Influence of production system and finishing feeding on meat quality of Rubia Gallega calves

Aim of study: Beef quality is mainly affected by finishing feeding (FF) and production system (PS). The effects of PS (extensive, semi-extensive, traditional and intensive systems) and FF from Rubia Gallega calves were compared in terms of meat quality.Area of study: Galicia (NW Spain)Material and methods: Calves (n=10 per treatment) were slaughtered at nine months of age and meat samples were assessed in terms of meat quality attributes such as physicochemical, nutritional and sensory analysis performed by a trained panel.Main results: Meat chemical composition varied (p<0.01) with PS and FF. The semi-extensive system showed the lowest values (p<0.05) for cooking loss (22.8%) and for shear force (26.0 N) while the extensive system presented the lowest contents of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and the highest contents of linolenic acid (p<0.001). The SFA and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) contents varied with FF (p<0.05). The lowest and highest values for SFA and PUFA were displayed in extensive group finished with Pasture/Concentrate, meanwhile feedlot group finished with Concentrate/Straw showed and opposite trend. The n-6/n-3 ratio was lower than 4 for extensive and semi-extensive systems (p<0.001). In addition, tenderness and juiciness showed significant differences mainly due to FF.Research highlights: This study showed that meat of calves reared in extensive systems was the healthiest, regarding total fat and fatty acid composition. It can be concluded that finishing feeding, and PS affected meat quality. Hence the potential usefulness of these results is to improve meat quality and safety according to market demands

Microenxerto e recultivo do calo basal na micropropagación de material adulto de carballo e castiñeiro

Estudouse o recultivo do calo basal e o microenxerto sobre patróns xuvenís para mellorar a micropropagación de material adulto de carballo e castiñeiro. O recultivo do calo basal permite aumentar a produción de microbrotes, con un menor custo unitario, con respecto ó uso exclusivo de explantos ‘convencionais’ (nós e ápices). As veces que pode recultivarse un explanto con calo basal depende do xenotipo e do estado ontoxenético. Cando a micropropagación inclúe o recultivo do calo basal, a taxa de multiplicación estabilízase en torno ó quinto subcultivo. Os calos basais sen xemas axilares nunca produciron microbrotes, o que diminúe o risco de mutación somaclonal. Co obxectivo de incrementar as capacidades morfoxenéticas in vitro do material adulto, realizáronse microenxertos in vivo e in vitro sobre patróns xuvenís. O prendemento dos microenxertos pode considerarse elevado; en carballo prenden mellor os microenxertos in vivo, mentres en castiñeiro o fan os microenxertos in vitro. No clon EPS de Castanea sativa, o microenxerto in vitro e in vivo provocaron un aumento da taxa de multiplicación, que se detecta nos primeiros subcultivos no primeiro caso e tras a fase de estabilización in vitro no segundo. No resto dos clons, o microenxerto non tivo efecto sobre a taxa de multiplicación. O microenxerto en serie non tivo efecto sobre as porcentaxes de enraizamento in vitro. No entanto, o microenxerto en serie in vivo pode ser útil para a obtención masiva de planta enxertada e como alternativa ao forzado de segmentos de rama, para a obtención de explantos

Effect of cross breeding with Hispano-Bretón and Burguete on productive parameter and dynamics of growth of “Galician Mountain” foals

4 páginas, 1 figura, 1 tabla.-- 60th International Congress of Meat Science and Technology, 17-22rd August 2014, Punta del Este, UruguayThe “Galician Mountain” (GM) horse is an autochthonous crossbred from the North of Spain adapted to an extensive production system. The objective was to study the effect of cross breeding with Hispano-Bretón (HB) and Burguete (B) on productive parameter and dynamics of growth of “Galician Mountain” foals. For this study, thirty-nine foals, twelve from crossing GM×HB and twenty-seven from crossing GM×B were used. Moderate biphasic profiles were observed from 120 days. The partial plateau phases and the total maximum growth or final asymptotes were experimentally well defined. The predictive ability of proposed equations to model the experimental data was high with a goodness of fit higher than 0.987. The sex of foals did not affect the growths and the differences among crossbreeds were not significant (P>0.05)N

Effect of slaughter age and finishing diet on sensory evaluation and consumers’ preference of foal meat

Aim of study: This study focused on the sensory evaluation and consumer preferences of foal meat depending on the animal slaughter age (13 and 26 months) and finishing diet (standard and linseed concentrate).Area of study: It was developed in two localities in the north of Spain: Orense and Pamplona.Material and methods: The sensory study was conducted by a 10-member trained and a 474-consumer panel.Main results: The trained panel described meat from both, 13 and 26-months old foals similar between each other. On the contrary, consumers considered meat from the younger group to be juicier and tenderer, being juiciness and tenderness (p<0.05), the most important clues for their global acceptance. No differences were found in either the trained or the consumer panel due to the finishing diet. The consumers test was carried out in two Spanish cities (Pamplona and Orense. Two scenarios were considered: without and with supplementary information about the foal meat production. The additional information disclosed about foal meat had a positive effect on Pamplona consumers’ assessments.Research highlights: City and information level are essential factors to introduce foal meat in the market. The lack of knowledge about foal meat and its low presence in meat markets make it necessary to develop further sensory studies; to obtain foal meat description patterns, and to get to know consumers’ likings

Effect of cross breeding and amount of finishing diet on growth parameters, carcass and meat composition of foals slaughtered at 15 months of age

10 pages, 2 figures, 7 tablesThis trial was conducted to study the effects of cross breeding (GM: Galician Mountain; HB×GM: Hispano-Breton×Galician Mountain crossing) and finishing feed (1.5 kg vs. 3.0 kg of commercial feed in the finishing period) on growth, performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of foals slaughtered at 15 months of age. For this study, twenty one foals of GM and HB×GM crossbred were used. Results obtained for the current study suggest an interesting potential for meat production, because the introduction of HB×GM stallions allows an advantage compared with the Galician breed, because they had better carcass weight, better conformation and the best carcass ratios. Other morphometric measurements related to the leg were also higher in HB×GM crossbred. On the other hand, the finishing diet had also significant influence in commercial cuts both in the front and hind quarter. A finishing diet with 3 kg of commercial feed increased carcass fat level. Regarding meat quality, genotype did not affect any physical–chemical trait, while finishing foals with 3 kg of fodder quadrupled intramuscular fat value and provided meat with a higher luminosity (35.9 vs. 38.2, Pb0.05, for 1.5 and 3 kg concentrate/day, respectively). However, this increase in intramuscular fat was not correlated with improvements in meat textural parameters because they were not influenced (P> 0.05) by either of the two effects studied. Nutritive profiles (both fatty and amino acids composition) were not influenced by genotype (P>0.05) whereas finishing effect modified almost all fatty acid finding.Authors are grateful to Xunta de Galicia (The Regional Government) (project 10MRU004CT) for the financial support.Peer reviewe

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Publicado en Santiago de Compostel

Livestock Management for the Delivery of Ecosystem Services in Fire-Prone Shrublands of Atlantic Iberia

In the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, characterized by its humid climate, large rural areas are being abandoned, mostly in less-favoured areas covered by heathlands, which present a low nutritive quality for livestock production. The high combustibility of these shrublands is driving a high wildfire incidence with negative environmental and economic effects. In this review, some aspects on wildfire occurrence and the potential of grazing livestock to reduce woody phytomass and fire risk in heathland-dominated areas whilst maintaining quality production and preserving biodiversity are summarized. Heathlands may be partially improved—converted to grassland—to better meet animals’ nutritional requirements while acting as ‘natural’ firebreaks. The specific grazing behaviour offers the opportunity to combine different domestic herbivores (mixed grazing) to achieve sustainable systems utilizing heterogeneous resources. Cattle, sheep, goats, and horses may have a role in the provision of different ecosystem services such as food production and biodiversity conservation. Genotype x environment interactions shape the ability of animals to cope with poor vegetation conditions, with smaller species and breeds performing better than larger animals. Goats and horses are indicated to arrest woody encroachment. Sustainable grazing systems are affordable in heathland–grassland mosaics by selecting appropriate livestock species and breeds for quality production, thus favouring rural economies and lowering fire risk

Engineering polymeric nanocapsules for an efficient drainage and biodistribution in the lymphatic system

Polymer-based nanocarriers have shown potential for enhancing the immunological response of antigens. However, the key drivers for this response have not been fully elucidated. The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of particle size (≈100 versus 200 nm) and surface composition of polymeric nanocapsules (chitosan, polyarginine and carboxymethyl-β-glucan) on their ability to target specific immune cells in the lymphatics. For this purpose, we used a powerful imaging technique, two-photon intravital microscopy, which minimises tissue damage in the visualisation of biological processes at cellular/subcellular levels. As expected, particle size was critical in the distribution and lymph node accumulation of all nanocapsules. Chitosan particles with a mean size below 100 nm accumulated significantly more in the popliteal lymph node than those with a larger size. Additionally, a comparative analysis of 100 nm nanocapsules with different polymeric shells indicated that cationic nanocapsules (chitosan and polyarginine) show higher accumulation in the popliteal lymph node than the anionic ones (carboxymethyl-β-glucan). In contrast, these anionic nanocapsules showed significant accumulation in the lumbar lymph node. In conclusion, tuning the physicochemical properties and composition of the nanocapsules allows the modulation of their lymphatic uptake and biodistribution, which may have important implications in the immune response.</p