Effect of type of suckling and polyunsaturated fatty acid use on lamb production. 2. Chemical and fatty acid composition of raw and cooked meat

This study was carried out in order to examine the chemical and fatty acid composition of raw and cooked meat obtained fromlambs raised under mothers or reared by artificial suckling with acidified milk replacers with or without polyunsaturated fattyacid (PUFA) supplementation. Meat samples were taken from twenty Gentile di Puglia male lambs subjected to the followingfeeding treatments: the control group received only maternal milk (MM, n.=6) while two groups were reared by artificial sucklingwith an acidified milk replacer (MR, n.=7) or with an acidified milk replacer supplemented with 10 ml/l of a PUFA enrichedoil (MR+PUFA, n.=7). Lambs were slaughtered at 45 days of age. After 24 hours of refrigeration at 4 °C, the lumbar regionwas dissected from each right half-carcass and split into pieces, one of which was used raw while the other was cooked in aventilated electric oven at 180 °C until an internal temperature of 75 °C was reached. Chemical and fatty acid analysis wereperformed on raw and cooked meat, while only raw meat was assessed for cholesterol. Cooking losses were also evaluated.Meat obtained from MR+PUFA fed lambs contained more fat (P<0.01) and less protein (P<0.05) than MM lambs. Nursingunder mothers increased the total amount of saturated fatty acids (SFA), compared with both the MR group (P<0.05) and tothe MR+PUFA one (P<0.01). In MM meat samples, fewer PUFAs (P<0.01) and omega-6 fatty acids (P<0.01) were found incomparison with both MR diets. The highest PUFA/SFA ratio of meat was recorded for the MR+PUFA group (0.27), with statisticaldifferences respect to the MR group (0.21; P<0.05) and to the MM one (0.14; P<0.01). Lambs raised with maternalmilk produced meat containing more cholesterol than the MR+PUFA group (85.89 vs 76.26 mg/100 g; P<0.05). The atherogenicityindex of meat was higher following natural rearing in comparison with the MR+PUFA treatment (1.34 vs 1.05;P<0.05), while the PCL/PCE ratio was significantly higher in MR+PUFA samples than in both MM and MR ones (0.93 vs 0.77and 0.76, respectively; P<0.05). Cooking cancelled the differences between treatments with regard to the all the dieteticparameters evaluated. In conclusion, artificial suckling with acidified milk replacers improves some meat quality features.Supplementation of milk replacers with PUFAs, although in a limited way, may improve the dietetic properties of lamb meat

Effect of dietary rosemary oil on growth performance and flesh quality of farmed seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

In order to assess the effect of a diet integrated with rosemary oil on growth perfor- mance and flesh quality of farmed Dicentrarchus labrax, a feeding trial was carried out. Seabass were fed with two different diets for 200 days, after that they were caught and stored in ice in a refrigerator cell (0-2°C) for 17 days. Then they were examinated on 1, 3, 10 and 17 day for sensory evaluation (fre- sh whole fish and cooked fillet) according to QIM and Torry Scheme. Specific growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion rate (FCR) were calculated, fillets were subjected to proximate analysis. No statistical differences were found in the final average body weight for both diets as well as SGR and FCR means. The sensory score (QIM) increased linearly with storage time. No significant difference was noticed between two diets. As for cooked fillet, Torry Scheme score decreased with storage time. At day 10 significant differences were displayed between the diets (7.44 vs. 8.67; P<0.05). Overall sensory accep- tability for consuming farmed seabass stored in ice was set in corrispondence of day 13 for control diet and day 14 for experimental diet. No difference was showed in the chemical composition

Effect of type of suckling and polyunsaturated fatty acid use on lamb production. 1. Productive performances and quanti-qualitative characteristics of the carcass

The aim of the study was to estimate the influence of artificial rearing and of the addition of polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFA) to an acidified milk replacer on the productive performances and on the quanti-qualitative characteristics of thecarcass. Fifty one twin-born Gentile di Puglia lambs were subdivided into three homogenous groups (9 females and 8males) assigned the following feeding treatments: maternal milk (MM); acidified milk replacer (MR); acidified milk replacer+ 10 ml/l of a mixture of linseed and fish oil rich in PUFA (MR+PUFA).Milk consumptions and live weights were recorded weekly. Seven males from each group were slaughtered at 45 days ofage and the net warm dressing percentage, the composition of the carcass and the colorimetric characteristics of theLongissimus lumborum muscle were estimated. Artificial rearing improved the daily weight gain (0.182-0.172 vs 0.128Kg; PThe addition of omega-3 fatty acids to the diet did not influence the weight gain, the feed conversion index, the net warmdressing percentage and the incidence of the different meat cuts of the half carcass. However, it significantly increasedthe half carcass length (37.86 vs 35.0 cm; Pto the MR group reduced the proportion of lean (63.21 vs 53.98 %; PP<0.01) in the lumbar region

Feeding of extruded flaxseed (linum usitatissimum L.) and pasture in podolica young bulls: Effects on growth traits, meat quality and fatty acid composition

The present trial aimed to evaluate the effect of feeding extruded flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) in concentrate feed and pasture on Podolica young bulls performance and meat characteristics. Eighteen male bulls were randomly divided in three homogeneous groups and fed for 180 days two isocaloric and isonitrogenous concentrates as: (1) diet containing 350 g/kg DM of extruded flaxseed (EFS); (2) diet containing 350 g/kg DM of extruded flaxseed for the first 90 days, then bulls had also 10 h/days grazing on a natural pasture (EFSP); and (3) a control diet containing 600 g/kg of dry matter (DM) of soybean (SB) seeds. Results from growth trial of bulls showed that none of the parameters studied were influenced by the dietary treatments. In slaughter trial, feeding to extruded flaxseed and pasture had a positive effect on the meat lipid component leading to lower perirenal fat accumulation and to higher conjugated linoleic acids (CLA), arachidonic acid, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and n-3 fatty acids contents. Additionally, in both groups fed extruded flaxseed (EFS and EFSP) the carcass fat, meat L* (lightness) values as well as meat n-3 and n-6/n-3 ratio were similar, resulting however improved compared to SB-control group. Moreover, the higher vitamin E content in extruded flaxseed-diet with pasture reduced meat lipid oxidation during storage. Our findings indicate that extruded flaxseed in concentrate can be advantageously used in grazing Podolica bulls, maintaining the growth performance and improving meat lipid profile

Effect of dietary safflower cake (Carthamus tinctorius L.) on growth performances, carcass composition and meat quality traits in Garganica breed kids

The objective of the present study was to assess the effects of a diet containing safflower cake in pelleted total mixed rations (TMR) on growth performance, carcass parameters and meat quality of kids. Sixteen male Garganica breed kids (12.0±0.4 kg), weaned at 40±3 days, were randomly divided into two equal groups blocked by BW. Kids were fed for 50 d, from weaning to slaughtering age, with one of the following dietary treatments: the control diet (Control) without safflower cake inclusion, and diet containing safflower cake (SFC, 200 g/kg). Findings of the performance trial of kids reported that feed conversion ratio was enhanced by dietary SFC (P&lt;0.01). None of the traits evaluated at slaughter were modified by diets. Safflower cake supplementation positively affected colour indexes of meat from longissimus lumborum and semimembranosus muscles. The current study confirms that SFC can be used in lamb TMR diets as no significant reduction of productive performance and meat quality. It may be concluded that the use of a safflower cake in kid feeding may be considered as a sustainable and economically viable strategy because of the lower cost of the safflower byproduct