Effect of Feeding Barley, Corn, and a Barley/Corn Blend on Beef Composition and End-Product Palatability.

This study evaluated the relationship among palatability attributes, volatile compounds, and fatty acid (FA) profiles in meat from barley, corn, and blended (50:50, barley and corn) grain-fed steers. Multiple correspondence analysis with three dimensions (Dim) explained 62.2% of the total variability among samples. The Dim 1 and 2 (53.3%) separated pure from blended grain-fed beef samples. Blended grain beef was linked to a number of volatiles including (E,E)-2,4-decadienal, hexanal, 1-octen-3-ol, and 2,3-octanedione. In addition, blended grain-fed beef was linked to fat-like and rancid flavors, stale-cardboard, metallic, cruciferous, and fat-like aroma descriptors, and negative categories for flavor intensity (FI), off-flavor, and tenderness. A possible combination of linoleic and linolenic acids in the blended diet, lower rumen pH, and incomplete biohydrogenation of blended grain-fed polyunsaturates could have increased (p ≤ 0.05) long-chain n-6 fatty acids (LCFA) in blended grain-fed beef, leading to more accumulation of FA oxidation products in the blended than in barley and corn grain-fed meat samples. The Dim 3 (8.9%) allowed corn separation from barley grain beef. Barley grain-fed beef was mainly linked to alkanes and beef positive FI, whereas corn grain-fed beef was associated with pyrazines, in addition to aldehydes related to n-6 LCFA oxidation.

Efecto de la suplementación con semilla de algodón y maíz en el desempeño productivo y calidad de la carne de ovinos / Effect of supplementation with cottonseed and corn on the productive performance and quality of sheep meat

RESUMEN La alimentación de los ovinos para producción de carne en la región Caribe colombiana, se fundamenta en el uso de gramíneas, en virtud de sus bajos costos; sin embargo, los rendimientos y la calidad nutricional, se ven afectados por la estacionalidad de las lluvias, por lo que se presentan bajas ganancias de peso. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el efecto de la suplementación con semilla de algodón y de maíz sobre el desempeño productivo y calidad de la carne de ovinos criollos de pelo. El estudio, se realizó en la Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia de la Universidad de Córdoba, Ciénaga de Oro-Colombia. Se utilizaron 24 ovinos, distribuidos aleatoriamente en cuatro tratamientos consistentes en: T0: pastoreo; T1: pastoreo + 25% SA + 75% M; T2: pastoreo + 50 SA + 50% M y T3: pastoreo + 75% SA + 25% M. Los animales, se pesaron al inicio de la fase experimental y cada 15 días. Se estudiaron las siguientes variables: peso de la canal caliente y fría, rendimiento canal fría, longitud de la canal, perímetro de pierna, perímetro torácico, grasa de cobertura, índice de compacidad, humedad, pH, capacidad de retención de agua y color. La ganancia de peso difirió (p≤0,05) entre tratamiento, presentando valores medios de 0,053; 0,126; 0,128; 0,130kg, para T0, T1, T2 y T3, respectivamente. De igual forma, se detectaron diferencias (p≤0,05) para los pesos y rendimientos en canal. Los animales suplementados con 75% de semilla de algodón y 25% de maíz generaron las mayores ganancias de peso, viéndose reflejado en un mayor peso al sacrificio y rendimientos.

ABSTRACT The feeding of sheep for meat production in the Colombian Caribbean Region is based on the use of grasses by virtue of their low costs. However, the yields and nutritional quality are affected by the seasonality of the rains, so there are low weight gains. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the supplementation with cotton seed and corn grain on the productive performance and quality of the meat of sheep creole of Colombian hair. The study was carried out in the the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics of the University of Córdoba, Ciénaga de Oro-Colombia. Twenty four male creole lambs with initial weight of 16 ± 2 kg were used, which were randomly distributed in four experimental treatments consisting of: T0: Grazing, T1: Grazing + 25% cottonseed (CS) + 75% corn (C), T2: Grazing + 50CS+50%C and T3: Grazing + 75% CS+25%C. Animals were weighed at the start of the experimental phase and every 15 days. The following variables were studied: weight of the hot and cold carcass, performance of the cold carcass, carcass length, leg perimeter, thoracic perimeter, covering fat, compactness index, humidity, pH, water retention capacity and color. The weight gain differed (p≤0.05) between treatment, presenting mean values of 0.053; 0.126; 0.128; 0.130kg for T0, T1, T2 and T3, respectively. Similarly, differences (p≤0.05) were detected for carcass weights and yields. The supplementation with cottonseed and corn improved the productive performance of the animals, being reflected in greater gains of weights and yields.

Using near-infrared spectroscopy to determine intramuscular fat and fatty acids of beef applying different prediction approaches.

This study aimed to predict fat and fatty acids (FA) contents in beef using near-infrared spectroscopy and prediction models based on partial least squares (PLS) and support vector machine regression in radial kernel (R-SVR). Fat and FA were assessed in 200 longissimus thoracis samples, and spectra were collected in reflectance mode from ground meat. The analyses were performed for PLS and R-SVR with and without wavelength selection based on genetic algorithms (GAs). The GA application improved the error prediction by 15% and 68% for PLS and R-SVR, respectively. Models based on GA plus R-SMV showed a prediction ability for fat and FA with an average coefficient of determination of 0.92 and ratio performance deviation of 4.8.

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy as a Beef Quality Tool to Predict Consumer Acceptance.

This study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to predict beef consumers' perceptions. Photographs of 200 raw steaks were taken, and NIRS data were collected (transmittance and reflectance). The steak photographs were used to conduct a face-to-face survey of 400 beef consumers. Consumers rated beef color, visible fat, and overall appearance, using a 5-point Likert scale (where 1 indicated "Dislike very much" and 5 indicated "Like very much"), which later was simplified in a 3-point Likert scale. Factor analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to generate a beef consumer index. A partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was used to predict beef consumers' perceptions using NIRS data. SEM was used to validate the index, with root mean square errors of approximation ≤0.1 and comparative fit and Tucker-Lewis index values <0.9. PLS-DA results for the 5-point Likert scale showed low prediction (accuracy < 42%). A simplified 3-point Likert scale improved discrimination (accuracy between 52% and 55%). The PLS-DA model for purchasing decisions showed acceptable prediction results, particularly for transmittance NIRS (accuracy of 76%). Anticipating beef consumers' willingness to purchase could allow the beef industry to improve products so that they meet consumers' preferences.

Comportamiento ingestivo diurno y desempeño productivo de corderos suplementados con semilla de algodón y maíz molido / Daytime Ingestion Behavior and Performance in the Production of Lambs Supplemented with Cotton Seed and Ground Corn (GC) / Comportamento ingestivo diurno e desempenho produtivo de cordeiros suplementados com semente de algodão e molho moído

Resumen El estudio del comportamiento ingestivo es importante para conocer el desempeño de los animales y es especialmente imprescindible cuando se evalúan diferentes regímenes de alimentación. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar la conducta ingestiva diurna y la respuesta productiva de corderos criollos suplementados con semilla de algodón (SA) y maíz molido (MM). Se emplearon 16 corderos criollos machos enteros con peso inicial de 16 ± 2 kg, los cuales fueron distribuidos aleatoriamente en cuatro tratamientos experimentales consistentes en: T0 = Pastoreo, T1 = Pastoreo + 25 % SA + 75 % MM, T2 = Pastoreo + 50 SA + 50 % MM y T3 = Pastoreo + 75% SA + 25 % MM. En los forrajes se determinó la composición nutricional y en los animales el consumo de materia seca a través de marcadores externos e internos, el comportamiento ingestivo y el desempeño productivo. El consumo de materia seca total presentó diferencias estadísticas (p < 0.05), con menor consumo para los animales del tratamiento control. Asimismo, se detectaron diferencias estadísticas (p < 0.05) entre los tratamientos para las actividades de pastoreo, rumia, consumo de agua y caminata para las variables número de bocados por minuto y total. El peso final y la ganancia de peso obtenida por los animales que recibieron suplementación fueron superiores en un 28.4 % y 50.3 %, respectivamente. La suplementación con SA y MM promovió un mayor consumo de nutrientes y, en consecuencia, mejoró el desempeño productivo de los corderos.

Abstract The study of the ingestion behavior is important to know the animal production performance and is a must when evaluating different feeding regimes. This work aims to evaluate the daytime ingestion behavior and the productive answer in criollo lambs receiving supplement with cotton seeds (CS) and ground corn (GC). Sixteen complete male criollo lambs were used having a starting weight of 16 ± 2 Kg. They were distributed randomly into four experimental treatments consisting in: T0 = shepherding, T1 = shepherding + 25% CS + 75% GC, T2 = shepherding + 50% CS + 50% GC, and T3 = shepherding + 75% CS + 25% GC. Using both external and internal markers, the nutritional composition of the forages and the dry mass consumption in the animals were determined, i.e., the ingestion behavior and the productive performance. The total dry mass consumption showed statistical differences (p < 0.05), with lower consumption among the control animals. Likewise, statistical differences were detected (p < 0.05) between the treatments for shepherding activities, cud, water consumption and walking regarding variables like mouthfuls per minute and total ingestion. The final weight and the weight gain in the animals receiving supplements were higher in 28.4 % and 50.3 %, respectively. The CS and GC supplements led to a greater consumption of nutrients and, therefore, improved the ovine production performance.

Resumo O estudo do comportamento ingestivo é importante para conhecer o desempenho dos animais e é especialmente essencial quando se avaliar diferentes regimes alimentares. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a conduta ingestiva diurna e a resposta produtiva de cordeiros crioulos suplementados com semente de algodão (SA) e molho moído (MM). Foram usados 16 cordeiros crioulos machos inteiros com peso inicial de 16 ± 2 kg, os quais foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em quatro tratamentos experimentais consistentes em: T0 = Pastejo, T1 = Pastejo + 25% SA + 75% MM, T2 = Pastejo + 50% SA + 50% MM e T3 = Pastejo + 75% SA + 25% MM. Nas forrageiras determinou-se a composição nutricional e nos animais o consumo de matéria seca através de marcadores externos e internos, o comportamento ingestivo e o desempenho produtivo. O consumo total de matéria seca apresentou diferenças estatísticas (p < 0.05), com menor consumo nos animais do tratamento controle. Mesmo, detectaram-se diferenças estatísticas (p < 0.05) entre os tratamentos para as atividades de pastoreio, ruminação, consumo de agua e caminhada para a variável número de lanches por minuto e total. O peso final e o ganho de peso obtido pelos animais que receberam suplementação foram superiores em 28.4% e 50.3%, respectivamente. A suplementação com SA e MM promoveu maior consumo de nutrientes e consequentemente, melhorou o desempenho produtivo dos cordeiros.