Rodolpho Martin do Prado

Glycerine levels in the diets of crossbred bulls finished in feedlot: carcass characteristics and meat quality.

The effects of corn replacement by different glycerine levels on carcass characteristics and meat quality of 40 young Purunã bulls, weighing 209 ± 33.3 kg and 8 ± 0.9 months old, finished in feedlot, were evaluated. The treatments were G00: without glycerine; G06: 6% glycerine; G12: 12% glycerine; and G18: 18% glycerine in the diets, on a DM basis. Hot weight, dressing, conformation and length carcass, leg length and cushion thickness were not (P>0.05) modified by different glycerine levels in the diets. Glycerine in the diets did not (P>0.05) affect fat thickness, Longissimus muscle area, marbling and texture. Muscle, fat and bone percentages were not (P>0.05) influenced by glycerine levels in the diets. No changes (P>0.05) in lightness (L*), redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) on LM occurred when glycerine was included at 0, 6, 12 or 18% in the diet. There was no (P>0.05) difference in LM moisture, ash, crude protein and total lipids when feeding different glycerine levels. The inclusion of glycerine decreased (P<0.01) total saturated (10.8%), and increased monounsaturated (7.4%) and poly-unsaturated (44.0%) fatty acids, which resulted in a higher PUFA:SFA ratio (0.57).

Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of finishing bulls fed crude glycerin-supplemented diets

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to evaluate the performance, carcass characteristics and chemical composition of Longissimus muscle (LM) of the bulls. Twenty-four Nellore bulls were used in a complete randomised design. The bulls were randomly assigned to one of the three diets containing 0, 5 or 12% glycerin. Final BW and ADG were similar (P>0.05) between the bulls fed with 5 or 12% of glycerin but were higher (P 0.05) by glycerin level. Hot carcass weight increased (P 0.05) the conformation, colour, texture, marbling and pH. There was difference (P>0.05) for moisture, ashes and crude protein among glycerin levels. Bulls fed 12% glycerin present the highest (P<0.03) total lipids on LM. The percentage of saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated acids (MUFA), polyunsaturated acids (PUFA), n-6 and n-3 fatty acids and PUFA/SFA and n-6:n-3 ratios of the LM were similar among the diets. In conclusion, glycerin level did not affect the animal performance and carcass characteristics of Nellore bulls finished in feedlot. Key words: cattle, fat, glycerin, human health, silage corn

Carcass characteristics, chemical composition and fatty acid profile of longissimus muscle of young bulls from four genetic groups finished in feedlot

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the carcass characteristics, chemical composition and fatty acid profile of the longissimus muscle of 32 young bulls from four genetic groups: Caracu; Canchin; Aberdeen Angus × Canchin; and Charolais × Caracu, finished in feedlot and slaughtered at 22 months old. Each group was composed of eight animals. There was no difference for moisture, ash, crude protein or total cholesterol between bulls from different genetic groups. However, total lipids percentage was higher for bulls from Caracu and Aberdeen Angus × Canchin and lower for Canchin and Charolais genetic groups. Polyunsaturated fattty acids and n-6 percentage was higher for Canchin and lower for Caracu, Aberdeen Angus × Canchin and Charolais genetic groups. Canchin and Charolais × Caracu genetic groups presented higher n-3 percentage than Caracu and Aberdeen Angus × Canchin. There was no difference for the n-6/n-3 ratio among the bulls from the four genetic groups.

Effect of Glycerine and Essential Oils (Anacardium Occidentale and Ricinus Communis) on Animal Performance, Feed Efficiency and Carcass Characteristics of Crossbred Bulls Finished in a Feedlot System

The effect of corn substitution by glycerine and essential oils on animal performance, apparent digestibility and red and white blood cells of crossbred bulls finished in feedlot was evaluated. Thirty bulls with average weight of 311±28.8 kg and 22±2 month-old were allocated in three diets: CON (without glycerine or essential oils), GLY (with glycerine) and GEO (with glycerine and essential oils). The bulls were fed a diet of sorghum silage, cracked corn, soybean meal, urea, limestone and mineral salt. Three grams of cashew and castor oil/animal/day were included in GEO diet. Animals were kept in feedlot for 115 days and slaughtered at average weight of 467±40.6 kg. No differences (P<0.05) among diets regarding final body weight, average daily gain and feed conversion were reported. Ether extract intake was higher (P<0.05) in CON diet compared to the others. Dry matter, organic matter and crude protein digestibility was higher (P<0.05) in GLY diet compared to CON. Acid detergent fibre digestibility was higher (P<0.05) in CON compared to GLY diet. Non-fibrous carbohydrate, fibrous carbohydrate and ether extract digestibility were similar (P>0.05) among diets. No effect of glycerine and essential oil addition on total blood cholesterol, triglycerides, haemogram, leukogram and plasmatic proteins was observed. Corn replacement by glycerine and essential oils addition did not affect (P>0.05) carcass weight, dressing and conformation, carcass length and cushion thickness.

Corn silage with and without enzyme-bacteria inoculants on performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality in feedlot finished crossbred bulls

Two height cuttings of corn silage with or without enzyme inoculants were evaluated for 68 days on performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality and chemical composition of the Longissimus muscle in crossbred bulls (F1 - ½ Nellore vs. ½ Angus) finished in feedlot. Thirty-two 20-month-old bulls, with initial average weight of 374±25 kg, were kept in individual pens (10 m2). Diets consisted of 50% roughage and 50% concentrate, with an expected 1.80 kg/day weight gain. The experimental design with four diets and eight replications was completely randomized. Different cutting heights, low (25 cm) and high (45 cm), with or without enzyme inoculants, were studied. Live weight, average daily gain, feed intake, feed efficiency, carcass characteristics, muscle, fat and bone percentages at the 11th and 12th ribs, chemical composition of the Longissimus muscle, sum of saturated, mono-unsaturated, poly-unsaturated fatty acids, n-3 fatty acids, n-6 fatty acids, and the poly-unsaturated:saturated and n-6:n-3 relations were determined. Cutting height of silage corn and the use of inoculants did not affect final live weight, average daily gain, feed intake, alimentary efficiency of dry matter, carcass characteristics, meat quality, chemical composition of the Longissimus muscle or fatty acid profile. High cutting of silage corn (45 cm above the ground) and the use of inoculants are not necessary in the case of cattle finished in feedlot, with 1.8 kg daily gain.

Propolis or cashew and castor oils effects on composition of Longissimus muscle of crossbred bulls finished in feedlot

The natural additive products (propolis or essential oils), in replacing antibiotics, could be used as an alternative for feed strategies to improve animal production. This work was performed to evaluate the effect of natural additives as propolis or essential oils on meat quality of crossbred (Aberdeen Angus vs. Nellore) bulls. Thirty bulls were kept in feedlot (individual pen) for 55 d and randomly assigned to one of three diets (n = 10): control (CON), propolis (PRO), or essential oils (OIL). CON diet consists of corn silage (45% DM) and concentrate (cracked corn, soybean meal, glycerin, limestone, and mineral salt, 55% DM). The PRO group received same CON diet plus 3 g animal-1 d-1 of propolis premix added to the concentrate. The OIL group received same CON diet and 3 g animal-1 d-1 of a premix (cashew Anacardium occidentale L. and castor Ricinus communis L. oils) added to the concentrate. Fat thickness (5.0 mm), pH (5.9), Longissimus muscle area 58.0 cm2, marbling, texture, color (L* = 36.6, a* = 17.3, and b* = 5.9), lipid oxidation (0.08 malonaldehyde kg-1 meat), and Warner-Bratzler shear force (3.3 kg) were unaffected by the diet. PRO and OIL diets had no effect neither on moisture (73.7%), ashes (1.1%), protein (23.8%), and lipids (1.7%), fatty acid composition or polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acid (PUFA/ SFA, 0.13), and n-6/n-3 ratio (6.9) on Longissimus muscle. Addition of natural additives as propolis extract or cashew and castor oils in the diet of bulls when they are finished in a feedlot did not change meat qualities.

Effects of glycerin and essential oils (Anacardium occidentale and Ricinus communis) on the meat quality of crossbred bulls finished in a feedlot

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects on meat quality of crossbred bulls finished in a feedlot when some corn is replaced by glycerin and essential oils (EO) are added to the diet. Thirty bulls weighing 311 kg ± 28.8 kg (22 ± 2 months old) were randomly assigned to one of three diets: CON – Control (diet without glycerin and EO); GLY – 16.1% glycerin in dry matter (DM); and GEO – 16.1% glycerin in DM and EO (cashew: Anacardium occidentale; castor: Ricinus communis) at 442 mg/kg DM consumed. The bulls were kept in a feedlot for 115 days and slaughtered at an average weight of 467 ± 27.9 kg (25 ± 2 months old). The bulls were fed on sorghum silage, cracked corn, glycerin, soybean meal, urea, limestone, and mineral salt. Replacing corn with glycerin plus EO adding to the diet had no effect on the fat thickness, Longissimus muscle (LM) area, marbling, texture, colour, Warner–Bratzler shear force, or chemical composition of the LM. The fatty acid composition in the LM was similar among the diets, except for percentages of myristic and margaric acids. The diets had no effect on the percentage of saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Animals fed on glycerin had a lower ratio of n-6 to n-3 in the LM when compared with the CON diet. Partial replacing of corn with glycerin and EO improved meat flavour, tenderness, and the preference of consumers. Corn may be replaced by glycerin to a 15% level of DM without any detrimental effect on the carcass characteristics or the chemical composition of the LM.

Metabolomics and Agriculture: What Can Be Done?

The importance of Brazil as a producer and exporter of food and feed will continuously increase. Despite the recent economic and political problems in Brazil, the scientific field is expanding. ABSTRACT The importance of Brazil as a producer and exporter of food and feed will continuously increase. Despite the recent economic and political problems in Brazil, the scientific field is expanding. Cutting-edge technology has only recently become available in the country, and we can now also join efforts with the global community to tackle global challenges. Using metabolomics based on mass spectrometry approaches to understand system-wide metabolism and metabolic pathways can have a significant impact in the society. With the recent development of a platform for organization and sharing of tandem mass spectrometry data, the global community can now work with complex biological samples. In this Perspective, we aim to describe how challenges and problems in global and local agriculture can be addressed using metabolomics based on mass spectrometry strategies.

Addressing Global Ruminant Agricultural Challenges Through Understanding the Rumen Microbiome: Past, Present, and Future

The rumen is a complex ecosystem composed of anaerobic bacteria, protozoa, fungi, methanogenic archaea and phages. These microbes interact closely to breakdown plant material that cannot be digested by humans, whilst providing metabolic energy to the host and, in the case of archaea, producing methane. Consequently, ruminants produce meat and milk, which are rich in high-quality protein, vitamins and minerals, and therefore contribute to food security. As the world population is predicted to reach approximately 9.7 billion by 2050, an increase in ruminant production to satisfy global protein demand is necessary, despite limited land availability, and whilst ensuring environmental impact is minimized. Although challenging, these goals can be met, but depend on our understanding of the rumen microbiome. Attempts to manipulate the rumen microbiome to benefit global agricultural challenges have been ongoing for decades with limited success, mostly due to the lack of a detailed understanding of this microbiome and our limited ability to culture most of these microbes outside the rumen. The potential to manipulate the rumen microbiome and meet global livestock challenges through animal breeding and introduction of dietary interventions during early life have recently emerged as promising new technologies. Our inability to phenotype ruminants in a high-throughput manner has also hampered progress, although the recent increase in “omic” data may allow further development of mathematical models and rumen microbial gene biomarkers as proxies. Advances in computational tools, high-throughput sequencing technologies and cultivation-independent “omics” approaches continue to revolutionize our understanding of the rumen microbiome. This will ultimately provide the knowledge framework needed to solve current and future ruminant livestock challenges.

Effect of the inclusion of natural additives on animal performance and meat quality of crossbred bulls (Angus × Nellore) finished in feedlot

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence a finishing diet containing natural additives fed for 94 days on animal performance, carcass, and meat quality characteristics of crossbred bulls (1/2 Angus × 1/2 Nellore). Forty-eight bulls (initial BW 318 ± 4.7 kg and initial age 22 months) were used in a completely randomised design. Bulls were fed one of four diets: (1) CON – Control; (2) CCO – addition of 4 g/animal.day of a mix of essential oils from castor bean and cashew; (3) MIX – addition of 4 g/animal.day of a mix of essential oils (oregano oils, castor bean, cashew); (4) YST – addition of 4 g/animal.day of yeast. Bulls were finished in feedlot (in individual pens) and slaughtered at an average weight of 469 ± 6.7 kg. Final BW, hot carcass weight and average daily gain were greater (P 0.05) among the four diets. The carcass conformation score was higher (P 0.05) on lipid oxidation, moisture, ash, and total lipids contents. C14:0, C14:1 n-9, C16:0, C18:1 n-9, C18:1 n-7 and C18:3 n-6 fatty acids in intramuscular fat from the longissimus muscle were affected by the inclusion of additives in the diets. SFA, MUFA, PUFA, n-3 and n-6 fatty acid percentages, and the ratios PUFA : SFA and n-6 : n-3 were similar (P > 0.05) among diets. In conclusion, adding a mix of oregano, castor bean, and cashew oils in the diet improved the performance of the bulls, but meat characteristics did not significantly change.