by liquid chromatography–MS for phenolic compounds. Profisitinidin compounds were identified in the C+T diet. However, no phenolic compounds were found in lamb tissues. The liver and the plasma from lambs fed the C+T diet displayed a greater antioxidant capacity than tissues from lambs fed the C diet, but only when samples were not purified with SPE. Profisetinidin tannins from quebracho seem not to be degraded or absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. However, they induced antioxidant effects in animal tissues.

Multielemental stable isotope ratio (SIR) analysis was used in lamb plasma, erythrocytes and muscle to detect the switch from a pasture- to a concentrate-based diet, with the aim of verifying the possibility to trace the change of feeding in animal tissues. During 89 days of experimental feeding, lambs were subjected to four dietary treatments: pasture (P), pasture followed by concentrate in the stall for either 14 days (P-S14) or 37 days (P-S37) or concentrate in the stall (S). Pasture and concentrate diets comprised C3 plants only and had different values of 13C/12C, 18O/16O, 2H/1H and 34S/32S ratios. Muscle 13C/12C and 34S/32S and plasma 13C/12C and 18O/16O ratios in P, P-S14 and P-S37 lambs were significantly different. A multivariate analytical approach revealed that 13C/12C and 18O/16O ratios in plasma were the most powerful variables for the discrimination among the dietary treatments.

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Over 72 days, 33 lambs were fed: concentrates in stall (S), grass at pasture for 8 hours (8 h), or grass at pasture for 4 hours in the afternoon (4h-PM). The 4h-PM treatment did not affect the carcass yield compared to the 8h treatment. Meat colour development after blooming was unaffected by the treatments. The 4 h-PM treatment increased the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; P

The present study was designed to assess the balance between antioxidant and prooxidant components and the oxidative stability of beef from cattle fed exclusively grazed pasture (PAS) or a barley-based concentrate offered indoors (CONC) for 11 mo, or fed grass silage indoors for a 5-mo winter period, followed for the remaining 6-mo summer period by grazed pasture (SiP) or by grazed pasture plus concentrate at 50% of the dietary DM (SiPC). Muscle prooxidant and antioxidant components were determined by measuring fatty acids and α-tocopherol concentration of LM, respectively. Lipid oxidation and color stability were monitored in ground LM, packaged in a high-oxygen modified atmosphere, over 11 d of refrigerated storage. Vitamin E concentration decreased (P < 0.0005) with an increasing proportion of concentrate in the diet (2.59, 2.45, 1.76, and 1.15 μg/g for PAS, SiP, SiPC, and CONC, respectively). A greater proportion of PUFA was found in LM from cattle in the PAS, SiP, and SiPC groups compared with animals in the CONC group (9.62, 11.04, 8.96, and 6.94%, respectively; P < 0.0005). A greater concentration of highly peroxidizable PUFA was found in LM from heifers in the PAS, SiP, and SiPC groups compared with those in the CONC group (0.84, 0.85, 0.87, and 0.65 mg/g of muscle, respectively; P = 0.02). Dietary treatment affected lipid oxidation (P < 0.0005), with greater 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substance values in beef from heifers in the SiPC group than in beef from those in the PAS, SiP, and CONC groups. Dietary treatment affected myoglobin oxidation (P = 0.002) during storage, with greater metmyoglobin accumulation in beef from animals receiving concentrate (CONC and SiPC treatments) than in beef from cattle in the PAS and SiP groups. Consequently, feeding concentrate impaired meat color stability over the storage duration, with greater H* (hue angle) values (P < 0.0005) in meat from heifers in the SiPC and CONC groups compared with meat from those in the PAS and SiP groups. The results of the present study confirm a positive effect of grass-based feeding systems on meat color stability compared with concentrate-based dietary strategies. It appears that vitamin E in muscle alone does not explain the resistance of meat to oxidative deterioration because a clear interaction with highly peroxidizable PUFA exists.

Thirty-six Merino Branco lambs were assigned to six dietary treatments: control diet (C) consisting of 90% dehydrated lucerne and 10% wheat bran; control diet with 6% of oil blend (CO); control with 2.5% of grape seed extract (GS); control with 2.5% of grape seed extract and 6% of oil blend (GSO); control with 25% of Cistus ladanifer (an aromatic bush widespread in Portugal; CL); control with 25% of C. ladanifer and 6% of oil blend (CLO). The muscle longissimus dorsi was then subjected to the analysis of volatile compounds (SPME–GC/MS). The CLO diet increased the concentration of heptanal, 3-hydroxy-2-butanone and 2-ethyl-phenol in muscle compared to the CL diet. When lambs received the CL diet, their meat contained lower amounts of 4-heptenal compared to the other treatments. The meat of the GS and GSO lambs contained similar amounts of volatile compounds deriving from lipid oxidation (such as heptanal, 2-nonenal, 4-heptenal and 3-hydroxy-2-butanone). These results indicate that in the presence of grape seed extract, oil supplementation did not enhance the production of lipid-derived volatile compounds. Verbenone and 2,2,6-trimethyl-cyclohexanone were detected only in the meat of the Cistus-fed lambs, suggesting that these compounds could be markers of feeding Cistus-containing diets. Meat volatile compounds profile allowed to discriminate between the lambs receiving C. ladanifer and those not receiving this bush in the diet.

A 2 x 2 factorial experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of herbage or concentrate feeding and dietary tannin supplementation on fatty acid metabolism and composition in sheep ruminal fluid, plasma, and intramuscular fat. Twenty-eight male lambs were divided into 2 equal groups at 45 d of age and kept in individual pens. One group was given exclusively fresh herbage (vetch), and the other group was fed a concentrate-based diet. Within each treatment, one-half of the lambs received supplementation of quebracho powder, providing 4.0% of dietary DM as tannins. Before slaughter, blood samples were collected. The animals were slaughtered at 105 d of age, and ruminal contents and LM were collected. Blood plasma, ruminal fluid, and LM fatty acid composition was determined by gas chromatography. Tannin supplementation reduced (P < 0.05) the concentration of stearic acid (-49%) and increased the concentration of vaccenic acid (+97%) in ruminal fluid from concentrate-fed lambs. Within concentrate- and herbage-based diets, tannin supplementation reduced the accumulation of SFA in blood (P < 0.05) compared with lambs fed the tannin-free diets. When tannins were included in the concentrate, the LM contained 2-fold greater concentrations of rumenic acid compared with the LM of the lambs fed the tannin-free concentrate (0.96 vs. 0.46% of total extracted fatty acids, respectively; P < 0.05). The concentration of PUFA was greater (P < 0.05) and SFA (P < 0.01) less in the LM from lambs fed the tannin-containing diets as compared with the animals receiving the tannin-free diets. These results confirm, in vivo, that tannins reduce ruminal biohydrogenation, as previously reported in vitro. This implies that tannin supplementation could be a useful strategy to increase the rumenic acid and PUFA content and to reduce the SFA in ruminant meats. However, the correct dietary concentration of tannins should be carefully chosen to avoid negative effects on DMI and animal performance.

Fourteen male Comisana lambs were divided into two groups at 45days of age: lambs fed a concentrate diet (C), or lambs fed the same concentrate with the addition of quebracho (Schinopsis lorentzii) tannins (T). Sheep were slaughtered at 105days of age. Lipid oxidation, colour coordinates, haem pigment concentration, and metmyoglobin percentages were measured on minced semimembranosus muscle (SM) over 14days of refrigerated storage in a high oxygen modified atmosphere. Tannin supplementation increased (P0.01) a(∗) values and reduced (P0.01) b(∗) values of the SM when compared to C. Lower hue angles (P0.001) and metmyoglobin formation (P=0.07) were observed in lamb from T-fed compared to C-fed sheep during the 14-days storage period. Furthermore, feeding T resulted in greater (P0.001) haem pigment concentrations in the SM during refrigerated storage; however, diet had no (P=0.28) effect on lipid oxidation. Therefore, including quebracho tannins in sheep diets can improve meat colour stability of fresh lamb during extended refrigerated storage.