Aristide Maggiolino

Slaughtering Age Effect on Carcass Traits and Meat Quality of Italian Heavy Draught Horse Foals

The present work describes the effect of slaughtering age on horse carcass traits and on meat quality. Eighteen male Italian heavy draught horse (IHDH) breed foals were employed in the study. Soon after foaling they were randomly subdivided in 3 groups according to 3 age at slaughtering classes: 6 months old, 11 months old and 18 months old. Live weight, hot carcass weight and dressing percentage of each animal were recorded. After slaughtering, meat samples were collected from Longissimus Dorsi muscle between 13th and 18th thoracic vertebra of each animal and then analyzed. The right half carcass of each animal was then divided in cuts. Each one was subdivided into lean, fat and bones. Then, the classification of the lean meat in first and second quality cuts was performed according to the butchers’ customs. Older animals were characterized by a lower incidence of first quality cuts (p<0.01) on carcass. Younger animals showed greater content in protein (p<0.01). Fatty acid profile showed an increasing trend of PUFA connected to the increasing of slaughtering age (p<0.05). The unsaturation index of intramuscular fatty acids was not affected by slaughtering age, confirming that horse meat, if compared to beef, is more suitable from a nutritional point of view. Season influenced reproduction, birth as well as production aspects of this species. The different slaughtering age could represent the way to produce meat of IHDH foals during the entire year without change in the qualitative standard expected by consumers.

Colour Changes in Meat of Foals as Affected by Slaughtering Age and Post-thawing Time.

The aim of the present work was to investigate how colour changes of foal meat can vary after thawing out in relation to the slaughtering age of the horses and to the post-thawing time. Eighteen Italian Heavy Draught Horse (IHDH) foals were used for the trial. They were subdivided in three groups according to their slaughtering age (6, 11 and 18 months). Two different surfaces were investigated for each sample: a fresh cut surface (daily renewed cutting surface: DRCS), and not-renewed cutting surface (NRCS). The redness of both investigated surfaces increased with slaughtering age (p<0.01). Moreover, this parameter decreased during post-thawing time (p<0.01) only on the NRCS, probably due to the myoglobin oxidation processes. Colour is an important visual cue denoting perceived quality by consumers. So, by a chromatic perspective the thawed meat of IHDH foals slaughtered at 6 and 11 months proved to be that which best meets the market requirements.

Application of Wood's model to lactation curve of Italian Heavy Draft horse mares

The aim of this work was to study, using Woods model, the lactation curve in Italian Heavy Draft horse (IHDH) mares, both for milk yield and composition. Interest in mares milk has grown for use in human nutrition, as a substitute for human and cow milk for premature newborns and allergic children. For this study, 7 IHDH mares were used. Milk yield was evaluated from d 15 to 180 postpartum (every 15 d). Woods lactation model was used to describe milk yield, fat, protein, and lactose lactation curves in the first 180 d in milk (DIM), with a prediction to 210 DIM. Mean values recorded across the considered lactation period for milk yield and constituents were 16.11 kg of milk/d, 11.38 g of fat/kg, 15.54 g of protein/kg, and 69.72 g of lactose/kg. The lactation curve showed a peak at 69 DIM, with a persistence index of 6.26. Fat (g/kg) and protein (g/kg) lactation curves decreased during the lactation period; instead, the lactose (g/kg) curve increased from the first to the last DIM. The coefficient of determination values indicated a good model fit by Woods model application to IHDH mare lactation. The research showed good aptitude of a heavy horse breed, such as IHDH, for milk production.

Effects of two different packaging materials on veal calf meat quality and shelf life

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effects of 2 different packaging films on chemical, physical, and microbiological variables in veal calf meat. Slices from the right half carcass were sampled from each calf: 8 were packaged with Cryovac film (25 μm thick) and 8 were packaged with Weegal film (45 μm thick). In both packaging types, the same gas mixture was used. The samples were analyzed at these postpackaging times: 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 d. Chromatic patterns, water holding capacity (WHC), cooking loss, drip loss, protein oxidation, and hydroperoxide concentration were influenced by the packaging type (P < 0.001). Moreover, during the postpackaging time the WHC decreased but oxidative reactions increased (P < 0.001). The film that showed better characteristics in packaging of veal calf meat was the Weegal, characterized by decreased gas permeability due to its ability to reduce and delay chemical and physical alterative processes.

Comparison between carcasses of artificially suckled I.H.D.H. (Italian Heavy Draught Horse) foals slaughtered at 6 months and traditional carcasses obtained by foals slaughtered at 11 and 18 months

Abstract Aim of the study was the evaluation of a innovative I.H.D.H. carcass production system in order to improve the conditions for mare’s milk production. In the trial were used 18 foals, subdivided in three randomized groups of 6 animals each. Every group was slaughtered at a different age: 6 months (artificially suckled), 11 months and 18 months (naturally suckled, following traditional rearing systems). Six months old foals carcasses were characterized by 75.59 % of lean, 12.79 % of fat and 11.64 % of bone. Six months foals carcasses showed the lean end the fact respectively higher (P<0.001) end lower (P<0.001) than 18 months ones (P<0.001), and the bone higher than 11 months foals (P<0.001). Six months hind quarter incidence was 65.00 %, more than found for 18 months carcasses (P<0.001). Moreover, 6 months carcasses showed an first quality cuts incidence higher than 11 months foals (P<0.01).

Effect of nutritive level on carcass traits and meat quality of IHDH foals

The present work describes the effect of nutritive level on horse carcass traits and on meat quality. Eighteen male Italian Heavy Draught Horse (IHDH) breed foals were employed in the study. Soon after foaling they were randomly subdivided into three groups according to three nutritive level classes: 150%, 180% and 200% of maintenance requirements. Live weight, hot carcass weight and dressing percentage of each animal were recorded. After slaughtering, meat samples were collected from Longissimus dorsi muscle. The right half carcass of each animal was then divided into cuts. Each one was subdivided into lean, fat and bones. Live weight, carcass weight and dressing percentage were not affected by nutritive level (P > 0.05). Horses fed with the lower nutritive level showed a higher incidence of lean and a lower incidence of fat (P < 0.01). Moreover, fatty acid profile was not affected by nutritive level (P > 0.05). Probably the tendency of IHDH foals to concentrate adipogenesis in the subcutaneous district could explain the lack of influence of nutritive level on meat quality parameters and its influence on carcass and cut composition, which tend to be richer in fat.

Is meat quality from Longissimus lumborum samples correlated with other cuts in horse meat

The present work aims to investigate if the variation of each parameter in Longissimus lumborum muscle could correspond to the same or to a similar variation of the parameter in the other muscles. The work presents results of Pearsons correlations between Longissimus lumborum samples and other muscle samples, such as Biceps femoris, Rectus femoris, Semimembranosus, Supraspinatus and Semitendinosus in horse meat. A total of 27 male IHDH (Italian Heavy Draught Horse) breed foals were employed. They were slaughtered at 11 months of age and the above-mentioned muscles were sampled. The Longissimus lumborum muscle showed to be representative of other muscles and of the whole carcass for some chemical parameters (moisture, protein and ash) and for some fatty acids profile patterns such as C12:0, C14:0, total monounsaturated fatty acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid, but poor correlations were recorded for intramuscular fat concentration, rheological and colorimetric parameters. Although almost all the qualitative parameters in meat are affected by the anatomical site and by the muscle, the Longissimus lumborum is often not representative in horse meat with regard to modifications of this parameters.

Influence of Gas Mixture on Quality and Shelf Life of Veal Calf Meat

The paper investigates the effect of two different gas mixtures on chemical, physical and microbiological quality of veal meat packed in modified atmosphere during chill storage. Experimental gas atmospheres tested were O246 (46% O2, 31% N2 and 23% CO2) and O270 (70% O2, 8% N2 and 22% CO2). Samples were stored at 4°C for 14 days and tested at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 days after packaging. The different O2 concentration influenced many parameters. Lower O2 concentration showed a greater increase of a* values (P<0.01) from the 2nd to the 8th packaging day, and a lower increase in drip loss values, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and protein oxidation (P<0.001). Total aerobic mesophilic and psychrophilic count showed a gradual increase in bacterial load over storage time in both the experimental treatments. Results obtained showed that O246 is better than O270 in calf meat packaging because of a belated decline of meat quality, particularly about oxidative parameters.

Martina Franca donkey meat quality: Influence of slaughter age and suckling technique

This work aimed to evaluate the effect of suckling technique and slaughter age on Martina Franca donkey meat quality. Twenty Martina Franca male foals were involved in the trial. Foals naturally assumed colostrum within 4h from birth. Afterwards, 10 foals were partially artificially suckled (AS), and 10 foals were naturally suckled (NS). All the foals were weaned at 180d, then housed indoors and fed the same diet. Ten donkeys were slaughtered at 12months and the other 10 at the age of 18months. Samples of Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) were taken from each foal for chemical analysis, then rheological parameters, oxidative profile, colorimetric parameters and fatty acid profile were assessed. Older donkeys (18months) fed with natural milk presented the highest intramuscular fat (IMF) and meat protein content. From a dietary view point, IMF acid composition showed a more favourable profile in meat from artificially-reared donkeys compared to naturally-suckled ones.

Equid milk production: evaluation of Martina Franca jennies and IHDH mares by Wood’s model application

The present work aims to evaluate milk production aptitude of two equid species: horse and donkey. The trial was conducted on the Italian Heavy Draught breed horse (IHDH) and on the Martina Franca breed donkey. Data were collected from 23 multiparous nursing IHDH mares aged from 6 to 10 years, with an average bodyweight (BW) (mean ± s.d.) of 822.3 ± 61.8 kg and from 28 multiparous nursing donkeys of Martina Franca breed aged from 7 to 12 years, with an average BW (mean ± s.d.) of 389.5 ± 21.2 kg. Milk yield was recorded on 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120, 135, 150, 165 and 180 days in milk (DIM). At each milk yield evaluation day, a milk sample was collected and its composition was analysed. All data were normalised according metabolic weight (MBW) of animals, so to make comparable results of the two considered species. Wood’s lactation model was used to describe milk, fat, protein and lactose yield. Peak lactation was reached on DIM 69 in IHDH horse and on DIM 48 in Martina Franca donkey with a milk production of 10.693 kg/100 kg MBW (R2 = 0.9139) and 5.264 kg/100 kg MBW (R2 = 0.9428), respectively. Persistency index of milk lactation curve was higher in Martina Franca donkey then in IHDH mares (7.0338 vs 6.2672). IHDH mares showed higher fat and protein production. Lactose curves showed a similar trend in both the species although IHDH’s curve was characterised by higher values. Data reported in the present work underline that both breeds considered are characterised by good milk production aptitude. Moreover, high R2 values obtained applying Wood’s model to milk, fat, protein and lactose production, calculated on the metabolic bodyweight basis, are indices of goodness of model fit.