The Effect of the Abattoir on Beef Carcass Classification Results

The aim of the present study was to test a possible way of monitoring cattle carcass classification using a statistical approach. For that purpose the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA by SAS) was used with the fixed effect of the abattoir, carcass weight (as a covariate) and their interaction. The analysis was based on the relationship between carcass weight and conformation or fatness grades. We tested if the regression lines of individual abattoirs differ from the average. The analysis comprised data for young bulls of Simmental breed slaughtered in Slovenia in the period from 2007 to 2010 (52,624 records). Results showed that in many abattoirs the assessment of conformation and fatness deviates significantly from the average, i.e. regression lines for several abattoirs differ significantly from the average (population) line. Differences were more important for the conformation than fatness. The statistical process control using the analysis of covariance can be used for additional monitoring of cattle carcass classification

Carcass Classification Measurements in Pigs as Affected by the Operator and Abattoir

The aim of the present study was to test a possible way of statistical checking of the measurement uncertainty in pig carcass classification; i.e. to monitor deviations between operators when measuring fat and muscle thickness used for meat percentage calculation. For that purpose, data were obtained from the official classification body Bureau Veritas for the year 2009, which comprised eight operators working in five abattoirs. An analysis of covariance was performed using a model with the effects of the operator, carcass weight as a covariate and their interaction. The equality of the regression lines (regression coefficients and intercepts) was tested for various operators. Regression lines differed significantly between the operators, however all pairwise comparisons were not conclusive since the operators work only in one or two abattoirs, the abattoirs have different suppliers i.e. different origin of pigs. In order to differentiate between the operator and the abattoir effect we further compared i) different operators working in the same abattoir and ii) same operator working in different abattoirs. The deviations in measurements of muscle and fat (often reflected also in meat percentage) were more important in the case of the same operator working in different abattoirs, than in the case of different operators working in the same abattoir

Antioksidativna učinkovitost v pridelkih iz slovenske ekološke in konvencionalne pridelave

The demand for organically produced food is increasing. There is widespread belief that organic food is substantially healthier and safer than conventional food. According to literature organic food is free of phytopharmaceutical residues, contain less nitrates and more antioxidants. The aim of the present study was to verify if there are any differences in the antioxidant activity between selected Slovenian organic and conventional crops. Method of DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl) was used to determine the antioxidant activity of 16 samples from organic and conventional farms. The same varieties of crops were analysed. DPPH method was employed to measure the antioxidant activity of polar antioxidants (AAp) and antioxidant activity of fraction in ethyl acetate soluble antioxidants (EA AA). Descriptive statistics and variance analysis were used to describe differences between farming systems. Estimated differences between interactions for the same crop and different farming practice were mostly not statistically significant except for the AAp for basil and beetroot. Higher statistically significant values were estimated for conventional crops. For the EA AA in broccoli, cucumber, rocket and cherry statistically significant higher values were estimated for organic production

Razlike v vsebnosti mineralov med slovenskim ekološko in konvencionalno pridelanim sadjem, zelišči in zelenjavo

The present study aims to compare mineral composition of fruits, herbs and vegetables grown conventionally and according to organic practice. Fruits, herbs and vegetables have been identified as leading dietary source of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. These compounds are very variable in the composition and in the concentration among cultivars and species. Determination of calcium (Ca), potassium (K), phosphorus (P) sulphur (S) and chlorine (Cl) was performed with Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF). We found that among organic crops basil, parsley, pears, peppers, rockets and celery had higher calcium contents in comparison to conventional ones. Organically produced broccoli, eggplant, parsley, rocket and celery had higher potassium contents as well as pepper, rockets, celery, beetroots and tomatoes had higher phosphorus contents. Likewise, higher sulphur content was found in organically produced parsley, rocket, celery and raspberries. Results of this study demonstrated that in general there are no rules in the content of minerals between different farming systems