Performance, carcass traits, meat quality and economic analysis of feedlot of young bulls fed oilseeds with and without supplementation of vitamin E

The objective of this research was to evaluate average daily gain (ADG), carcass traits, meat tenderness and profitability of keeping cattle fed different oilseeds and vitamin E in feedlot. A total of 40 Red Norte young bulls with initial average body weight of 339±15 kg were utilized. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. The experiment lasted 84 days and experimental diets presented soybeans or cottonseeds as lipid sources associated or not to daily supplementation of 2,500 UI vitamin E per animal. The concentrate:roughage ratio was 60:40. Diets had the same amount of nitrogen (13% CP) and ether extract (6.5%). The data were analyzed by means of statistical software SAS 9.1. Neither vitamin supplementation nor lipid source affected ADG. There was no interaction between lipid source and vitamin supplementation for the variables studied. The inclusion of cottonseed reduced the carcass yield. There was no effect of diets on hot and cold carcass weights or prime cuts. The inclusion of cottonseed reduced the backfat thickness. No effect of experimental diets on the rib-eye area was observed. There was no effect of lipid source or vitamin supplementation on meat tenderness, which was affected, however, by ageing time. Diets with soybeans presented higher cost per animal. The utilization of soybean implied reduction of the gross margin (R$ 59.17 and R$ 60.51 for diets based on soy with and without supplemental vitamin, respectively, vs. R$ 176.42 and R$ 131.79 for diets based on cottonseed). The utilization of cottonseed enables improvement of profitability of feedlot fattening, in spite of negatively affecting some carcass characteristics.

Fatty acid profile and meat quality of young bulls fed ground soybean or ground cottonseed and vitamin E

The objective of this study was to evaluate the fatty acid profile and qualitative characteristics of meat from feedlot young bulls fed ground soybean or ground cottonseed, with or without supplementation of vitamin E. A total of 40 Red Norte young bulls, with an initial average age of 20 months, and an initial average BW of 339 +/- 15 kg, were allotted in a completely randomized design using a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement, with two oilseeds, and daily supplementation or not of 2500 IU of vitamin E. The experimental period was for 84 days, which was preceded by an adaptation period of 28 days. The treatments were ground soybean (SB), ground soybean plus vitamin E (SBE), ground cottonseed (CS) and ground cottonseed plus vitamin E (CSE). The percentage of cottonseed and soybean in the diets (dry matter basis) was 24% and 20%, respectively. Diets were isonitrogenous (13% CP) and presented similar amount of ether extract (6.5%). The animals were slaughtered at average live weight of 464 +/- 15 kg, and samples were taken from the longissimus dorsi muscle for the measurement of fatty acid concentration and the evaluation of lipid oxidation and color of the beef. Before fatty acid extraction, muscle tissue and subcutaneous fat of the longissimus dorsi were separated to analyze fatty acid profile in both tissues. Supplementation of vitamin E did not affect fatty acid concentration, lipid oxidation and color (P > 0.05). Subcutaneous fat from animals fed CS diet had greater C12: 0, C16: 0 and C18: 0 contents (P < 0.03). In addition, CS diets reduced the C18: 1 and C18: 2 cis-9, trans-11 contents in subcutaneous fat (P < 0.05). The muscle from animals fed CS tended to higher C16: 0 and C18: 0 contents (P < 0.11), and decreased C18: 1, C18: 2 cis-9, trans-11 and C18: 3 contents (P < 0.05) compared with SB. The Delta(9)-desaturase index was greater in muscle from animals fed SB (P < 0.01). At 42 days of age, meat from cattle fed SB had a greater lipid oxidation rate (P < 0.05). Meat from animals fed SB diets had less lightness and redness indices than meat from animals fed CS diets after 14 days of age. In conclusion, the addition of ground cottonseed in the finishing diets did increase the saturated fatty acid content of the longissimus dorsi. However, animals fed cottonseed exhibited greater lightness and redness of beef. In this study, the addition of vitamin E did not affect qualitative characteristics of meat.

Comparison of growth curve parameters of organs and body components in meat- (Coturnix coturnix coturnix) and laying-type (Coturnix coturnix japonica) quail show interactions between gender and genotype

The objective of this study was to estimate growth parameters of carcass components (wing, thighs and drumsticks, back and breast) and organs (heart, liver, gizzard and gut) in males and females of one meat-type quail strain (Coturnix coturnix coturnix) and two laying strains (Coturnix coturnix japonica) designated either yellow or red.A total of 1350 quail from 1 to 42d old were distributed in a completely randomised design, with 5 replicates of each strain. The carcass component weights and body organs were analysed weekly and evaluated using the Gompertz function; growth rates were evaluated through derivative equations.The meat-type strain presented the highest growth rates in carcass components and organs. Across strains, females showed the highest weight of internal organs at maturity compared to males.Females had greater growth potential in breast, wings and back than males for both yellow and red laying quail.

Bacterial oxycarotenoids added into broiler chickens ration modify breast meat color

Some markets around the world demand for well pigmented poultry products, what justifies the intentional use of synthetic additives in rations during breeding. The inconvenient for that practice most times is the elevated price of these products, beyond the argument of being chemicals, which may not be viable for some production systems. So, the aim of this experiment was to check on the ability of natural red oxycarotenoids produced by R. gelatinosus to modify broilers breast meat color. Bacterial biomass containing oxycarotenoids were added into Cobb broilers finisher diets at 0, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 g/kg and fed during 10 days (35-45 d). Five replicates (10 birds each) were performed. At days 35, 37, 39, 41, 43 and 45, 100 birds were slaughtered scalded, defeathered and eviscerated. Data on live and carcass weights were recorded. After cooling, color parameters of meat were determined on breast surface using a HunterLab XE Plus colorimeter calibrated with black and white standard tiles. Regression analysis was used for the investigation of relationships between days of consumption and biomass concentration on color values, live weight and carcass yield. Results showed that redness of breast meat was significantly influenced by the biomass concentration in a linear effect (P=0.0056) and also by the time of consumption, in a quadratic effect (P=0.0232). Days of consumption also affected yellowness and lightness with significant quadratic responses (P=0.0225 and P<0.0001, respectively). Birds live weight increased significantly during the application of the experimental diets (P<0.0001), showing no negative influence of the biomass administration. Also no deleterious effects derived from the application of the product were observed on carcass yield. So we concluded that R. gelatinosus oxycarotenoids present in the bacterial biomass can modify broilers breast meat color, performing as an alternative pigmenting additive in poultry production.

Infra-red pupil detection for use in a face recognition system

This paper presents a new method of eye localisation and face segmentation for use in a face recognition system. By using two near infrared light sources, we have shown that the face can be coarsely segmented, and the eyes can be accurately located, increasing the accuracy of the face localisation and improving the overall speed of the system. The system is able to locate both eyes within 25% of the eye-to-eye distance in over 96% of test cases.

Thermally activated seawater neutralised red mud used for the removal of arsenate, vanadate and molybdate from aqueous solutions.

The effectiveness of using thermally activated hydrotalcite materials has been investigated for the removal of arsenate, vanadate, and molybdate in individual and mixed solutions. Results show that increasing the Mg,Al ratio to 4:1 causes an increase in the percentage of anions removed from solution. The order of affinity of the three anions analysed in this investigation is arsenate, vanadate, and molybdate. By comparisons with several synthetic hydrotalcite materials, the hydrotalcite structure in the seawater neutralised red mud (SWN-RM) has been determined to consist of magnesium and aluminium with a ratio between 3.5:1 and 4:1. Thermally activated seawater neutralised red mud removes at least twice the concentration of anionic species than thermally activated red mud alone, due to the formation of 40 to 60 % Bayer hydrotalcite during the neutralisation process.

Red clover (Trifolium pratense) isoflavones and serum homocysteine in premenopausal women : a pilot study

Background: There is limited information on the effect of isoflavones on homocysteine concentrations, a risk factor for a number of chronic diseases. Methods: Twenty-three premenopausal women participated in a double-blind, randomized, parallel study for four menstrual cycles. Subjects consumed either placebo or purified red clover (Trifolium pratense) isoflavone (86mg/day) tablets. Blood samples were collected weekly during cycles 1, 3, and 4 for determination of serum folate and total homocysteine concentrations. Dietary intake was monitored monthly. Results: Concentrations of folate and homocysteine in serum did not change significantly in either group, and there were no significant differences observed between the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. The participants' dietary records indicated that nutrient intake was constant, and compliance was confirmed by analysis of urinary isoflavone concentrations and tablet counts in returned containers. Conclusions: These results suggest that in the absence of any dietary modification, supplementation with purified isoflavones that are predominantly methoxylated has no effect on serum homocysteine or folate in premenopausal women.