Influence of sorghum inclusion in fattening steers diets on health and fatty acids profile of Longissimus dorsi muscle

The study was conducted using 21 Romanian Black Spotted fattening steers to determine the effects of sorghum grains on health and fatty acid profile of Longissimus dorsi muscle. The animals were assigned uniformly to 3 groups of 7 steers each, which received different treatments: control (C) received a compound feed without sorghum grains, experimental group (E1) received 15% sorghum grains in the compound feed, while next experimental group (E2) received 25% sorghum grains in the compound feed. To determine the biochemical parameters, blood samples were collected from animals at the end of experimental period. The laboratory analyses conducted on samples of Longissimus dorsi muscle collected from the 3 experimental groups, showed changes in the fatty acid composition. The proportion of saturated fatty acids (SFA) decreased in favour of the unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) with 1.04% in group E2, while the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids increased from 53.00% in the control group to 54.19% in group E2

Using spline test-day model for estimating the genetic parameters for cows milk yield

Genetic parameters of Montbeliarde cows were estimated for test-day milk yield with a random regression spline model. The spline model has been considered as a good alternative to Legendre polynomials to direct interpretation of parameters. With this model the lactation curve is divided into sections by knots. The milk yield between any two knots is assumed to be changing linearly. The random regression was fitted with linear splines with five knots: 7, 54, 111, 246, 302. The herd-test-day is the fixed effect of the model. The heritability estimates for test-day milk yield ranged from 0.346 at 65th day in milk, to 0.422 at 35th day in milk. Genetic correlations between individual test days were positive and tended to decrease with an increase in days between when the yields were measured. Random regression models using linear splines were proved to be useful for genetic evaluations of cows

Identification of IGF-1 gene polymorphism using PCR-RFLP for improving goat meat evaluation in Carpatina breed

The objective of this study was to identify insulin growth factor (IGF-1) gene polymorphism using PCR RFLP technique in order to improve goat meat evaluation. Insulin like growth factor -1 play an important stimulator role in skeletal growth, cell differentiation and metabolism. Also it has an important role in control of hair cycles and it is involved in development of wool fiber. Therefore, it is considered as an appropriate candidate gene for meat quality evaluation. Blood samples were collected from 12 Carpatina kids and DNA was extracted using, Wizard Genomic DNA Purification Kit. Polymorphism of IGF-1 was determined by PCR amplification followed by RFLP method using restriction enzyme Hae III. In the present study homozygous individuals were identified by RFLP with enzyme Hae III which cuts the amplicon in two places obtaining genotype BC with three migration bands at 363, 264 and 99 bp. Restriction enzyme doesn’t cut the amplicon of the homozygous individuals for the genotype BB, and there is no restriction site, so amplified DNA fragment migration can be visualized in one band of 363 bp.  Based on results, two genotypes BB and BC were identified. It was identified homozygous genotype BB with 75% and heterozygous genotype BC with 25%. B allele frequency was 0.87 and for allele C was 0.13. Observed and expected values of IGF-1 genotypes were found in Hardy Weinberg equilibrium, after χ2 test was calculated. Further investigation are necessary to be carried out on a high number of animals in order to discover other mutations correlated with meat quality in Carpatina goat

Red Grape Pomace Rich in Polyphenols Diet Increases the Antioxidant Status in Key Organs—Kidneys, Liver, and Spleen of Piglets

The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of a diet containing 5% dried GP on the antioxidant status (total antioxidant status (TAS), antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase-CAT, superoxide dismutase-SOD, and gluthatione peroxidase-GPx), and lipid peroxidation) on the key organs of the liver, kidneys, and spleen in relation to health status as indicated by blood biochemical parameters and total polyphenol content in the blood, organs (liver, spleen, kidney, mesenteric lymph nodes, heart, and brain) and Longissimus dorsi muscle in piglets. The GP diet results in a significant increase of TAS in the liver, spleen, and kidneys, with increased CAT activity in the spleen and kidneys, increased SOD activity in the liver, kidneys, and spleen, and increased GPx activity in the kidneys, as well as a decrease in lipid peroxidation in the liver and kidneys. The GP included in the piglets’ feed contained polyphenols that showed antioxidant activity and were absorbed in the plasma, contributing to maintaining the good health of the animals. The inclusion of 5% GP inclusion in the diets of piglets is beneficial for overall normal blood constituent metabolism and helps to maintain piglet health by increasing the polyphenol content in blood plasma and antioxidant activity in the liver, spleen, and kidneys

Improvement of meat quality evaluation by ultrasound in Carpathian goat breed

In goat, the evaluation of carcass quality was mainly done by using the classical method of animal slaughtering. This paper proposes a non-invasive method for goat carcass estimation, very efficient and easy to use, without sacrificing and able to keep the animals for reproduction: ultrasound method. In the present study, the following parameters were measured by ultrasound method: fat layer, muscle depth, eye muscle area, eye muscle perimeter in Longissimus Dorssi, between two measurements point (12th rib and between 3rd and 4th lumbar vertebra). Young goats (33.65kg, BW), 9 months of age, and adult female goats (35.99 kg BW), were used. In young goat, fat layer (1.86, 1.94 mm), muscle depth (18.97, 17.34 mm), eye muscle area (8.18, 8.25 cm2) and eye muscle perimeter (123.93, 125.06 mm) was similar with those founded in other goat breeds. Very high correlations were found between body weight and ultrasound parameters for muscle depth (0.81, 0.61) and eye muscle area (0.74, 0.67) in young goats. In adults, the ultrasound measurements showed 1.99, 2.04 mm for fat, 19.96, 19.26 mm for muscle depth and 9.02 and 9.17 cm2 for eye muscle area. High correlations were found also for adult goats for the same parameters, body weight and ultrasound for muscle depth (0.61, 0.63) and eye muscle area (0.45, 0.41). In the second phase of this study correlations with carcass derived from slaughtered animals will be carried out

Prolactin polymorphism effect over production traits types at Transylvanian Merino sheep

Worldwide were developed animal selection programs assisted by molecular markers at many local breeds, targeting biodiversity and intrinsic value preservation. Until now, were considered molecular markers associated with milk (beta-lactoglobulin, caseins) and meat production (calpastatin, miostatin etc.). Another important marker for milk production is prolactin. Previous studies prove that prolactin depletion is associated with milk secretion decrease, making codifying gene for prolactin a candidate gene for milk production variation.  Correlation of this marker effect with meat quality parameters was not studied yet. Objective of this study is estimation of prolactin gene polymorphism effect over two traits types (for milk and meat quality) with a view to simultaneous use of both types in selection programs. Using genomic DNA isolated from blood, we evaluate prolactin genetic polymorphism of 50 Transylvanian Merino sheep through PCR-RFLP method.  The effect of prl polymorphism over production traits was estimated using animal model. The research results reveal an important effect of prl gene over productive quality traits. The alleles effect is similar between those types; this fact sustain common selection program development in the same population In conclusion, our study proved that prl gene can be an important marker for selection programs in local sheep breeds

Estimation of the genetic parameters for test-day milk yield in Holstein cattle

The objective of this study was to determine the genetic parameters represented by heritability for test-day milk yield, the genetic correlations between test-day milk yield and the breeding value for Holstein cows. The model used was random regression test-day animal model. the data set consist of 216 test day records from 30 cows. The average number of test day per lactation was seven. The heritability estimates for test-day milk yield ranged from 0.43 at 250 th day in milk to 0.60 at 10 th day in milk. Genetic correlations between individual test-days milk yield were high and positive

Identification of Myostatin gene polymorphism using PCR-RFLP for improving carcass meat evaluation of Teleorman Black Head lambs

The objective of this study was to identify Myostatin (MSTN) gene polymorphism using PCR RFLP technique in order to improve sheep meat evaluation. There are data which show that MSTN is an inhibitor of skeletal muscle growth and a mutation in gene leads to increased muscle mass. Therefore, it is considered as an appropriate candidate gene for carcass meat quality. Blood samples were collected from 105 Teleorman Black Head (TBH) lambs and DNA was extracted using, Wizard Genomic DNA Purification Kit. Polymorphism of MSTN was determined by PCR amplification followed by RFLP method using restriction enzyme Hae III. Based on results, two genotypes mm and Mm were identified. It was identified homozygous genotype mm which not carry this mutation with 16.67% and heterozygous genotype Mm with 83.33%. M allele frequency was 42% and for allele m was 58%. Observed and expected values of MSTN genotypes were found in Hardy Weinberg disequilibrium, after χ2 test was calculated. MM individuals who carry this mutation were not identified in the analysed herd. This may be due to an empirical selection of this breed leading to absence of this genotype. That is why further investigation on a high number of animals are necessary to discover this mutation correlated with meat quality in TBH sheep

Total polyphenols content, antioxidant activity and stability of a grape pomace incorporated in animal feed

Grape pomace (GP), resulting from wine making, is rich in antioxidant polyphenols originating from the input material, the grapes. Because of the high production volumes of grape pomace, environmental impact and nutritional content, new ways for its valorization are experimented. In order to incorporate it in animal feed (cow and pig), we determined its content in total polyphenols by the Folin Ciocalteu method, the antioxidant activity by the DPPH assay and its stability using the UV-Vis spectroscopy for different extraction media. In terms of total polyphenols the acetone extraction was the best (4667.1 mg GAE/100g sample) comparing with ethanol and water (2140.4 mg GAE/100g sample respectively 2083.9 mg GAE/100g sample), and the ruminal fluid (732.9 mg GAE/100g sample) and pepsin (712.2 mg GAE/100g sample). The highest antioxidant activity expressed as an antiradical activity against the DPPH radical, was registered for the acetone extract (32.8 μM Trolox Equivalents(TE)), followed by the ethanol (6.5 μM TE) and water extraction equal with pepsin extraction (4 μM TE), and the mixture of ruminal fluid (0.5 μM TE). The results show that even though the extraction of polyphenols in organic solvents is the best, when applied to the digestive media the situation changes. In both ruminal fluid and pepsin were measured almost the same amount of total polyphenols but the antioxidant activity was much lower in the ruminal fluid - 8 times lower. The UV-Vis spectroscopy shows that the acetone extract is stable over time when kept at – 20 ͦC

Intestinal Absorption and Antioxidant Activity of Grape Pomace Polyphenols

The absorption and antioxidant activity of polyphenols from grape pomace (GP) are important aspects of its valorization as a feed additive in the diet of weaned piglets. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of polyphenols from GP both in vitro in IPEC cells and in vivo in the duodenum and colon of piglets fed with diets containing or not 5% GP and also to compare and correlate the aspects of their in vitro and in vivo absorption. Total polyphenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant status (TAS, CAT, SOD and GPx enzyme activity, and lipid peroxidation-TBARS level) were assessed in duodenum and colon of piglets fed or not a diet with 5% GP. The results of UV-Vis spectroscopy demonstrated that in cellular and extracellular medium the GP polyphenols were oxidized (between λmax = 276 nm and λmax = 627.0 nm) with the formation of o-quinones and dimers. LC-MS analysis indicated a procyanidin trimer possibly C2, and a procyanidin dimer as the major polyphenols identified in GP, 12.8% of the procyanidin trimer and 23% of the procyanidin dimer respectively being also found in the compound feed. Procyanidin trimer C2 is the compound accumulated in duodenum, 73% of it being found in the colon of control piglets, and 62.5% in the colon of GP piglets. Correlations exist between the in vitro and in vivo investigations regarding the qualitative evaluation of GP polyphenols in the cells (λmax at 287.1 nm) and in the gut (λmax at 287.5 nm), as oxidated metabolic products. Beside the presence of polyphenols metabolites this study shows also the presence of the unmetabolized procyanidin trimers in duodenum and colon tissue, an important point in evaluating the benefic actions of these molecules at intestinal level. Moreover the in vivo study shows that a 5% GP in piglet’s diet increased the total antioxidant status (TAS) and decreased lipid peroxidantion (TBARS) in both duodenum and colon, and increased SOD activity in duodenum and CAT and GPx activity in colon. These parameters are modulated by the different polyphenols absorbed, mainly by the procyanidin trimers and catechin on one side and the polyphenols metabolites on the other side