This study aimed evaluate the effects of the associated supplementation of: chromium more iron (CrFe), magnesium more selenium (MgSe) and the four minerals (CrFeMgSe) on the parameters related to the pork quality. Supplementation with MgSe reduced the ether extract of the meat and changed the fatty acids profile, increasing the poly-unsaturated, n-3, n-6, the polyunsaturated: saturated rate and the activity of the enzyme Thioesterase index, besides reducing the total number of saturated fatty acids and the Atherogenicity index. Ot promoted a reduction in a*, b* and C* indices and increased h* of the chilled meat stored. Dver the storage days under refrigeration, there was linear drop for L* and a* and an increase to C*. The associated use of magnesium and selenium promotes changes in lipid profile without changing the meat quality, and they may be used in order to obtain meat with more appropriate nutritional aspects.

This research study aimed to evaluate the influence of sexual maturity on meat quality parameters in chickens raised in a free-range system. The fully randomized design (FRD) used a (2x2) factorial scheme, with two sexes (male and female) and two categories of sexual maturity (immature and mature). Ninety birds (45 females and 45 males) belonging to the Label Rouge (Pescoço Pelado) strain were slaughtered at five different ages (70, 90, 120, 150, and 180 days). The physicochemical parameters, centesimal composition and shelf life of the meat were assessed. In both breast and leg cuts, sexual maturity promoted an increase in shear force and affected the meat color by increasing its redness (a*). Moisture was higher in leg meat after sexual maturity. In both breast and leg cuts, ether extract was higher in sexually mature females. Sexual maturity also caused a decrease in tenderness and shorter shelf life of the meat.

This study evaluated the performance parameters, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of Label Rouge chickens raised under an alternative system as a function of age at slaughter. The design was completely randomized with a 5×2 factorial arrangement, with slaughtering at five ages (70, 90, 120, 150, and 180 days) and two sexes. A total of 240 birds (Pescoço Pelado strain) were used, including 120 females and 120 males. Performance, carcass, physicochemical, proximate composition, and muscle fiber traits were evaluated. Rearing time and sex had significant effects on performance-related traits, with better results for males. The interaction between slaughter age and sex had a significant effect on the carcass and physicochemical parameters, which cause different responses in males and females with increasing slaughter age. For the proximate composition and muscle fiber analysis, the interaction between the parameters studied only had a significant effect on ether extract in the breast. The increase in age resulted in chickens with higher live and carcass weight at slaughter but lower performance indices. Females had lower carcass yield and greater deposition of abdominal fat. Females had lower tenderness in the drumstick and males in the breast with increasing slaughter age, and both cuts had more intense color and redness and reduced lightness starting at the slaughter age of 90 days.

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Artisanal cheese production involves a centuries-old tradition in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil, playing an important historical and social role. The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of artisanal Minas cheeses from seven regions certified for their production in relation to their physical-chemical and centesimal composition to identify parameters that are useful to differentiate them. There were differences among the cheeses from different regions for the soluble nitrogen variables, extension and depth of ripening indexes, ash, oxidation, fat and pH. The highest values for the ripening length and depth index were observed in the Cerrado region. The cheeses from the Canastra region were different due to the higher moisture content, and the cheeses from Campo das Vertentes presented higher pH and nitrogen compound values. Despite the similarities among cheeses in each region, they had dispersed positions in the principal components analysis. There are differences in the physicochemical and centesimal composition among the artisanal Minas cheeses from the distinct regions in Minas Gerais, and the analyzed parameters can be used to differentiate them. The contents of ash, fat, oxidation index, soluble nitrogen and pH were the parameters that were associated with greater differences in cheeses.

SUMMARY The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance, carcass, meat quality, fatty acid profile and liver alterations of cattle supplemented with cottonseed feedlot. It used 100 Nelore cattle, being divided into two groups of 50 animals, which received a cottonseed (CS) in grain form by the diet in the proportion of 15% and the other group was provided with control diet without CS in the feedlot for 88 days. The diets were isoprotein and isoenergetic and concentrate:roughage ratio of 60:40. The animals were slaughter in the end of experimental time and the collection of liver samples for histological analysis. After cooling 24 hours at ± 1°C were conducted evaluation of carcass and major cuts, final pH and collected muscle samples longissimus to carry out the physicochemical analyzes (Color, Cooking Loss, Pigments and Shear Force), chemical composition, fatty acid profile and oxidation. The inclusion of CS in the diet provided animals with higher slaughter weight, daily weight gain, Hindquarter, however, the animals showed reduced carcass yield, forequarter weight and Thin flank, without changing the parameters as rib-eye area and backfat thickness. There was an increase of the yellow values (b*) and moisture with the final pH reduction. There was no influence of the use of cottonseed in relation to histological parameters evaluated in the liver. The cottonseed in the feeding feedlot cattle promoted improvement in animal performance, despite the reduction of the forequarter weight, with appropriate aspects of meat quality, fatty acid profile and conservation.

No abstract

We intended to evaluate the influence of supplementation with biocomplexed minerals on the performance and carcass characteristics of Label Rouge broilers of both sexes, as well as on the feed efficiency and feed costs. The experimental design was completely randomized arranged in factorial scheme (3×2)-three experimental diets (control, 0.50 ppm of selenium, and 0.40 ppm of chromium) and two sexes (male and female). Each treatment was composted of three plots, each one represented by 21 birds. The average weight (g/bird), weight gain (g/bird), feed intake (g/bird), and feed conversion in periods of 1 to 7, 1 to 21, 1 to 35, 1 to 49, 1 to 63, and 1 to 90 days were calculated. Weight and yield of carcass and cuts were determined. Both average feed cost (AFC, R$/bird) and cost per kg of weight gain (CWG, R$/kg weight gain) as well as economic efficiency index (EEI) were estimated. There was no influence of the diet on performance, carcass characteristics, and feed costs of the birds. The males presented higher means of average weight (3819.2 g/bird), weight gain (3780.9 g/bird), feed intake (11030.2 g/bird), and better feed conversion index (2.9) in the period of 1 to 90 days, besides presenting higher values of live weight at slaughter (3740.2 g), carcass weight (3117.5 g) and carcass yield (83.4%), breast weight (832.4 g), thigh weight (432.5 g), and thigh yield (13.9%); the females presented higher breast yield values (28.1%). The males presented higher AFC and lower CWG. The addition of minerals in the diet does not change performance, carcass characteristics and feed costs. The males present better performance and better carcass characteristics, in addition to being economically more viable.