Olivier Dotreppe

Prediction of technological and organoleptic properties of beef Longissimus thoracis from near-infrared reflectance and transmission spectra

Technological and organoleptic properties of beef cuts were predicted by near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. Spectra were collected on 189 beef Longissimus thoracis muscle samples using, transmission (NIRT) and reflectance with a probe. Quality assessment and NIR recordings were performed on sliced loin after 2 and 8 days ageing. Partial least squares regression yielded determination coefficients of cross-validation (R(2)(cv)) of 0.12-0.25 for the prediction of Warner-Bratzler Peak Shear Force in reflectance and 0.15-0.41 in transmission. Higher R(2)(cv) were obtained for L* parameter (0.83-0.85), a* (0.39-0.49) and b* (0.73-0.75) with reflectance. Predictions of drip loss and cooking loss were less accurate with a R(2)(cv) range of 0.38 to 0.54 and 0.25 to 0.47, respectively. The NIR spectra collected on fresh meat show good potential to predict CIE L* and b* parameters in reflectance mode.

Spelt, an ancient cereal and first pressure linseed oil as ingredients of compound feedstuffs for modern horse feeding

Spelt is a covered cereal with large glumellas. In experiment 1, it has been compared in terms of chemical composition with barley, oat and maize. Spelt is characterized by rather low protein and ether extract (EE) contents. The neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content of spelt was slightly higher than that of oat but the acid detergent fibre (ADF) content was lower. Two compound feedstuffs were fed along with hay to six horses used in a cross-over design. Both diets were well appreciated by the horses and there were no significant differences in the apparent digestibility coefficients, except for EE which was significantly higher, when oat was included in the compound feedstuff. In experiment 2, first pressure linseed oil was incorporated at a rate of 8% in a control compound feedstuff, where the barley was partly substituted by the oil. The fat content was 9.6% dry matter (DM) in the linseed oil compound feedstuff and 5.4% in the hay-concentrate ration. The inclusion of linseed oil increased the digestibility of DM, EE and NDF of the diet. There were no effects on the post-prandial concentrations of glucose, triglycerides and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) but the insulin concentration was significantly reduced with the linseed oil inclusion. There were significant increases in the plasma concentrations of the total fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), saturated fatty acids (SFA), C18:3 n-3 and C18:2 n-6 and significant reductions in the contents of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), C18:1 n-7 + n-9 and C20:4 n-6. It is concluded that the inclusions of spelt and first pressure linseed oil in compound feed stuff for horse are of interest for modern horse feeding.

Dietary incorporation of feedstuffs naturally high in organic selenium for racing pigeons (Columba livia): effects on plasma antioxidant markers after a standardised simulation of a flying effort

Selenium is a trace element of importance for animal health. It is essential for adequate functioning of many enzymes such as, the antioxidant enzyme, glutathione peroxidase, which protects the cell against free radicals. A muscular effort induces a rise in reactive oxygen species production which, in turn, can generate an oxidative stress. Two groups of eight racing pigeons were fed respectively with a diet containing 30.3 (control group) and 195.3 (selenium group) microg selenium/kg diet. The pigeons were submitted to a standardised simulation of a flying effort during 2 h. Blood was taken before and after the effort to measure antioxidant markers and blood parameters related to muscle metabolism. Plasma selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity were significantly higher in the selenium group. There were no significant differences for the other measured parameters. As a consequence of the effort, the pigeons of the selenium group showed a higher increase of glutathione peroxidase activity and a smaller increase of plasma lactate concentration. Variations because of the effort in the other markers were not significantly different between the two groups. It is concluded that the selenium status was improved with the feeding of feedstuffs high in Selenium.

Problem of Applying Sodium Selenate to Increase Selenium Concentration in Grassland Plants in Southern Belgium

In a survey of grasslands, mean selenium (Se) concentration in Holcus lanatus was 83 μg kg−1 (less than 100 μg kg−1, the minimal concentration protecting mammals from deficiency disorders). Despite rather high levels of soil extractable Se, plant Se availability was supposed to be low because of high soil humus concentration. A pot experiment with common grassland species showed contrasting responses to selenate addition (9 g Se ha−1 yr−1). Lolium perenne leaves reached 470 μg kg−1, and Trifolium pratense reached 292 μg kg−1. The controls were less than 100 μg kg−1. Leaves of others species showed greater values both in control and treated series and no significant difference. In a second pot experiment, Melilotus albus, a supposed secondary accumulator, and Lolium perenne as a control were submitted to moderate increased selenate additions (up to 45 g Se ha−1 yr−1). The results confirmed that Melilotus albus was a better accumulator with a leaf concentration that could reach the toxicity level of 2 mg kg−1.

FATTY ACIDS PROFILE OF THE DROMEDARY HUMP FAT IN ALGERIA

The fatty acid composition of hump fat stemming from 43 Algerian camels (Camelus dromedarius), 1 to 13 years old, both sexes, belonging to Sahraoui and Tergui breeds, was determined. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) represented 64.4% (weight basis) of total fatty acids, while the monounsaturated (MFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fractions accounted for 33.1 and 2.5%, respectively. The main saturated fatty acids, namely palmitic and stearic acids represented 49.6% and 38.8% of SFA (31.5% and 25.5% of total fatty acids). Unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) were mainly represented by oleic acid, 78.1% of MFA (25.9% of total fatty acids), linoleic acid which accounted for 88.5% of omega 6 (1.17% of total fatty acids) and linolenic acid accounting for 63.9% of ω3 (0.42% out of total fatty acids). SFA/PUFA was 0.039 and ω6/ω3, 2.81. The levels of fatty acids, SFA and MFA were significantly higher in females, while the contents in ω6, ω3, CLA, PUFA, as well as the PUFA/SFA and ω6/ω3 ratio were comparable in relation to both sexes. When reported to the breeds, the contents in MFA, PUFA and ω6 was higher in Sahraoui, as the ω6/ω3 ratio was. The percentage of SFA, however, was higher in Tergui.